Academics & Education

German state bans burqas, niqabs in schools Baden-Württemberg will now ban full-face coverings for all school children. State Premier Winfried Kretschmann said burqas and niqabs did not belong in a free society. A similar rule for teachers was already in place.

(Deutsche Welle) The government of the western German state of Baden-Württemberg agreed on Tuesday to ban full-face coverings, often known as burqa or niqab, in schools. The new rule comes as the topic of Muslim face coverings has been hotly debated in […]

Government & Politics

New French PM says battle against ‘radical Islamism’ a priority Castex said a law to combat 'separatism' will be introduced after summer, but critics say Muslims will be targeted.

(Al-Jazeera) France’s newly-appointed prime minister, Jean Castex, has vowed to be “intransigent” in defending France’s official secularism, promising to fight “radical Islamism in all its forms” as “an absolute priority.” Unveiling new government policy in Paris on Wednesday, Castex told the National […]

Law Enforcement

Police in Germany conduct raids on suspected Islamists in Berlin Berlin police are investigating 12 suspects who are accused of financing terrorism, among other crimes. Investigators have carried out a total of 20 search warrants.

(Deutsche Welle) Investigators from Berlin’s Office of Criminal Investigation (LKA) are executing 20 search warrants against 12 suspects from the Islamist scene, Berlin’s public prosecutor’s office said on Wednesday. A total of 450 officers and police officials were deployed in the operation, […]

Animals

Jewish and Muslim leaders unite ahead of hearing into Belgian kosher-halal ban Chief Rabbi Pinchas Goldschmidt and Shiekh Dr Mohammad bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa issue joint statement saying it would not be justified to stop faiths practicing religious slaughter

(Jewish News) Senior Jewish and Muslim leaders this week issued a joint plea ahead of a European Court of Justice hearing into the legality of a Belgian ban on religious slaughter. Standing together on the issue were Chief Rabbi Pinchas Goldschmidt, president […]