Discrimination & “Islamophobia”

Greens submit no-confidence motion in interior minister over alleged refugee discrimination Prime Minister Petteri Orpo (NCP) said on Thursday evening that Minister Rantanen continued to have his trust.

March 7, 2025 Unlisted Author

(Yle) The opposition Green Party has submitted a no-confidence motion in Interior Minister Mari Rantanen (Finns), following a report by the non-discrimination ombudsman regarding the ministry’s quota refugee arrangements. The Greens submitted the motion one day after the ombudsman issued a report […]

Ombudsman: Interior Ministry aimed to prevent Muslim refugees coming to Finland 'The government has seriously undermined the rights of asylum seekers and immigrants through several legislative changes,' the non-discrimination ombudsman's office stated.

March 6, 2025 Unlisted Author

(Yle) Finland’s Interior Ministry acted in a discriminatory manner as it prepared the country’s quota refugee plan for 2025, according to a report by the non-discrimination ombudsman’s office. The office found that the ministry favoured asylum seekers from Christian-majority countries when it […]

Ex-Tory MP to lead review of Islamophobia definition

February 28, 2025 Sam Francis

(BBC) The government has appointed former Conservative Attorney General Dominic Grieve to lead a review into creating a new definition of Islamophobia. Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner launched a new working group tasked with understanding and defining hate crime targeted against Muslims. […]

Surge in Arab, Muslim candidates in Illinois elections may be reflected across US: activists

February 25, 2025 Ray Hanania

(Arab News) The number of Arab and Muslim Americans seeking office in the state of Illinois has almost quadrupled from previous years’ elections, and some activists believe it is a response to the Gaza war, as well as rising anti-Arab racism and […]

CAIR slams Elon Musk for ‘reckless’ comment on American Muslim groups Muslim advocacy group warns Musk's remarks fuel Islamophobia, endanger communities and misrepresent nonprofit organizations

February 24, 2025 Servet Günerigök

(Anadolu) The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) condemned billionaire Elon Musk on Sunday for a comment on X that it says fuels Islamophobia and endangers American Muslim communities. The criticism came after Musk appeared to support a post falsely labeling Muslim and […]

Northwestern University mandatory anti-discrimination training pushes unverified CAIR data 'This omission is not an oversight; it reflects Northwestern's ongoing pattern of sidelining Jewish concerns in response to activist pressure,' anti-Semitism expert says

February 24, 2025 Jessica Costescu

(Free Beacon) Northwestern University’s mandatory anti-discrimination training relies on unverified data from the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) that inflate Islamophobic attacks, giving the false impression that those attacks vastly outpace anti-Semitic hate crimes. The training also questions anti-Zionism’s ties to Jew-hatred […]

In appeal to Muslims, Freeland pledges to scrap controversial CRA division Research and Analysis Division also in national security agency’s crosshairs

February 20, 2025 Raffy Boudjikanian

(CBC) Should she win the current federal Liberal leadership contest, Chrystia Freeland is pledging to scrap a controversial division of the Canada Revenue Agency that Muslim charities and civil liberties advocates have long accused of discriminatory auditing practices, CBC News has learned. […]

France’s Senate backs move to ban headscarf in sport

February 19, 2025 Unlisted Author

(AFP) France’s right-dominated Senate has backed a bill to ban religious symbols including the Muslim headscarf in all sport competitions, professional and amateur, sparking accusations of discrimination from the left and rights advocates. The bill still needs a majority of votes from […]

French lawmakers mull banning headscarves in sport. Amnesty International says it’s discriminatory

February 18, 2025 Samuel Petrequin

(AP) Amnesty International is urging French lawmakers to reject a bill this week that would ban headscarves in all sporting competitions. The bill is backed by right-wing senators and will be debated from Tuesday in the upper house of the French parliament. […]

France officially recognizes role of imam as profession Muslim chaplains working in hospitals, military recognized as part of public service

February 18, 2025 Esra Taskin

(Anadolu) The French government on Tuesday officially recognized the role of an imam as a profession, adding it to the list of occupations by the French Employment Agency. Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau made the announcement during the closing session of the second […]

Rabobank used discriminatory criteria in customer screenings, leaked document shows

February 16, 2025 Unlisted Author

(NL Times) Rabobank used potentially discriminatory criteria to identify possible terrorist financing in customer transactions, according to an internal document from 2017 obtained by Argos. The document outlined transactions flagged for further scrutiny, including the purchase of visas for Turkey, Islamic clothing, […]

Polish MEP faces three years in prison for liking a tweet The ECR co-chair could be stripped of his parliamentary immunity for 'inciting hatred against Muslims' after he clicked ‘like’ on a video depicting scenes of migrant violence.

