Author: News Desk

Mufti Menk has faced intense criticism online after a post on X about remaining silent during uncertain situations was widely interpreted as referring to the ongoing conflict involving Iran, Israel and the United States (US).

Menk, whose full name is Ismail Ibn Musa Menk, regularly shares sermons and lectures online and has more than 10 million followers on X. The backlash followed a post he shared on March 4.

“When you don’t know EXACTLY what’s going on, it’s best not to say the wrong thing. Let those with a deeper understanding in that matter say what needs to be said. The Prophetic teaching to those who believe in the day of reckoning is to ‘utter what’s upright or remain silent,’” the post read.

Users on X interpreted the post as referring to the illegal strike on Iran, where Israel and the United States have killed more than 1,000 people and damaged civilian infrastructure, according to international media reports.

The reactions circulating on X were mainly in response to Menk’s post. Many questioned why a religious scholar with a large platform would avoid addressing the conflict directly. 

Some users suggested that remaining silent in the face of suffering was equivalent to avoiding responsibility, saying scholars had a duty to speak against injustice and oppression. Others accused Menk of prioritising financial interests or public standing over openly criticising Israel.

Several posts mocked the statement as a cautious attempt to avoid losing influence or income. One user wrote, “Translation: I don’t want to lose money by criticizing Israel too loudly.” 

Another added, “Being a scholar you have a duty to speak truth and stand against tyrants but you remain silent for your personal gain and enjoying the luxury of the world.”

Some comments accused Menk of choosing worldly gains over religious responsibility. One post said, “Guys i will try to translate this for you: Mufti menk choosing money/ duniya over DEEN!! He is a coward or MUNAFIQ , there is no 3rd option. Thank you for your attention for this matter!!” 

Another described the approach as an Islam reduced to feel-good slogans: “This is the kind of Islam colonizers are comfortable promoting. An Islam reduced to self-help slogans. An Islam that speaks endlessly about ‘ignoring haters’ but falls silent in the face of tyrants.”

Other users highlighted the contrast with the struggles of Muslims in Iran, saying that while they face attacks, Menk’s post offered only general guidance. 

One wrote, “So instead of uttering what’s upright, you remained silent. I have never understood how so many people get taken in by fortune-cookie preachers of any religion who utter feel-good platitudes 24/7 but disappear the moment their voice could matter.” 

Another added, “Islam and Muslims are under attack by zi0nist and this is what you tweet? Tweet about your brothers and sisters in Iran who are fighting the enemies of Islam alone and suffering.” Some summed up their frustration by saying, “save us from Sheikhs like this one.”

Menk later shared a prayer on X, asking for guidance, steadfastness, contentment with divine decree, and protection from harm: “Almighty. Guide us towards goodness beyond this month for Your sake only. Keep us steadfast, enduring the trials You send our way. Grant us a soft heart, always content with Your Decree. Grant us sincerity, success & protect us from harm. Aameen.”

Gulf states are reviewing overseas investments and financial commitments as the war involving the United States (US), Israel and Iran places pressure on their budgets, an international media outlet has reported. 

A Gulf official said that the situation could affect investment pledges to foreign governments or companies, sports sponsorships, business contracts and the sale of existing holdings.

The official said that three of the four major Gulf economies — Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Kuwait and Qatar — had held discussions on the economic impact of the conflict but did not identify the countries involved.

“A number of Gulf countries have begun an internal review to determine whether force majeure clauses can be invoked in current contracts, while also reviewing current and future investment commitments in order to alleviate some of the anticipated economic strain from the current war,” the official said. “Especially if the war and related expenses continue at the same pace.”

They added that the move was precautionary and linked to “the budget strains these countries are facing due to reduced income from energy, due to the slowdown in output or the inability to ship, [and from the] tourism and aviation sectors, in addition to the increase in defence spending”.

An adviser to a Gulf government said that the possibility of an investment review had drawn attention in Washington. Gulf states manage some of the world’s largest sovereign wealth funds, and Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Qatar last year pledged to invest hundreds of billions of dollars in the US after Donald Trump visited the region.

The states have also financed international sporting events and invested in domestic projects aimed at diversifying their economies.

Officials said that any reduction in investments in the US or other western countries could increase pressure on Donald Trump to pursue a diplomatic approach to end the war.

The conflict between the US, Israel and Iran has affected Gulf countries as Tehran launched strikes against Washington’s regional allies. 

Shipping traffic has slowed in the Strait of Hormuz, through which about one-fifth of global oil and gas supplies pass, with at least 10 tankers reported damaged in the Gulf.

Qatar, the world’s second-largest liquefied natural gas producer, declared force majeure after suspending production following a drone attack on its main LNG facility.

A major oil refinery in Saudi Arabia was also hit during the conflict.

Iran has also targeted US bases and embassies in the region, as well as airports, hotels and residential buildings, disrupting air traffic and tourism.

Gulf states had urged Donald Trump to delay military action and pursue diplomacy with Iran but later faced retaliatory attacks from Tehran.

Khalaf Al Habtoor, a prominent Emirati businessman addressed Donald Trump in a post on X and criticised the decision to escalate the conflict.

“A direct question: Who gave you the authority to drag our region into a war with #Iran? And on what basis did you make this dangerous decision?” he wrote. “Did you calculate the collateral damage before pulling the trigger?”

He pointed out that Gulf countries were expected to help finance plans to rebuild Gaza and support broader regional initiatives.

He added that Arab Gulf states had “contributed billions of dollars on the basis of supporting stability and development”, asking: “These countries have the right to ask today: where did this money go? Are we funding peace initiatives or funding a war that exposes us to danger?”

A global survey has found that men from Generation Z are more likely than older generations to support traditional views about gender roles within marriage and relationships.

