Safrina Latheef, becomes first Kerala expat from Qatar to summit Mt Everest
Doha/Kathmandu: In a remarkable display of courage and determination, long-time Qatar resident Safrina Latheef has successfully reached the summit of Mount Everest, the highest peak in the world. With this historic climb, she becomes the first Kerala expatriate woman in Qatar to scale the 8,848-metre Himalayan giant.
Safrina reached the summit at 10:25 am Nepal time after a grueling 20-hour climb through freezing temperatures and harsh winds. Her achievement has earned her wide admiration both in Qatar and among the Malayali diaspora worldwide.
A resident of Qatar since 2001, Safrina lives in Doha with her husband Dr. Shameel Musthafa, a surgeon at Hamad Medical Corporation, and their daughter Minha.
Her Everest ascent is the culmination of years of dedication to high-altitude mountaineering. Safrina had earlier climbed Mount Kilimanjaro (5,895m) in Tanzania, Mount Elbrus (5,642m) in Russia, and Aconcagua (6,961m) in Argentina—often alongside her husband. She also underwent intensive ice training in Kazakhstan as part of her preparation for Everest.
After descending to Camp 2, Safrina thanked her family, friends, and the Elite Exped expedition team, whose guidance and support played a crucial role in the successful climb.
Her achievement has drawn praise from various quarters, particularly for serving as an inspiration to women and young girls pursuing their dreams in adventure sports and beyond.
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UP cites SC ruling 'no loudspeakers during night hours' to clarify mosque announcements for Ramzan
Lucknow (PTI): The Uttar Pradesh government on Thursday clarified its stand on announcements from mosques for 'sehri' and 'iftar' during Ramzan, saying the practice dates back to a time when clocks were not widely in use, and that the Supreme Court orders on use of loudspeakers remained in force.
Samajwadi Party member Kamal Akhtar raised the issue during Zero Hour in the Assembly, saying since festivals of all religions, including Holi, Diwali, Dussehra, Kanwar Yatra as well as Christian and Sikh celebrations, are observed in the state, mosques should be allowed to use loudspeakers for making announcements during the holy month of Ramzan that commenced on Thursday.
Akhtar said brief announcements are traditionally made from the mosques to inform people observing fast about the timings of ‘sehri’ (pre-dawn meal) and ‘iftar’ (meal to break the fast).
He also claimed that the government recently removed loudspeakers from most religious places, and urged it to permit mosque announcements during Ramzan to provide relief to people.
The Supreme Court prohibits the use of loudspeakers, public address systems, and sound-producing instruments from 10 pm to 6 am, except in closed premises such as auditoriums, conference rooms, and banquet halls for internal communication.
Responding to Akhtar, Finance and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Suresh Kumar Khanna said the Supreme Court has clearly directed that loudspeakers should not be used after 10 pm.
Even at weddings, police ensure compliance if complaints are received about loudspeakers being used beyond the stipulated time, he said.
Referring to the tradition of mosque announcements for ‘sehri’ and ‘iftar’, Khanna said the practice originated when clocks were not common and people estimated time by the position of the sun.
“Today, almost every person – whether a rickshaw puller, street vendor or vegetable seller – has a mobile phone that shows time. So the necessity is no longer there,” he said.
While the government does not interfere in anyone's religious beliefs, the Supreme Court has laid down the rules on the use of loudspeakers, and “it is not our order”, the minister said.
Claiming that the apex court order relates to sound levels and does not prohibit the use of loudspeakers, Akhtar urged the minister to allow the announcements during Ramzan.
The minister, however, did not offer any further reply.