February 12, 2025 Tamás Orbán

(European Conservative) Patryk Jaki MEP (Law and Justice; PiS) is beginning his “special trial” in Poland, after “liking” a Twitter post back in 2018 that showcased real security footage of migrant criminals. Polish prosecutors requested a three-year prison sentence for this “hate […]

Former JNF UK [trustee’s] Charity Commission disqualification order quashed Tribunal overturns two-and-half-year ban on Gary Mond, citing 'right to freedom of expression'

February 10, 2025 Lee Harpin

(Jewish News) A Charity Commission disqualification order against National Jewish Assembly chair Gary Mond has been quashed after a tribunal ruled in favour of his right to free speech. Mond was disqualified from acting as a charity trustee or senior manager for […]

French judge expels activist from courtroom over hijab ‘I was shocked when the judge shouted at me to leave just because I wore a hijab,’ says Hager Barkous

February 7, 2025 Hafsa Alami

(Anadolu) A French judge expelled Tunisian-French activist Hager Barkous from a courtroom in Nice last Friday because she was wearing a hijab. Barkous, 31, had attended the hearing of a fellow activist on trial for incitement to hatred after calling for a […]

Almere violated Muslims’ fundamental rights by secretly infiltrating mosques: ombudsman

February 4, 2025 Unlisted Author

(NL Times) The municipality of Almere violated Muslims’ fundamental rights to privacy and freedom of religion with its secret infiltration of mosques a few years ago, the ombudsman of the Amsterdam metropolitan region said in a report published on Tuesday. The ombudsman […]

Muslim council urges UK government to adopt Islamophobia definition Government plans to establish a council to advise on drawing up an official definition for anti-Muslim discrimination

February 4, 2025 Imran Mulla

(Middle East Eye) The Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) has urged the UK government to adopt the contentious definition of Islamophobia proposed in 2018 by the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for British Muslims in comments made to Middle East Eye. Earlier, it emerged that […]

Angela Rayner to create Islamophobia council as major free speech row looms — ‘Trojan horse for a blasphemy law!’ 'Time and again this Labour government displays an Orwellian disregard for freedom of speech,' Robert Jenrick has warned

February 4, 2025 James Saunders

(GB News) Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner is set to create a “council on Islamophobia” to draw up an official definition of the term. The 16-member council is said to provide advice to ministers on tackling Islamophobia, [and] ex-Tory Attorney General Dominic […]

France: Muslim private schools under threat of closure After French authorities ended the last association contract with a Muslim school, the community and its leaders denounce Islamophobic and discriminatory measures

February 3, 2025 Unlisted Author

(Middle East Eye) More than 600 primary and secondary students at the Al Kindi private Muslim school group, located in the suburbs of Lyon, in central-eastern France, risk not returning to their school at the start of the next academic year. On […]

Trump appointee: Palestinians are ‘fundamentally evil’ and not worthy of ‘any mercy’ Martin Oliner, a Trump-appointed member of the United States Holocaust Memorial Council, said the people of Gaza 'must pay a price for their actions'

February 2, 2025 Lubna Masarwa

(Middle East Eye) A Trump-appointed board member of the United States Holocaust Memorial Council launched a vitriolic attack on Palestinians in Gaza on Saturday, saying they are “fundamentally evil” and not worthy of “any mercy.” In an editorial in the Jerusalem Post […]

Muslim charities still being debanked despite Farage furore The Muslim charities group called for bank staff to undergo antiracism training as Islamophobia is suspected as one reason for account closures and halted payments. The Labour government committed to change the law to 'enhance consumer protections.'

