Government & Politics – Page 14

Greece must face punishment over abuses against migrants, Frontex official says Athens has 13 open cases into alleged human rights violations involving migrants, the single largest number of incidents across the bloc.

April 24, 2025 Nektaria Stamouli and Tim Röhn

(Politico) The European Union’s border agency is so frustrated with Greece’s repeated pushbacks of migrants that it is considering calling on Brussels to bring disciplinary proceedings against Athens, a Frontex official told POLITICO and WELT. Fundamental Rights Officer Jonas Grimheden, who makes […]

Netherlands summons Iranian ambassador over alleged assassination attempts

April 24, 2025 Anthony Deutsch and Benoit Van Overstraeten

(Reuters) Iran’s ambassador to the Netherlands was summoned on Thursday after the Dutch intelligence agency said it suspected Tehran of being behind two assassination attempts in Europe, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said. The Dutch general intelligence agency, known as the AIVD, said […]

Paxton demands Plano ISD records in EPIC probe, mosque’s lawyer says he should ‘pick up the phone’

April 23, 2025 Penelope Rivera and Caroline Love

(KERA) Attorney General Ken Paxton demanded Plano ISD release documents outlining “potential connections” to the East Plano Islamic Center as part of his investigation into its project, EPIC City — but he didn’t elaborate what the connections may be, leaving the mosque’s […]

Quebec not ruling out expanding religious symbol ban to daycare workers: minister

April 23, 2025 Thomas Laberge

(Canadian Press) Quebec’s minister responsible for secularism says the government isn’t ruling out expanding its religious symbols ban to include daycare employees. Jean-François Roberge says “everything is on the table” when it comes to strengthening secularism in the province, including extending the […]

Germany halts Afghan refugee admission flights pending new government decision

April 23, 2025 Riham Alkousaa

(Reuters) Germany’s outgoing government has suspended flights for voluntary admissions of Afghan refugees for two weeks pending a decision by the next government on how to proceed, the foreign ministry said on Wednesday. Earlier this month, the future governing coalition of conservatives […]

House Republican: GOP senator ‘peddling conspiracy theories’ about 9/11

April 23, 2025 Elizabeth Crisp

(Hill) Rep. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.) rebuked Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) on Tuesday evening for “peddling conspiracy theories” about the 9/11 attacks. Johnson, in an interview this week with a conservative influencer, said he wants to hold additional hearings on the attack on […]

French Muslim school re-allocated suspended state funding

April 23, 2025 Unlisted Author

(AFP) A French court ruled that a Muslim school could continue to receive state subsidies after local authorities in 2023 cut funding over alleged “serious breaches” of teaching rules, the court and its management said. Private schools can receive state subsidies in […]

Dem senator visits detained Columbia activist who said he ‘can empathize’ with Hamas’s decision to massacre Jews 'I'm here with our friend from the Upper Valley,' Peter Welch tells Mohsen Mahdawi

April 22, 2025 Alana Goodman and Jessica Schwalb

(Free Beacon) Sen. Peter Welch (D., Vt.) visited detained Columbia University activist Mohsen Mahdawi on Monday, calling him a “friend” and praising his work with “Jewish brothers and sisters” on Columbia’s campus. In the wake of Oct. 7, Mahdawi said he could […]

Quebec secularism bill creating division

April 22, 2025 Thomas Laberge

(Canadian Press) Education Minister Bernard Drainville’s bill to extend secularism in Quebec schools is far from reaching consensus. While the list of people calling for the legislation to go further is growing, others are calling for it to be withdrawn altogether. In […]

Tasers in prisons to be trialled after Abedi attack

April 22, 2025 Maia Davies

(BBC) The use of tasers in prisons will be trialled after officers were injured by the brother of the Manchester Arena bomber, the justice secretary has said. The Prison Officers’ Association (POA) had called for staff to have access to electric stun […]

Canada election: Muslim voters demand ‘real commitments’ on Islamophobia Canadian Muslims want concrete action to combat Islamophobia and hate crimes, as well as a ‘principled stance’ on Israel’s war on Gaza, says Reem Sheet of the National Council of Canadian Muslims

April 21, 2025 Barry Ellsworth

(Anadolu) As the country’s federal election enters its final stretch, Muslim Canadians are making it clear that they want the next government to do more than merely acknowledge Islamophobia, calling for decisive action to combat it. The grim statistics underscore the dangers […]

U.S. offers $5 million for info on Somali-Dutch ISIS suspect

April 20, 2025 Unlisted Author

(NL Times) The United States has issued a 5-million-dollars reward for information leading to the whereabouts of Khadra Essa, a Somali-Dutch woman believed to be a key figure in the terrorist organization ISIS, RTL reports. According to the U.S. Department of State, […]

