World
Van Gogh Paintings Vandalized At A London Gallery After 2 Activists Were Sentenced In Similar Attack
LONDON — A gang of climate activists vandalized a pair of paintings by Dutch master Vincent van Gogh at London’s National Gallery on Friday, splattering what seemed to be tomato soup on them, soon after two other activists were imprisoned for a similar action two years ago.
The paintings from Van Gogh’s “Sunflowers” series, which he created at Arles, south of France, were not damaged due to protective glass coverings. The gallery identified the two as its own Sunflowers (1888) and Sunflowers (1889), which were on loan from the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
The three activists from the Just Stop Oil environmental group who participated in the attack were arrested while the paintings were removed, evaluated, and returned to their original location. The gallery announced that the exhibition would reopen later on Friday.
Van Gogh Paintings Vandalized At A London Gallery After 2 Activists Were Sentenced In Similar Attack
The organization shared a video of the attack on social media, which showed three persons pouring soup on the paintings. The action appeared to be in protest of the earlier Friday sentencing of two other members from the group, Phoebe Plummer, 23, and Anna Holland, 22.
For their October 2022 attack on a “Sunflowers” painting, Plummer was sentenced to two years in prison and Holland to 20 months. The two women flung tins of tomato soup at the artwork before kneeling in front of it and gluing their hands to the wall underneath it. They were convicted of criminal damage by a jury in July.
Both attacks, in 2022 and on Friday, were carried out by demonstrators wearing Just Stop Oil T-shirts. The organization has been lobbying the British government to prevent new oil and gas developments and has staged high-profile stunts, notably at major sporting events and on Britain’s transit systems.
In Friday’s video, one of the nameless activists stated that future generations will remember them as “prisoners of conscience” who were “on the right side of history.”
In the 2022 attack, the gold-colored frame of Van Gogh’s painting was damaged by 10,000 pounds ($13,000). At the time, museum staff were concerned that the soup would have seeped through and caused extensive damage to the painting.
In Friday’s punishment, Judge Christopher Hehir stated that the artwork may have been “seriously damaged or even destroyed.”
Hehir was also the judge in the case involving Roger Hallam, a co-founder of Just Stop Oil and Extinction Rebellion, another environmental activist group, who was convicted for five years.
On Friday, he aimed at Plummer. “You clearly think your beliefs give you the right to commit crimes when you feel like it,” added the pastor. “You do not.”
Van Gogh Paintings Vandalized At A London Gallery After 2 Activists Were Sentenced In Similar Attack
Plummer, who represented herself and pleaded guilty, stated at the court that she would accept “with a smile” whatever verdict was returned.
Plummer was arrested five days after her guilty verdict in July for spraying paint on Heathrow Airport’s departure boards.
Holland’s lawyer, Raj Chada, said the two women made sure the “Sunflowers” were secured by a glass cover before throwing the soup.
SOURCE | AP
World
Trudeau Condemned in India By Sikhs and Hindus
A protest against Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau erupted in Delhi, India, on Sunday, November 10, in response to the attack on a Hindu temple in Brampton, Canada. Hindus and Sikhs united to protest in front of the Canadian embassy in Delhi.
During the protest, a member of the Sikh Global Forum stated, “We are here to demonstrate that Sikhs have not attacked Hindus; we are both linked by blood relations.”
For Hindus, Guru Tegh Bahadur and Guru Gobind Singh sacrificed for their religion. How can they fight with one another? We are here at the Canadian Embassy to deliver a memorandum,” PTI reported.
VIDEO | Members of Hindu Sikh Global Forum stage protest at Canada Embassy in New Delhi, condemning the violence that occurred near a temple in Canada’s Brampton on November 4.
(Full video available on PTI Videos – https://t.co/n147TvqRQz) pic.twitter.com/P4BLJnSYKW
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) November 10, 2024
People from the Hindu Sikh Global Forum were on their way to the High Commission of Canada, Chanakyapuri, to condemn the attack on a Hindu Temple in Canada when they were stopped near Teen Murti Marg by Delhi Police.
#WATCH | Delhi: People of the Hindu Sikh Global Forum on their way to the High Commission of Canada, Chanakyapuri, to protest against the attack on a Hindu Temple in Canada, were stopped at Teen Murti Marg by Police. pic.twitter.com/ONaXu46gJi
— ANI (@ANI) November 10, 2024
Notably, Khalistanis stormed a prominent Hindu temple in Brampton, Canada, with Canadian police officials implicated. The incident raised concerns about the safety of Hindus in Canada.
Relations between India and Canada have been strained for more than a year, and there is little indication of improvement as recriminations persist.
Because Sikhs play an important role in Canadian politics, both the ruling Liberal Party and the opposition parties court them. India accused Trudeau of engaging in “vote bank politics.” Canada respects India’s territorial integrity and sovereignty but cannot restrict its citizens’ political activity.
Recent Indian statements have once again portrayed Trudeau as responsible for the worsening of relations. However, even under a different government, India cannot be certain or optimistic that Canada will comply with its demands for restrictions on Sikh activism.
In April this year, Prime Minister Trudeau, Conservative opposition leader Pierre Poilievre, New Democratic Party leader Jagmeet Singh, Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow, and several legislators attended a Sikh event in Toronto, demonstrating the community’s clout.