January 29, 2025 Sarah Taaffe-Maguire

(Sky News) Muslim charities say they are still having their bank accounts closed without warning or explanation and face difficulties opening an account despite the political backlash after Nigel Farage’s high-profile debanking. It means charities face obstacles in carrying out their work, […]

Outgoing Muslim Council leader criticises lack of government contact

January 27, 2025 Neha Gohil

(BBC) When Zara Mohammed became the first female leader of one of the largest representative bodies for British Muslims in 2021, she already had a lot on her plate: rising Islamophobia, the Covid-19 pandemic, and a government refusing to engage with the […]

Mosque groups consider legal action against De Telegraaf

January 19, 2025 Unlisted Author

(NL Times) The K9, a coalition of regional mosque umbrella organizations in the Netherlands, is considering taking legal action against De Telegraaf, citing the newspaper’s alleged ongoing negative coverage of Muslims. The K9 claims the newspaper’s articles contribute to incitement and the […]

German Christmas market attack suspect held ‘anti-Islam, far-right’ views

January 16, 2025 Unlisted Author

(AFP) The suspect in a deadly car ramming attack on a German Christmas market was mentally unwell, “massively Islamophobic and close to right-wing extremist ideologies,” Interior Minister Nancy Faeser said Thursday. His erratic behaviour over the years had come to the attention […]

Manitoba PC leadership candidate asked to apologize for sharing post stating Muslim rival must be stopped Wally Daudrich campaign shared Facebook post declaring 'we must stop Muslim Obby Khan' from winning race

January 15, 2025 Bartley Kives

(CBC) A national Muslim advocacy organization says it’s “deeply alarmed” a candidate to lead Manitoba’s Progressive Conservative Party shared a Facebook entry that declared his Muslim rival must be prevented from winning the race. The National Council of Canadian Muslims has asked […]

French Muslims decry government actions against Islamic schools Measures against Islamic schools 'widely perceived as disproportionate and unjustified,' says French Council of Muslim Worship

January 15, 2025 Necva Taştan Sevinç

(Anadolu) The French Council of Muslim Worship (CFCM) has expressed “a profound sense of injustice and discrimination” following administrative decisions impacting several private Islamic schools in France. In a statement issued Tuesday, the council criticized the recent termination of state contracts with […]

Germany’s AfD sparks firestorm by distributing fake deportation tickets to migrants The incident comes as far-right leaders are embracing increasingly radical proposals to deport migrants en masse ahead of a national election.

January 14, 2025 Sasha Schroeder and Chris Lunday

(Politico) The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) has sparked a firestorm in Germany after a local party chapter in the southwestern city of Karlsruhe distributed thousands of fake plane tickets to migrants to be deported to their “safe country of origin.” “In […]

It’s ‘Islamophobic’ to demand Muslims integrate, Austrian state broadcaster says While antisemitic incidents increased by 160% in a year, government-funded ORF is concerned about Austrians’ attitude towards Muslims.

January 14, 2025 Zoltán Kottász

(European Conservative) Austrian citizens’ desire for Muslims to adapt to Austrian culture is “Islamophobic,” the country’s state broadcaster has claimed. According to a recently released study by the University of Vienna, 75% of Austrians agreed with the statement that Muslims should adapt […]

Outgoing Ottawa MPP apologizes for ‘inappropriate’ post blasted as Islamophobic Lisa MacLeod deletes posts about Muslim man seeking her seat in next provincial election

January 8, 2025 Arthur White-Crummey

(CBC) An outgoing Progressive Conservative MPP in Ottawa is apologizing for a social media post that criticized one of the people vying for her seat — a message Muslim groups say was Islamophobic and that the MPP herself has now acknowledged was […]

How French Muslims have wrestled with Charlie Hebdo‘s impact, 10 years on

January 7, 2025 Unlisted Author

(Radio France) The attack on Charlie Hebdo satirical magazine on 7 January 2015 triggered a wave of violence against Muslims across France and called into question the country’s approach to freedom of expression. The 2015 attack by the Paris-born Kouachi brothers, of Algerian descent, was […]

Austrian Muslims’ body demands clarification from state governor on anti-Islam remarks Lower Austria Governor Johanna Mikl-Leitner called for 'measures in the fight against Islam' in interview on Sunday evening

January 6, 2025 Timo Kirez

(Anadolu) The president of the Islamic Religious Community in Austria (IGGO), Umit Vural, on Monday, demanded a correction from Governor Johanna Mikl-Leitner of northeastern Lower Austria for her anti-Islam remarks. Mikl-Leitner had spoken out against new elections in Austria in an interview […]