Pro-Gaza MP brands grooming gangs outrage ‘false right-wing narrative’ in ‘malicious’ tirade — as Labour MP watches on Ayoub Khan MP also appeared to criticise GB News for 'causing division'

April 18, 2025 Charlie Peters

(GB News) A pro-Gaza independent MP has branded outrage over Britain’s grooming gangs a “false right-wing narrative” at a meeting of British Pakistani politicians and community figures. Ayoub Khan, part of Jeremy Corbyn’s “Independent Alliance,” had told attendees at the Mirpur Airport […]

Canadian Future Party calls for firing of Islamophobia advisor, scrapping $5.4M budget

April 18, 2025 Unlisted Author

(Western Standard) The Canadian Future Party is calling for the immediate dismissal of Amira Elghawaby, cabinet’s $191,000-a-year special representative on combating Islamophobia, and the elimination of her office entirely. Blacklock’s Reporter says in a platform released this week, the party proposed folding […]

DHS official who openly cheered Hamas fired after 16 months of paid leave The Biden admin refused to fire a former PLO employee in charge of vetting migrants who celebrated October 7.

April 17, 2025 Luke Rosiak

(Daily Wire) Nejwa Ali, a former spokeswoman for the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) who the Department of Homeland Security hired and put in charge of vetting asylum seekers, was fired by the Trump administration in February after the Biden administration declined to […]

Activist group trying to use UK courts for war crimes claim against Israeli minister denies Hezbollah link Brussels-based Hind Rajab Foundation (HRF) say they are facing a 'baseless smear campaign' and founder Dyab Abou Jahjah has 'never' been a Hezbollah member

April 17, 2025 Lee Harpin

(Jewish News) One of two organisations attempting to pursue a private prosecution in the UK against an Israeli minister has denied its founder has links with the Hezbollah terror organisation. The Brussels-based Hind Rajab Foundation (HRF) announced on Wednesday that it had joined […]

Review into body armour for prison staff after Abedi attack

April 17, 2025 Alys Davies

(BBC) The Prison Service will conduct a snap review into whether protective body armour should be made available to front-line staff, the justice secretary has said. Shabana Mahmood’s announcement comes after Manchester Arena bomber Hashem Abedi threw hot oil at prison officers […]

Arena families ‘must have answers’ after prison attack

April 17, 2025 Unlisted Author

(BBC) Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham has said the families of the Manchester Arena attack victims must be given answers about how the suicide bomber’s brother was able to attack prison guards. On Saturday, Hashem Abedi threw hot cooking oil and stabbed […]

Trump administration orders Gaza-linked social media vetting for visa applicants

April 17, 2025 Humeyra Pamuk

(Reuters) The Trump administration on Thursday ordered a social media vetting for all U.S. visa applicants who have been to the Gaza Strip on or after January 1, 2007, an internal State Department cable seen by Reuters showed, in the latest push […]

‘The European Qu’ran’: Falsifying European history with funding from the EU European identity is built on Islam and the Quran qualifies as 'cutting-edge scientific research,' according to the European Union.

April 16, 2025 Hélène de Lauzun

(European Conservative) The European Union is preparing to provide €10 million in funding for a scientific research project aimed at highlighting the contribution of the Qu’ran and the Muslim religion to European civilisation. The influence of the Muslim Brotherhood is evident behind […]

The government will require schools and institutes to offer halal option in dining halls The Council of Ministers has approved a decree law for healthier and non-discriminatory food

April 16, 2025 Unlisted Author

(E-Notícies) The controversy over adapting school menus for Muslim students is becoming increasingly contentious. These days, Barcelona’s city council acknowledged that they don’t serve pork in nurseries for “inclusive nutrition.” The Spanish government will now require schools to serve special menus for […]

Former FAA contractor pleads guilty to spying for Iran, sharing private info on US airports, energy industry Abouzar Rahmati pleaded guilty to conspiring to act and acting as an agent of the Iranian government in the US without prior notification to the attorney general

April 16, 2025 Greg Wehner

(Fox) A naturalized U.S. citizen living in Great Falls, Virginia, pleaded guilty on Wednesday to working with Iranian government and intelligence officials on their behalf in the U.S. as a contractor for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) between 2017 and 2024. The […]

Muslim pupils now largest group in Vienna schools as city debates civic education

