Government & Politics

Is Finland looking to repatriate ‘terrorists’? 5 relevant questions about the security issues around Finns held at al-Hol Finnish citizens in Syria pose a security risk that is not removed by leaving them in a prison camp.

(Yle) Finnish women should not be repatriated from the camp, because they are a security risk. That’s the reasoning of those opposed to bringing back Finnish citizens in the al-Hol camp in northern Syria, which holds refugees from the war in Syria […]

Immigration

Germany: Police presence on migrant deportation flights nearly doubles The number of police officers escorting deported migrants from Germany has risen sharply over the past four years. Security staff are feeling the strain over safety concerns and distant destinations.

(Deutsche Welle) The number of police officers accompanying deportation flights in Germany has nearly doubled in four years, despite overall deportations decreasing. There were nearly 11,000 police officers on deportation flights in 2018, compared with 5,841 in 2014 — a jump of 5,639 in a […]

Academics & Education

Rep. Rashida Tlaib’s talk will happen, perhaps even at Poway school ‘I regret there is so much misunderstanding,’ school board president says after district pulled permit

(SD Union-Tribune) The abrupt withdrawal of a permit allowing Rep. Rashida Tlaib to speak at the Westview High School theater, reportedly to allow staff time to clean the facility before the holiday break, will not block the Democratic congresswoman’s visit, organizers say. […]

Clothing

‘We will keep on fighting’: Muslim women devastated by Appeal Court decision to uphold Bill 21 Amal Sassi, who came to Quebec to pursue a teaching career, had hoped for a ruling allowing her to continue

(CBC) Amal Sassi was counting on Quebec’s highest court to suspend the province’s controversial secularism law, so she kept her head buried in her books Thursday and focused on studying for her final exams. When she stepped out and heard the news that […]

Clothing

Quebec’s top court won’t suspend province’s religious symbols ban, but judges say rights being violated Province’s controversial Bill 21 passes major legal test; opponents vow to continue fight

(CBC) Quebec’s Court of Appeal has refused to suspend the province’s controversial ban on religious symbols, even while acknowledging it causes “irreparable harm” to those affected. The province’s top court was ruling on a request to stay sections of the Laicity Act, or Bill 21, […]

Children & Teens

Yle sources: Foreign Ministry prepped plan for Finns who wanted to leave al-Hol refugee camp Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto continued to deny the existence of a firm plan, saying that several options were explored.

(Yle) The Foreign Ministry took the lead in planning an operation to repatriate Finnish nationals who wanted to return to Finland from the al-Hol refugee camp in Syria, according to official documents seen by Yle. The material indicated that the draft plan […]

Internet

Richardson man who called for slaughter of ‘infidels’ in name of ISIS gets 30 years in prison Said Rahim was arrested at an airport before he could board a plane for the Middle East, where prosecutors say he planned to join ISIS.

(Dallas Morning News) Said Azzam Mohamad Rahim lived a comfortable life in North Texas, where he operated his own convenience store. But he wanted more, prosecutors say: war, murder and jihad. As a result, the 43-year-old Richardson man will spend the next […]

Government & Politics

French senator warns of ISIS attack over monitoring failings on anniversary of Strasbourg atrocity French senator Nathalie Goulet warns France’s terror surveillance systems are inadequate

(National-UAE) A major European counterterrorism politician has warned that France’s monitoring of extremists is still failing a year after a terror attack in Strasbourg. ISIS extremist Cherif Chekatt killed five people and wounded 11 others during a shooting and stabbing spree at […]

Books

Regnery Publishing accuses CAIR of ‘smear campaign’ for effort to ban book on Confederacy Council calls on booksellers to stop selling 'pro-Confederate and white supremacist' titles

(Washington Times) “The Politically Incorrect Guide to the Civil War” may not appear on everyone’s Christmas list, but an effort by the Council [on] American-Islamic Relations to ban the book has met with resistance from the publisher and author. Regnery Publishing President […]

Government & Politics

Turkey deports 2 German citizens over Daesh/ISIS links Continuing program of returns, Turkey repatriates 2 foreign terrorist fighters with German citizenship

(Anadolu) Turkey has deported two German citizens over links to the Daesh/ISIS terrorist group, Turkish officials announced on Wednesday. An Interior Ministry statement said the extradition process continues for other foreign terrorist fighters in Turkey. The issue of the handling of Daesh/ISIS […]