Children & Teens

Families of French IS members in Syria battle to bring them back Families in France are growing more determined to bring back relatives who left to join the so-called Islamic State. Dozens of French women and children recently vanished from the radar, leaving relatives desperate.

(Deutsche Welle) Antoine* is used to standing his ground. The trade unionist has defended workers’ rights his whole life. But when his daughter M. suddenly left to join so-called Islamic State (IS) in Iraq five years ago, he hit rock bottom. “It […]

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 […]

Children & Teens

Syrian in forced marriage attempt charged with Malta’s first honour crime Man remanded in custody after allegedly beating his teenage daughter and trying to force her into an arranged marriage

(Malta Today) “Help me, please help me,” were the first words a 15-year-old girl told the police when they stormed her house to arrest her father, who was charged earlier today with Malta’s first “honour crime.” The man, from Syria, was remanded […]

Children & Teens

Female genital mutilation: Report shows 68,000 victims in Germany A report estimates that the number of victims of female genital mutilation in Germany has increased by 44% since 2017, and nearly 15,000 girls may be at risk. The minister responsible linked the increase to migration.

(Deutsche Welle) The amount of women and girls in Germany who have undergone female genital mutilation (FGM) has increased to 68,000, the families minister announced Thursday. The increase, up 44% from the last estimated total calculated in 2017, was attributed to greater […]

Academics & Education

FGM declining in Finland, school health survey suggests Eighty out of over 35,000 girls who responded to the survey said they had been subjected to female genital mutilation.

(Yle) Some 80 girls in Finland reported having undergone female genital mutilation (FGM), according to a school health survey by the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, THL. The agency’s 2019 school health survey asked over 35,000 girls in upper secondary and […]

Academics & Education

Brampton principal ‘temporarily removed’ after alleged Islamophobic remark ​Muslim group says board for Brampton, Mississauga, Caledon didn’t ‘go far enough’

(Brampton Guardian) A national Muslim organization is demanding the public school board for Peel take further action in light of alleged Islamophobic remarks made by a Brampton high school principal. On May 27, Central Peel Secondary School principal Julie DeMaeyer was “temporarily […]