April 16, 2025 Amanda Previdelli

(Local) With a growing share of Muslim students, Vienna’s education leaders are pushing for a new subject on democracy and coexistence in Austrian schools. New figures from the city of Vienna show that children of Islamic faith now make up the largest […]

EU lists seven ‘safe’ countries of origin, tightening asylum rules

April 16, 2025 Umberto Bacchi

(AFP) The European Union on Wednesday published a list of seven countries it considers “safe,” in a bid to speed up migrant returns by making it harder for citizens of those nations to claim asylum in the bloc. The list — which […]

Man in court accused of threats to kill Farage

April 15, 2025 Frances Read and Ian Casey

(BBC) An Afghan man accused of threatening to kill Nigel Farage while he travelled to the UK has appeared in court. Fayaz Khan, 25, is alleged to have posted a video on TikTok in October, where he made a gun gesture and […]

Barcelona nurseries don’t serve pork for ‘more inclusive diet’ Barcelona city council responds to a user's request

April 15, 2025 Unlisted Author

(E-Notícies) The adaptation of nursery school menus in Barcelona for Muslim children is causing outrage. The controversy gained momentum due to the question directed by former deputy Sonia Sierra to the Barcelona city council. “Can you please explain why pork is not […]

Head of faith school which segregated staff banned Rabia Boys and Girls School chair Zafar Iqbal Khan disqualified from running schools

April 15, 2025 Rhi Storer

(Schools Week) The proprietor of a faith school that segregated staff by their sex and prevented girls from studying certain subjects has been banned from managing schools. Zafar Iqbal Khan, chair of the Muslim Rabia Boys and Girls School, has been disqualified […]

Detained Columbia protester Mohsen Mahdawi threatened and intimidated Jewish students, State Department says

April 15, 2025 Jennie Taer and Chris Nesi

(NY Post) The Palestinian Columbia University student arrested by ICE agents in Vermont led disruptive anti-Israel protests on campus, and engaged in “threatening rhetoric and intimidation” against Jewish students, State Department sources tell the Post. Mohsen Mahdawi, who hails from the West […]

Germany continues Afghan migrant flights despite coalition pledge The outgoing government continues to bring in migrants, sparking controversy over security risks and broken promises.

April 14, 2025 Javier Villamor

(European Conservative) Germany’s government is moving forward with plans to bring in more Afghan migrants, despite the incoming CDU/CSU-SPD coalition’s promise to shut down these resettlement programs. A flight carrying over 150 Afghans is set to arrive in Leipzig soon, according to […]

Greece: Lausanne Treaty refers ‘to religious, not ethnic’ minority in Thrace

April 14, 2025 Unlisted Author

(Kathimerini) Greece on Monday reiterated that the Treaty of Lausanne, the 1923 agreement that established the borders of Greece, Bulgaria and Turkey after the end of World War I, “explicitly refers to a religious and not an ethnic minority in Thrace.” “The […]

Lithuanian PM calls for migration policy change, focus on ‘culturally closer’ countries

April 14, 2025 Unlisted Author

(LRT) Lithuania should reconsider its immigration policy by focusing more on “culturally closer” countries, Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas said on Monday. “Unfortunately, we probably need to acknowledge that people coming from certain countries are more prone to radicalisation,” he told reporters after […]

Lithuania denies entry to 10 people from Central Asia over radicalism fears

April 14, 2025 Unlisted Author

(LRT) Some 10 people from Central Asian countries have been denied entry to Lithuania due to ties with terrorist organisations and the potential for radicalization, Darius Jauniškis, the outgoing director of the State Security Department (VSD), said on Sunday. “There are certain […]

Mosque annoyed by conservative, far-right [MPs’] bid to ban amplified call to prayer

April 14, 2025 Unlisted Author

(NL Times) The Ulu Mosque in Utrecht is annoyed by a bill by SGP and JA21 to ban amplified calls to prayer. According to the conservative Christian and far-right parties, the Islamic call to prayer causes unrest and alienation. According to the […]

Turkey’s neo-Ottoman push on Cyprus threatens European stability Brussels must take a firmer stance on Turkey’s violations of international law, reinforcing support for Cypriot sovereignty.

