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Quebec government to sit through weekend to ram through immigration, religious symbols bills Premier Legault will invoke closure to ensure its flagship legislation, Bills 9 and 21, pass before summer

(CBC) The Coalition Avenir Québec government will invoke closure this weekend to force passage of two controversial pieces of legislation — one that reforms the province’s immigration system and another that bars civil servants in positions of authority from wearing religious symbols. The centre-right party […]

Clerics & Preachers

Sweden to deport Iraqi imam: reports

(AFP) Sweden is to deport three foreigners including an Iraqi imam suspected of playing a central role in an Islamist movement, media reports said Wednesday, quoting the Swedish migration office. Counter-terrorism police arrested Abu Raad, the imam of a mosque in the […]

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Quebec government aims to define religious symbols in amendment to secularism bill Move is seen as a concession to ensure bill will pass on Friday

(CBC) The Quebec government is offering a first concession to critics of its proposed law restricting religious symbols worn by some civil servants. Tuesday afternoon, Immigration Minister Simon Jolin-Barrette tabled the amendment which would define what a religious symbol is. The amendment seeks to define a religious symbol […]

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Muslim Council demands apology for Cologne police ‘racial profiling’ Cologne police have denied that brief detentions of Ramadan revelers at the city's rail hub amounted to 'racial profiling.' Germany's Central Council of Muslims says officers need coaching in cultural sensitivity.

(Deutsche Welle) Calls of “Allahu Akbar” [“God is great”] by young Muslims wearing long gowns and vests outside Cologne’s main rail station culminated on Wednesday in counter-accusations between city police and the Central Council of Muslims in Germany (ZMD). Police chief Uwe […]

Demonstrations

British Al Quds march organiser should be probed by counter-terror police — report Islamic Human Rights Commission permeated 'at every level' by extremism, according to UK think tank

(National-UAE) A group which organises the annual Al Quds Day march in London should be investigated by Britain’s counter-terror police, according to a recommendation by a leading think tank. A report published on Thursday by the Henry Jackson Society investigating the Islamic […]

Academics & Education

Germany: Leading politicians call for a ‘European Islam’ Everyday measures are key to preserving the European way [of] life, say Germany's health minister and the premier of Schleswig-Holstein state. Jens Spahn and Daniel Günther want a faith that shares the continent's values.

(Deutsche Welle) Two senior German politicians have called for a more progressive form of Islam in order to align the religion with the European way of life. Health Minister Jens Spahn and Schleswig-Holstein State Premier Daniel Günther published the appeal Thursday in […]