The survey of more than 23,000 people across 29 countries found that nearly one in three Gen Z males believe a wife should obey her husband.

According to the study, 33 percent of Gen Z males said a husband should have the final word on important decisions in a marriage. Among baby boomer men, 13 percent agreed with the statement that a wife should always obey her husband.

The survey defined Generation Z as people born between 1997 and 2012, while baby boomers were defined as those born between 1946 and 1964.

Among women, 18 percent of Gen Z respondents agreed that a wife should obey her husband, compared with six percent of women from the baby boomer generation.

The research was conducted by Ipsos in partnership with the Global Institute for Women’s Leadership at King’s College London and included respondents from countries including Great Britain, the United States, Brazil, Australia and India.

The findings also showed differences between generations on other views about gender roles. About 24 percent of Gen Z males said women should not appear too independent or self-sufficient, compared with 12 percent of baby boomer men.

More than half of Gen Z males, 59 percent said men were expected to do too much to support equality. Among baby boomers, 45 percent agreed with this view. Among women, the figures were 41 percent for Gen Z and 30 percent for baby boomers.

At the same time, Gen Z males were also the group most likely to say that women with successful careers were more attractive to men, with 41 percent agreeing with the statement.

Survey responses varied across countries. People in Indonesia and Malaysia were most likely to agree with the statement that a wife should obey her husband, at 66 percent and 60 percent respectively. The proportion was 23 percent in the United States and 13 percent in Great Britain.

Professor Heejung Chung, director of the Global Institute for Women’s Leadership and leader of the research, said that some findings indicated continued support for gender equality.

“I think there are a lot of grievances, a lot of fear of men losing social positions,” Chung said. “And there’s a vacuum that’s being filled with rhetoric and voices which are trying to pitch young men against gender equality, against young women, against migrants.”

Julia Gillard, chair of the Global Institute for Women’s Leadership, said that the results raised concerns about expectations placed on both men and women.

“Not only are many Gen Z men putting limiting expectations on women, they are also trapping themselves within restrictive gender norms,” she said. “We must continue to do more to dispel the idea of a zero-sum game in which women are the only beneficiaries of a gender-equal world.”

Two Indian Air Force (IAF) pilots were killed after a Sukhoi Su-30 MKI fighter jet crashed in India’s northeastern state of Assam on Thursday.

The IAF said that the pilots were Squadron Leader Anuj and Flight Lieutenant Purvesh Duragkar.

In a post on X, the air force said that all personnel expressed condolences and stood with the families of the deceased pilots.

According to officials, the aircraft was on a training mission and had taken off from Jorhat airbase. Communication with the aircraft was lost at 7:42pm.

The jet later crashed in Karbi Anglong district, around 60 kilometres from the base.

Residents in the area said they heard an explosion from the hills and saw flames rising from the crash site.

India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said he was saddened by the deaths of the two pilots. In a post on X, he wrote that their service to the country would be remembered.

The Sukhoi Su-30MKI is a two-seat fighter aircraft developed by Russia’s Sukhoi. It is now built under licence by state-run aerospace major Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for the IAF.

The aircraft was inducted into the IAF in 1997 and the force operates more than 260 jets of the same type.

A Sukhoi-30 aircraft crashed in Nashik in June 2024, while another jet of the same type went down in January 2023 after taking off from the Gwalior airbase.

The crash took place weeks after the IAF lost a HAL Tejas jet when it overshot the runway at a frontline airbase and suffered damage to its airframe.

Another Tejas aircraft crashed during a demonstration flight at the Dubai Airshow in November last year, killing the pilot.

The Middle East has spiralled into a multi-front war as Iran warned it will target Israel’s Dimona nuclear site if the US and Israel continue to pursue illegal regime change. This threat was conveyed as Tehran launched its “19th wave” of attacks, following a week of escalating strikes that have now pulled in Azerbaijan, Qatar, and Sri Lanka.

In Tehran, a series of explosions hit the capital and the neighbouring city of Karaj on Thursday. The Israeli military confirmed it is targeting Iranian missile launchers, while Iran’s Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) claimed to have struck fuel tanks at Israel’s Ramat David Airbase using Arash attack drones.

The maritime conflict has turned lethal. A US submarine sank the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena off the coast of Sri Lanka, killing at least 87 sailors. A second Iranian warship is now approaching Sri Lankan waters. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that the US “perpetrated an atrocity at sea” and warned that Washington will “bitterly regret” the move.

The spillover has reached the Caucasus and the Gulf. Azerbaijan’s defence ministry reported Iranian drone strikes on an airport in the Nakhichevan exclave, wounding two people. “These acts of attack will not go unanswered,” the ministry said, confirming it is preparing retaliatory measures. Meanwhile, explosions echoed over Doha and Manama as Qatari and Bahraini air defences intercepted incoming missiles. A tanker off the coast of Kuwait was also hit by a large explosion, causing an oil spill.

In Washington DC, the US Senate voted 52-47 to block a bipartisan resolution that would have required President Donald Trump to seek congressional authorisation for the military campaign. Trump thanked NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte for his support, while Israel’s Defence Minister Israel Katz said US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth urged him to “keep going to the end.”

The economic fallout is immediate. Oil prices surged over 3 percent, with Brent crude reaching $83.99 per barrel. China has instructed its largest refiners to suspend diesel and gasoline exports as the Strait of Hormuz remains blocked. Inside Iran, a total internet blackout has exceeded 120 hours, with connectivity at only one percent.

The conflict escalated following illegal joint US-Israeli strikes last Saturday, which Iranian media reported resulted in the assassination of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Since then, US Central Command reports hitting over 1,250 targets, while the US State Department has urged Americans to leave 15 Middle Eastern countries.