Trump ally rebukes Republican’s anti-Muslim post after New Orleans attack

January 2, 2025 Mandy Taheri

(Newsweek) Richard Grenell, an ally of President-elect Donald Trump who is set to serve in a key diplomatic role soon, pushed back against a social media post by Republican Florida state Senator Randy Fine that called Islam a “fundamentally broken and dangerous […]

Switzerland’s burqa ban takes effect as of January 1 The question remains whether these laws are a step toward equality or a step backward in the protection of individual freedoms.

January 1, 2025 Issam Toutate

(Morocco World News) The controversial burqa ban has officially taken effect today, January 1, in Switzerland, prohibiting the wearing of full-face coverings in public spaces. The law, which passed through a nationwide referendum in 2021, echoes an ever-growing wave of restrictions and […]

UK Muslim group asks Tories to remove shadow justice secretary for ‘admiring’ far-right 'Ms (Kemi) Badenoch cannot allow what appears to be support for such Islamophobic and extreme content from a member of her shadow cabinet,' says head of Muslim Council of Britain

December 24, 2024 Burak Bir

(Anadolu) The Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) on Tuesday called on the main opposition Conservative Party to remove Robert Jenrick from his position as shadow justice secretary over leaked messages showing his admiration for a far-right social media account. The MCB issued […]

Germany probes warnings about man who ploughed into Christmas market

December 22, 2024 Unlisted Author

(DPA) There were mounting questions on Sunday about whether the deadly attack on a German Christmas market could have been prevented after it emerged that various authorities across the country had received warnings and tip-offs about the perpetrator. Five people were killed, […]

‘Insane’ Magdeburg Christmas market attack turns up heat on Germany’s politicians Reports that suspect was a refugee from Saudi Arabia who hated Muslims raise complicated questions during German election campaign.

December 21, 2024 Nette Nöstlinger and Victor Goury-Laffont

(Politico) The German government is reeling from an attack on a Christmas market in the city of Magdeburg that saw at least five people killed when a car apparently driven by an “Islamophobic” Saudi Arabian refugee plowed into Friday evening crowds. With […]

Suspect in deadly Christmas market attack railed against Islam, Germany

December 21, 2024 Céline Le Prioux and Frank Zeller

(AFP) The Saudi suspect in Germany’s deadly car-ramming attack on a Christmas market held strongly anti-Islam views and was angry with Germany’s migrant and asylum policy, officials said Saturday. Chancellor Olaf Scholz condemned the “terrible, insane” attack that killed five people and […]

Terrorist sues pub landlord over ‘deeply offensive’ Saracen’s Head sign claiming the image ‘scares him’

December 16, 2024 Danielle De Wolfe

(LBC) A convicted terrorist is suing a British pub over claims its sign is “deeply offensive” and the image “scares him.” Khalid Baqa, who has previously served four years behind bars for preparing jihadi propaganda, is suing the Saracen’s Head Inn in […]

Failed judicial nominee Adeel Mangi lashes out at Democrats, predicts ‘tsunami of bigotry’ under Trump Mangi's nomination stalled after Free Beacon reports on his links to anti-Israel and anti-police groups

December 16, 2024 Chuck Ross

(Free Beacon) Biden judicial nominee Adeel Mangi, who came under fire over his links to anti-Israel and anti-police groups, lashed out at “dark money” forces and some Senate Democrats on Monday, his first remarks following the collapse of his nomination to serve […]

Dutch court to rule on legality of discussing Muslim Jew-hate 'Facts can never be a criminal offense,' said Deputy Prime Minister Mona Keijzer, who has appealed after being charged with incitement to intolerance in July.

December 16, 2024 Canaan Lidor

(JNS) A Dutch court will need to determine if it’s illegal to discuss antisemitism in the context of Muslim culture, following an appeal by a deputy prime minister regarding hate crime allegations leveled against her. Mona Keijzer, who is also the minister […]

Anti-Semitism is being weaponised by politicians: A’dam mayor

December 16, 2024 Unlisted Author

(Dutch News) Amsterdam mayor Femke Halsema has spoken out about anti-Semitism and anti-Muslim sentiment in a wide-ranging interview with the Volkskrant, in which she reflected on a turbulent year in the capital’s history. Halsema said she is “worried about human rights and […]

US Islamophobia strategy doesn’t list Jewish groups, though CAIR advised Jew-hatred approach 'The strategy contains more than 100 executive branch actions and more than 100 calls to action to every sector of society,' per the White House.

