Clerics & Preachers

Over 400 UK imams reject new extremism definition targeting Muslim groups Religious scholars accuse government of 'divisive tactics' and attempting to crack down on groups opposed to Israeli actions against Palestinians

(Middle East Eye) Over 400 British imams and religious scholars have signed a letter rejecting a new UK government definition of extremism that targeted several British Muslim organisations. Last week, Communities Secretary Michael Gove announced a contentious new definition of extremism, though the […]

Clothing

Appeals court rules police justified to forcibly remove hijabs from asylum seekers The two women — citing their religious beliefs — refused to remove their head coverings for police to take registration photos, which were required in order to process their asylum applications.

(Yle) The Court of Appeal in Turku has ruled that police officers were justified in their actions when they forcibly removed hijab head coverings from two female asylum seekers during an incident at a police station in the city of Hämeenlinna in […]

Government & Politics

FBI: Since Oct. 7, ‘almost every major terrorist org in world’ has threatened US 'We’ve also seen an uptick in threats against the Jewish community here in the United States and abroad,' said Robert Wells, assistant director of the FBI’s counterterrorism division.

(JNS) The United States has been in a “heightened terrorism threat environment” since Hamas’s Oct. 7 terror attack on Israel, and “almost every major terrorist organization in the world,” including Al-Qaeda and ISIS, have called for terror attacks against the United States, […]

Interfaith

Pew: Half of US Muslims say ‘valid’ Hamas reasons to fight Israel, 21% say Oct. 7 attack ‘acceptable’ Just 18% of U.S. Muslims said that Israel had valid reasons to go to war against Hamas.

(JNS) Regardless of how they feel about Oct. 7, almost half of U.S. Muslim adults (49%) say that Hamas had “valid” reasons to fight Israel, and 21% of that demographic said that Hamas’s terror attack on Oct. 7 was either “completely acceptable” […]

Demonstrations

Germany detains two IS suspects over Swedish attack plan German police have arrested two suspected Islamists for allegedly planning a firearms attack near the Swedish parliament.

(Deutsche Welle) Germany’s Federal Prosecutor’s Office on Tuesday said two suspected supporters of the so-called “Islamic State” (IS) jihadist militia had been arrested in the central German state of Thuringia. Prosecutors allege that the two Afghan nationals had hatched a plot to carry out an attack […]

Employment

Report: UK group probed for urging Muslim civil servants to spread anti-Israel views Civil Service Muslim Network suspended by deputy PM pending findings; its webinars found to portray Gaza war as fight between ‘good’ Hamas and ‘evil’ Israel, use antisemitic tropes

(Times of Israel) A British network that represents and supports Muslim civil servants was suspended by the government pending an investigation, after it was accused of trying to influence members to force the United Kingdom to change its stance on the Israel-Hamas […]

Discrimination & “Islamophobia”

UK terror attack survivors condemn anti-Muslim hatred in joint letter The signatories, including survivors and relatives of people who have been killed by extremists, have criticised some politicians for 'facilitating anti-Muslim hate.'

(Sky News) More than 50 victims of Islamist-inspired terror attacks, including the Manchester Arena bombing and Bataclan shooting, have joined together to call for an end to anti-Muslim hate. In a joint letter, they warn that it is the “height of irresponsibility” […]

Demonstrations

Michael Gove says ‘good-hearted people’ at pro-Palestine marches should question potential ‘extremist organisers’ Tens of thousands of people participated in a Gaza protest on Saturday in London — the fifth march in the capital this year — which saw five arrests and a counter-protester de-arrested.

(Sky News) Michael Gove has urged pro-Palestinian protesters to question whether extremist groups are behind some of the demonstrations — days ahead of publishing a new official definition of extremism. The housing secretary said “good-hearted people” attending the marches should be aware […]

News: Europe

Poll shows Muslims ‘happier in Britain than other European nations’ The Institute for the Impact of Faith in Life found that British Muslims are happier here than in most other European nations.

(New Arab) British Muslims living in the UK are happier than their co-religionists living in other European nations, a survey commissioned by the Institute for the Impact of Faith in Life (IIFL) has reported. The survey also found that they feel optimistic about […]

Demonstrations

Judge who failed to jail paraglider symbol London protest trio to be investigated Judge Tan Ikram spared the three women prison after they were convicted of terror offences at pro-Palestinian protest

(Jewish News) A senior judge who faced a barrage of criticism after he “decided not to punish” three women who had displayed paraglider images at a pro-Palestinian protest in London is to be investigated over alleged bias, reports say. Tan Ikram, the deputy chief magistrate, who allowed […]

Clerics & Preachers

Hate preachers to be blocked from entering the UK in fresh crackdown on extremism Ministers already have powers to block people who are 'non-conducive to the public good' — and believe they can be extended to include individuals preaching racism and incitement.

(Sky News) Hate preachers are to be banned from entering the UK. It is understood that officials will identify the most dangerous extremists from countries including Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Indonesia and add them to a warning list. Anyone on that list will […]