India opposed the use of “Khalistan” slogans on the day. Years ago, it was clear that relations between Canada and India were strained.
Trudeau traveled to India in February 2018 as part of a high-profile tour. The Indian media claimed the state visit was “downgraded” because Modi did not join his guest on a tour to Gujarat.
The media also noted that Modi did not send a tweet greeting Trudeau.
Surprisingly, the Indian Foreign Ministry addressed Prime Minister Trudeau’s 2018 visit in a statement in October, claiming that it was “aimed at currying favor with a vote bank,” but “rebounded to his discomfort.”
In recent days, Canada and India have exchanged additional allegations. The most significant of these concerns are those of Home Minister Amit Shah, often regarded as the most powerful man behind Modi in the Indian government.
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World
Hamas Leaders Ordered to Leave Qatar
Qatar has ordered Hamas leaders to leave the country in response to a US request to stop Qatar’s support for the terrorist organization.
In a series of high-stakes communications, Washington informed Qatar that Hamas’ continued presence in Doha is no longer acceptable in light of the militant group’s rejection of recent ceasefire and hostage exchange proposals, prompting Qatar to deliver a similar message to Hamas leaders about ten days earlier.
A US official emphasized the US stance, telling Reuters that “after rejecting repeated proposals to release hostages, its leaders should no longer be welcome in the capitals of any American partner.” We made this clear to Qatar after Hamas’ rejection weeks ago.”
Despite US pressure, three Hamas officials have denied that Qatar formally requested their departure, Reuters reports.
Since 2012, Qatar has sheltered Hamas leaders as part of a deal to encourage negotiations, particularly during times of heavy tension between Hamas and Israel.
In recent months, Qatar, along with the United States and Egypt, has led many rounds of discussions to end the carnage in Gaza—a goal that has proven elusive since Hamas rejected a previous cease-fire agreement in mid-October.
The Biden administration’s effort for a resolution in Gaza has acquired urgency as Israel’s retaliatory strikes have ravaged the area, killing an estimated 43,000 Palestinians and causing enormous destruction.
Meanwhile, the recent election of Republican Donald Trump as the next US president has reportedly reduced President Biden’s clout in the last weeks of his presidency.
Previous rounds of talks collapsed when Israel imposed new criteria, including a prospective military presence in Gaza, which Hamas interpreted as changing “last-minute goalposts.”
Last year, similar discussions mediated in Doha resulted in a seven-day cease-fire in Gaza, allowing captives to be released and humanitarian aid to be delivered, but hostilities immediately resumed.
Qatar’s long-standing stance as a mediator has come under growing scrutiny from US politicians. Fourteen Republican senators recently wrote to the Department of State, seeking penalties on Hamas officials in Qatar, their extradition, and a demand that Qatar “end its hospitality” to Hamas.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Qatar’s Prime Minister, has defended his country’s hosting of Hamas officials, claiming that their presence promotes crucial diplomatic conversations.
Source: Reuters
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World
Iraq Prepares to Allow Men to Marry 9 Years Old Girls
Iraq is preparing to lower the legal age of consent from 18 to 9 years old, allowing males to marry young children. The legislative amendment also strips women of their rights to divorce, child custody, and inheritance.
Iraq’s parliament, which is dominated by a coalition of orthodox Shia Muslim parties, is set to vote on an amendment to repeal the country’s “personal status law”.
The legislation, also known as Law 188, was hailed as one of the most progressive in the Middle East when it was established in 1959. It establishes an overarching set of norms for Iraqi families, regardless of religious affiliation.
In addition to lowering the legal marriage age, the amendment would deny women the right to divorce, child custody, and inheritance.
According to the ruling coalition, the decision is consistent with a rigorous interpretation of Islamic law and aims to safeguard young females from “immoral relationships.”
On September 16, the change to Law 188 received its second reading.
It is not the first time Shia parties in Iraq have attempted to reform the personal status law; previous proposals failed in 2014 and 2017, partly due to opposition from Iraqi women.
However, according to Dr Renad Mansour, a senior research fellow at Chatham House, the coalition currently has a substantial legislative majority and is close to passing the amendment.
According to experts and campaigners, the amendment would effectively eliminate the country’s most vital women’s rights.
Iraq already has a high rate of child marriage. According to the United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef), approximately 28% of women in Iraq marry by the age of 18.
This is due to a loophole in personal status law that allows religious leaders, rather than judges, to officiate hundreds of marriages each year, including those involving girls as young as 15, with approval from the father.
Unregistered weddings are common among Iraq’s economically destitute, ultraconservative Shia populations.
However, because the marriage is not legally recognized, the females and any children they have are denied a wide range of privileges. Hospitals, for example, may refuse to accept women for deliveries unless they have a marriage certificate.
According to The Telegraph, the amendment would legitimize these religious weddings, increasing the danger of sexual and physical assault against young girls, as well as denying them access to education and jobs.
The proposed amendment is the governing coalition’s latest attempt to limit women’s rights.
In April, it also made same-sex relationships punishable by up to 15 years in prison despite failing to impose the death penalty. Last year, it decided that media outlets should replace the term “homosexuality” with “sexual deviance” across all platforms.
The term “gender” has also been prohibited.
Before voting on the latest modifications, the Iraqi parliament will hold a formal debate. Women’s rights advocates have accused the government of wanting to “legalize child rape” in response to the action.
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