Government & Politics

UK: Prevent review ‘will go ahead’ following concerns by rights groups Conservative party pledges to review counter-terrorism strategy facing renewed criticism from Muslim community

(Middle East Eye) The British government said it will continue its review of the controversial Prevent strategy amid concerns by rights groups that the Conservative Party was planning to scrap its report into the counter-terrorism scheme. Prevent is a strand of the […]

Government & Politics

Trump weighs travel ban expansion in coming days The Trump administration is eyeing seven countries for new immigration restrictions three years after its original order, which created an uproar for targeting Muslim-majority nations.

(Politico) President Donald Trump may expand his controversial travel ban with an announcement expected as early as Monday, the three-year anniversary of the original order, which targeted several majority-Muslim nations. The list of countries is not yet final and could be changed, […]

Government & Politics

‘End Prevent’: UK government faces new calls to drop counter-terrorism strategy Academics and activists call for 'alternative approach' as government's own promised review of contentious programme remains stalled

(Middle East Eye) The British government is facing fresh calls to abolish its Prevent strategy amid uncertainty over the future of its own suspended review of the contentious counter-terrorism programme. More than 100 academics, activists and public figures opposed to the strategy […]

Clothing

Civil rights groups challenging Quebec’s religious symbols ban file appeal to Canada’s top court Request for appeal was filed in a 27-page brief Friday

(CBC) Civil rights groups challenging Quebec’s controversial ban on religious symbols have filed an appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada. Last month, Quebec’s Court of Appeal rejected a request to suspend portions of the law, known as Bill 21, pending a ruling on its constitutionality. […]

Government & Politics

More than 120 members of Congress issue letters of support to leading anti-Israel group Congressional support for CAIR likely to generate concern in pro-Israel community

(Free Beacon) More than 120 members of Congress privately issued letters of support to a controversial Islamic-American advocacy group known for its involvement in one of America’s most prominent terrorism financing cases, according to a copy of these official communications obtained by […]

Government & Politics

Pensacola Navy base shooting was ‘act of terrorism,’ attorney general says An investigation revealed that the gunman, Mohammed Saeed Alshamrani, posted anti-American, anti-Israeli and jihadi messages on his social media.

(Politico) The shooting by a Saudi national that killed three American troops at a Pensacola Navy base last year was an act of terrorism, Attorney General William Barr announced today. An investigation revealed that the gunman, Mohammed Saeed Alshamrani, posted anti-American, anti-Israeli […]

Government & Politics

Man convicted of joining ISIS says he was a spy for Danish intelligence Ahmed Samsam claims he travelled to Syria on behalf of police and defence services in Denmark

(National-UAE) A Danish man who is serving eight years in a Spanish jail for joining ISIS in Syria has claimed he was actually working for Denmark’s intelligence services. Ahmed Samsam, 30, travelled to Syria “several” times under the direction of Denmark’s Police […]

Academics & Education

Would Turkish schools in Germany increase Erdogan’s influence abroad? The German government is working out a possible framework for opening Turkish schools in three German cities. DW dives into what that would look like in practice.

(Deutsche Welle) The German government announced on Friday negotiations with Ankara to create a framework for Turkish schools to be opened in Berlin, Cologne and Frankfurt, sparking debate over the schools’ role in increasing Turkish President [Recep Tayyip] Erdogan’s political influence abroad. […]