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. […]

Government & Politics

Israel’s UN envoy calls for action against ‘anti-Semite of the year’ Ilhan Omar The congresswoman sparked controversy last year by making statements that Jewish groups and her congressional colleagues called anti-Semitic

(Haaretz) Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, on Monday encouraged “action” against U.S. Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, directly meddling in American politics. Taking to Twitter, Danon referred to the right-wing Stop Antisemitism organization that “just named Congresswoman Omar its 2019 anti-Semite […]

Government & Politics

Ilhan Omar named 2019 anti-Semite of the year

(Free Beacon) Rep. Ilhan Omar (D., Minn.) was named the 2019 anti-Semite of the year by an organization that seeks to combat the spread of anti-Jewish bias. The organization StopAntiSemitism.org chose Omar, who has repeatedly spread anti-Israel and anti-Semitic conspiracy theories, following […]

Government & Politics

Border stops for people of Iranian descent spark outrage The reaction to the detentions at a Canadian crossing and a New York airport came after the U.S. killing of an Iranian military commander.

(Politico) Reports of Iranians and Iranian-Americans being detained for questioning upon entering the U.S. kicked off a furor on Sunday from Washington state to Washington, D.C., marking a new domestic blowback to the Trump administration’s targeted killing of a key Iranian leader. […]

Government & Politics

Fearing Soleimani reprisal, Germany revises terror threat level The country's top police institution fears Israeli and US facilities could be targeted by terrorists following the assassination of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani. Many German states are already on high alert.

(Deutsche Welle) Germany has revised its terror threat levels at home and abroad following the assassination of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani, the country’s Interior Ministry said, confirming an earlier report by a German newspaper. Updated guidance was sent to police in Germany’s 16 states by […]

Discrimination & “Islamophobia”

Denmark: Young women fight the government’s ghetto list Denmark draws up a list of areas it dubs 'ghettos' every year. This time, a group of young women from one of the vulnerable neighborhoods has been trying to put a stop to what they see as stigmatization.

(Deutsche Welle) This year four young women from one of Denmark’s so-called ghettos, Tingbjerg, had had enough. In an open letter to Housing Minister Kaare Dybvad, they protested against the annual “ghetto list” of underprivileged neighborhoods that the Danish government presents each […]

Government & Politics

The unexpected alliance between Muslims and Jews in Congress Muslims and Jews, some who are visibly identifiable by the clothes and headgear they wear, are together, increasingly visiting elected officials in Congress and state legislatures.

(Jerusalem Post) As the second decade of the 21st century ends with heightened partisanship descending to new depths of divisiveness, the positive evolution of Jewish-Muslim interactions and cooperation in the United States are a welcome and hopeful indication that seemingly irredeemable rivals […]

Children & Teens

Denmark blocks return of ISIS fighters’ children stranded in Syria Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said children should remain with their parents, who are not welcome in Denmark

(National-UAE) Denmark will not allow the return of about 30 children whose parents travelled to Syria and Iraq to fight for ISIS, the country’s prime minister said. Mette Frederiksen, the leader of the left-wing coalition government, said allowing children into Denmark would […]

Clerics & Preachers

Challenging Swedish city of Malmo honors Jewish-Muslim organization Rabbi Moshe David Hacohen and Imam Salahuddin Barakat established Amanah in 2017. Since then, they have been working together relentlessly to fight prejudice and foster trust.

(Jerusalem Post) The Swedish city of Malmö has bestowed its Human Rights Award on a rabbi and an imam who have been working together to bridge the gap between the city’s large Muslim population, the Jewish community and the general society. Rabbi […]

Academics & Education

‘Foolish’: Muslim convention criticised for hosting anti-Palestinian politician Attendees criticise decision to host Ontario Premier Doug Ford whose political party has been accused of Islamophobia

(Middle East Eye) Billed as one of the biggest Muslim events in North America, the Reviving the Islamic Spirit (RIS) conference has attracted some high-profile names in recent years, including Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as well as Pakistan’s Imran Khan. So […]