December 14, 2024 Unlisted Author

(JNS) The White House’s first-ever “U.S. National Strategy to Counter Islamophobia and Anti-Arab Hate,” which the Biden administration announced on Thursday, runs for 67 pages. It features “more than 100 executive branch actions and more than 100 calls to action to every […]

White House releases national strategy to combat Islamophobia

December 12, 2024 Will Weissert

(AP) The White House on Thursday announced what it called the first-ever national strategy to counter Islamophobia, detailing more than 100 steps federal officials are taking to curb hate, violence, bias and discrimination against Muslims and Arab Americans. The proposal follows a […]

Sergeant cleared of misconduct at Hindu procession

December 12, 2024 Jeremy Ball

(BBC) A Leicester police officer who sparked international headlines over religious tensions has been cleared of misconduct by an independent investigation. Thousands of people signed a petition calling for Sgt Adam Ahmed to be suspended after he stopped a Hindu procession and […]

MPs call for crackdown on student protest encampments, ban on display of terror symbols Many recommendations in the antisemitism and Islamophobia reports were rejected by Conservative, Bloc MPs

December 11, 2024 Raffy Boudjikanian

(CBC) In two reports on antisemitism and Islamophobia in Canada, Liberal and NDP MPs on the House of Commons justice committee said Ottawa should take steps to keep student protest encampments off university grounds, criminally ban the display of terrorist emblems and recognize […]

Burkini ban at Flemish swimming area deemed discriminatory

December 10, 2024 Unlisted Author

(Brussels Times) The province of Flemish Brabant has been accused of discrimination for banning full-body swimsuits at the Halve Maan provincial domain in Diest, according to a ruling by the Flemish Human Rights Institute on Monday. In July 2023, a community centre […]

France’s only Muslim high school faces potential contract termination France’s Muslim community has been grappling with the country’s increasing anti-Islamization measures.

December 4, 2024 Safaa Kasraoui

(Morocco World News) Al Kindi, the only Muslim private high school in France, is facing the threat of contract termination by the Rhone prefecture. The threat could potentially end the school’s official association with the state. According to the website Lyon Capitale, […]

Germany: Victim of Islamist stabbing attack fined for inciting hatred against Muslims

November 30, 2024 Kurt Zindulka

(Breitbart) A German political activist who was the victim of an Islamist knife attack during a rally in Mannheim in May has been fined for supposedly inciting hatred against Muslim migrants. Michael Stürzenberger, 60, was fined this week by the Hamburg Regional Court […]

Trump backs staunchly anti-Muslim Florida lawmaker to run for US Congress Florida State Senator Randy Fine, who celebrated Israel’s killing of a US citizen, gets president-elect’s support.

November 24, 2024 Unlisted Author

(Al-Jazeera) United States President-elect Donald Trump is encouraging a Florida legislator who celebrated the killing of an American citizen by the Israeli military to run for Congress. Trump said in a social media post on Sunday that if State Senator Randy Fine […]

Interior Ministry to review refugee quota plans following backlash According to media reports, the Finns Party had proposed reducing the number of quota refugees accepted from Muslim-majority countries while increasing the intake from Christian-majority nations.

November 22, 2024 Unlisted Author

(Yle) Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo (NCP) has requested that the Interior Ministry review its plans on how Finland’s refugee quota will be allocated next year. Finnish media reported last month that the Finns Party has proposed reducing the number of quota […]

Denmark court convicts far-right Islamophobe politician Paludan for racist remarks Rasmus Paludan shows no remorse, announces not to appeal his Copenhagen City Court conviction to High Court

November 22, 2024 Ebad Ahmed

(Anadolu) The Copenhagen City Court on Friday convicted far-right Islamophobe politician Rasmus Paludan after finding him guilty of racism based on a statement he made during a demonstration in 2019, the official Danish broadcaster reported. According to DR TV, Paludan was seen […]