Interfaith

Police say man professing ‘love’ for Hamas was just ‘amicably arguing’ for his cause Exclusive: Jewish News supplied video of the incident on Oxford Street to the police along with the man's mobile number and email address. Police have refused to investigate, saying the proud terrorist sympathiser was legally 'supporting his own view.'

(Jewish News) Police have refused to investigate a vile video of a man declaring “love and support” for Hamas, saying the footage shows the terrorist sympathiser “amicably arguing” for his cause. Jewish News supplied video [of] the incident on Oxford Street on […]

Clerics & Preachers

France to cease acceptance of foreign-appointed imams starting 2024 France’s history of controversial measures has fueled concerns that this latest move is a continuation of policies targeting Islamic practices.

(Morocco World News) French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin has announced that France will no longer accept new “detached imams” from foreign countries starting on January 1, 2024. The announcement follows President Emmanuel Macron’s 2020 decision to end the presence of around 300 […]

Christians

Police ramp up security at Cologne Cathedral for New Year’s German authorities are on high alert following a warning about a possible attack on the Cologne Cathedral on New Year's Eve.

(Deutsche Welle) Authorities in the German city of Cologne have increased security measures around its cathedral ahead of New Year’s Eve. Police officers armed with submachine guns were being deployed to protect people planning to ring in the new year near the […]

Demonstrations

Police in Berlin ban pro-Palestinian New Year rally Authorities in Berlin have said the planned pro-Palestinian rally would carry a risk of 'crimes,' including displays of antisemitism and glorification of violence.

(Deutsche Welle) Berlin police announced on Saturday that a pro-Palestinian rally scheduled for New Year’s Eve in Berlin’s Neukölln district should not take place. Officials said the decision had been taken because of an imminent danger “that the gathering will result in […]

Government & Politics

Muslim community leaders will meet in Chicago to push campaign against Biden as deaths mount in Israel-Hamas war Chicago’s #AbandonBiden event is scheduled to coincide with the annual Muslim American Society and Islamic Circle of North America convention, expected to draw more than 30,000 to McCormick Place over the weekend.

(Chicago Sun-Times) Muslim community leaders from across the country will rally in Chicago Saturday, calling for voters to drop their support for President Joe Biden because of his administration’s refusal to call for a cease-fire in Gaza as the civilian death toll […]

Academics & Education

Penalizing satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo for defamation is ‘historic’: Muslim association Court fined magazine's editor-in-chief, another journalist $3,330 each for linking school to Muslim Brotherhood

(Anadolu) Penalizing the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo for defamation is a “historical decision,” a Muslim association said. The controversial magazine was fined on Dec. 22 for defaming the Muslim school “Valeurs et Reussite” in France’s southeastern town of Valence. The school […]

Cemeteries & Funerals

One of two Australian men killed in Lebanon by air strike linked to Hezbollah, reports claim Iranian-backed militant group Hezbollah claims an Australian man killed by an air strike in southern Lebanon fought for the terrorist organisation.

(NCA NewsWire) Iranian-backed militant group Hezbollah claims one of two Australian men killed by an air strike in southern Lebanon was one of its fighters. Ali Bazzi, 30, was killed after a suspected Israeli air strike hit a two-storey building in the […]

Government & Politics

Austria wants to tap Islamists’ messenger apps amid Europe terrorism fears Germany and Austria arrest a group of people from Tajikistan over warnings of a New Year's Eve attack

(National-UAE) Austria’s interior minister is calling for the security services to be given access to suspects’ messenger apps in an attempt to thwart terrorist attacks. [This] comes after five people from Tajikistan were arrested in Austria and Germany with European nations on […]

Cemeteries & Funerals

NSW Police monitoring a Sydney mosque which announced commemorative service for Hezbollah militant killed in Lebanon Sydney mosque Al Rahman has been revealed to be hosting a memorial service this week for a Hezbollah terrorist killed in Lebanon while fighting with Israel.

