Articles

February 5 has for decades been observed as Kashmir Solidarity Day. This year, it assumed added significance because of India's total lockdown in Indian Occupied Kashmir since August 5, 2019. Tens of thousands of Kashmiri youth have been arrested and imprisoned in unknown locations. There are grave fears for their safety and security.

Starting with our next issue, we are introducing two changes: Crescent International is going fully digital, and fresh blood is being brought in as part of the Editorial Board.

Eight million Kashmiris live under Indian occupation where India impose a total lockdown last August while four million live in Azad (Free) Kashmir (AJK) on the Pakistani side. There are also 40,000 Kashmiri refugees in AJK that had fled Indian military terror in 1989-1990. They have not seen loved ones ever since.

While Shia-Sunni unity is essential for Muslims’ survival, there are some people in Islamic Iran that seem to be pursuing a sectarian agenda creating divisions. Abu Dharr, a sincere Muslim revolutionary, opens his heart to the Rahbar, Imam Khamenei about this troubling situation.

By assassinating General Qassem Soleimani, Donald Trump violated international law and committed a war crime. For this, he would be liable to capital punishment under the Nuremberg Law.

Narendra Modi and his fascist followers are hell-bent on turning India into an exclusive Hindu state with no room for other religious groups. Their first target India’s 200 million Muslims but it will not end there. Modi’s racist policies have aroused Indians from a broad cross-section challenging its slide into absolute fascism.

There have been many false starts about peace in Afghanistan but there may be guarded optimism this time that may be, just maybe, there will be peace. The next few weeks will tell but unless there is actual peace, it is prudent to be cautious.

If Donald Trump thought he would appear macho by assassinating General Soleimani, he has made a big mistake. The martyred revolutionary commander has become an even bigger figure in death than he was when alive.