(Sky News) NSW Police say they are monitoring Al Rahman Mosque as it holds a commemorative service for Hezbollah fighter Hussein Ibrahim Salameh, known as Nasser, killed in Lebanon this month. On Christmas Eve, Hezbollah announced six militants were killed between December […]

Christians

Warning of ‘increased risk’ of ISIS terror attacks across Europe on New Year’s Eve Experts say terror group remains a 'serious threat' as arrests made in Spain, Austria, France and Germany

(National-UAE) Security services across Europe have uncovered an ISIS plot to use explosives to target churches. Counter-terrorism experts say the group remains a “serious threat” and is taking advantage of the conflict in Gaza to motivate its supporters. Over the Christmas period, […]

Christians

Germany: Man detained over Cologne Cathedral threat Police said a 30-year-old man would be detained until 7 January. German police had received an alert that a group may be planning an attack on the Cologne Cathedral on New Year's Eve.

(Deutsche Welle) German police said on Tuesday they had detained a man in connection with a dangerous threat at the iconic Cologne Cathedral in the western state of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW). Police announced the arrest of five men after searching an apartment in Wesel, some […]

Government & Politics

‘You no longer represent us’: New Jersey Muslims mobilize against longtime congressman over Israel stance A constituency that helped him keep his seat a decade ago now wants him out of office.

(Politico) Last time Rep. Bill Pascrell faced a serious primary challenge, he ended up winning by a 20-point margin after the Arab American community rallied in support of the New Jersey Democrat. Now that same constituency is turning against him, posing a […]

News: Europe

‘Threat-board flashes red’ over Gaza radicalisation spilling into Europe Continued Israeli military operation is driving more people into the arms of extremists, experts tell the National

(National-UAE) Widespread terrorist attacks by Islamic extremists in Europe are a genuine prospect as a result of the mounting deaths in Gaza, security analysts have told the National. While increased state surveillance has made it difficult to mount spectacular attacks such as […]

Legal

Man jailed for spying on Iran International TV channel in London to help terror plotters Magomed-Husejn Dovtaev told the jury at his Old Bailey trial he 'quite simply liked' the buildings and architecture surrounding the west London headquarters of the Iranian television channel.

(Sky News) A Chechen-born man has been jailed after being found guilty of spying on a London-based dissident Iranian TV station to help terror plotters. Magomed-Husejn Dovtaev, 31, was accused of conducting surveillance on the west London headquarters of Iran International as […]

Legal

Germany charges 2 Syrians with war crimes over IS ties Authorities accuse the two Syrians in German custody of membership in a terrorist group and having committed war crimes in Damascus a decade ago.

(Deutsche Welle) German prosecutors have charged two Syrian men with war crimes they are accused of having committed some 10 years ago in the Syrian capital Damascus, as part of the so-called Islamic State militant group. In line with German privacy rules, the […]

Government & Politics

Lawmakers criticize Associated Press for declining to classify Hamas as a terrorist group Guidance from the news service’s influential style guide urges against utilizing the terms ‘terrorist’ and ‘terrorism’ to describe Hamas and its Oct. 7 attack on Israel

(Jewish Insider) A bipartisan group of House lawmakers sent a letter on Friday criticizing the Associated Press and its style guide for guidance that advises against using the terms “terrorist” and “terrorism” to describe Hamas and its Oct. 7 attack on Israel. […]

Crime

Germany braces for potential New Year’s Eve riots Police have stepped up preparations to deal with violence against them and emergency service staff on New Year's Eve. There are worries that the situation in the Middle East could worsen the problem.

(Deutsche Welle) Germany’s Interior Minister Nancy Faeser said she fears a repeat of New Year rioting and attacks on emergency services in Berlin and other cities. “I’m worried that New Year’s Eve could once again be a day on which we are forced […]

Government & Politics

CAIR quietly scrubs Democrats’ praise for group after blowback over leader’s pro-Hamas comments Nihad Awad, CAIR's executive director, said he was 'happy to see' Hamas attack Israel

(Fox) The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) appears to have scrubbed Democratic lawmakers’ praise for its group from its website following blowback over its leader’s controversial statements regarding Hamas, Fox News Digital has discovered. Nihad Awad, CAIR’s executive director, recently said he […]

Government & Politics

Rep. Jahana Hayes met with Connecticut CAIR chapter earlier this month Other Democrats have distanced themselves from CAIR after its executive director praised the Oct. 7 Hamas attack

(Jewish Insider) Rep. Jahana Hayes (D-CT) met with affiliates of the Council on American-Islamic Relations’ (CAIR) Connecticut chapter in early December, according to a Facebook post from the group. CAIR has come under recent scrutiny over its supportive rhetoric regarding Hamas’ Oct. […]