April 14, 2025 Nicoletta Kouroushi

(European Conservative) Fifty years after Turkey’s invasion and occupation of 36% of Cyprus, the systematic Islamization of the island’s northern part has become increasingly evident. This transformation is not incidental but a calculated initiative by Ankara, aligning with its broader neo-Ottoman ambitions. […]

[MPs] want to ban promotion of female genital mutilation; 4,000 girls at risk

April 14, 2025 Unlisted Author

(NL Times) Dutch lawmakers are calling for a tougher crackdown on female genital mutilation (FGM), proposing a new law that would make it a criminal offense to promote or glorify the practice. The move comes as fresh data reveals that over 4,200 […]

John Cornyn, Ken Paxton each escalate probe into proposed EPIC City development

April 14, 2025 Penelope Rivera

(KERA) Both U.S. Sen. John Cornyn and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton are each seeking to expand a probe into a proposed North Texas development project led by a local mosque. In a Friday letter to the U.S. Department of Justice, Cornyn […]

No evidence linking Tufts student to antisemitism or terrorism, State Dept. office found An internal memo, prepared days before Rumeysa Ozturk was detained by ICE agents, raises doubts about the Trump administration’s claims that she supports Hamas.

April 13, 2025 John Hudson

(Washington Post) Days before masked Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents detained Tufts University student Rumeysa Ozturk to deport her, the State Department determined that the Trump administration had not produced any evidence showing that she engaged in antisemitic activities or made public […]

Muslim group accuses Greg Abbott of ‘abusing power’ over new Texas city

April 12, 2025 James Bickerton

(Newsweek) Texas Governor Greg Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton were spreading “hateful misinformation” regarding proposals for a new Islamic-themed settlement in the state, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the largest Muslim advocacy group in the United States, told Newsweek. Abbott’s […]

Muslims rallying voters have a message for party leaders: avoiding important issues could cost you votes Expert says politicians don't want to touch topic of war in Gaza, but Muslims say avoiding it could hurt, too

April 12, 2025 Joseph Ryan

(CBC) Every Friday afternoon, Mustapha Ramadan stands outside the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) mosque in Mississauga, Ont., organizing a long line of cars arriving for prayers. He’s one of many Muslims who say they plan on voting in the upcoming […]

Anti-Israel Columbia protester Mahmoud Khalil can be deported, judge rules, but it won’t happen immediately

April 11, 2025 Priscilla DeGregory

(NY Post) Mahmoud Khalil can be deported over his involvement in anti-Israel demonstrations at Columbia University, an immigration judge ruled Friday in the closely watched case. The ruling in Louisiana immigration court came in the government’s bid to boot the Syrian-born permanent […]

DHS ends protections from deportation for Afghanistan, Cameroon

April 11, 2025 Rebecca Beitsch

(Hill) Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem has stripped protections from deportation for Afghans and Cameroonians in the U.S., calling into question the ability of some Afghan evacuees to remain in America. Citizens of both countries have been protected by temporary protected […]

‘Look how devilish the Jews are’: Biden DHS approved grant to Florida mosque tied to prominent anti-Semites Cleric featured in promotional video for the Deen Center claimed 'the Jews ... control the whole world by the money'

April 11, 2025 Chuck Ross

(Free Beacon) The Department of Homeland Security recently awarded anti-terrorism grants to a Florida mosque linked to pro-terror Islamic clerics, 9/11 conspiracy theorists, and an anti-Semitic pastor who claims “the Jews” conduct “secret rituals” at holy sites in Jerusalem. DHS gave nearly […]

Italy sends rejected migrants to detention centers in Albania

April 11, 2025 Erion Xhabafti, Llazar Semini and Renata Brito

(AP) Italian authorities on Friday transferred 40 migrants with no permission to remain in the country to Italian-run migration detention centers in Albania. It was the first time a European Union country sent rejected migrants to a nation outside the EU that […]

Ministry of Social Affairs is ordered to delete all illegally gathered data on Muslims

April 11, 2025 Unlisted Author

(NL Times) The Dutch Data Protection Authority (AP) has ordered the minister of social affairs and employment to delete all the illegally gathered personal data that the ministry has of members of Muslim communities. The data was obtained via secret investigations, which […]

Secretary of State Marco Rubio claims feds can deport Mahmoud Khalil solely over his ‘antisemitic’ beliefs

April 10, 2025 Priscilla DeGregory

(NY Post) Secretary of State Marco Rubio argued the feds can deport Columbia protest leader Mahmoud Khalil solely over what they describe as his “antisemitic” beliefs, ahead of a Friday hearing in his immigration case. Rubio’s memo — which was less than […]

Drainville says core of Quebec bill reinforcing secularism will stay

April 10, 2025 Philip Authier

(Montreal Gazette) Hearings into new legislation reinforcing secularism in schools Thursday rapidly took on the makings of an encore performance of the 2019 debate over Bill 21 on state secularism, with groups pro and con coming forward to push their views on […]

CAIR seeks to block Columbia University from submitting SJP-related protest records to Congress The Ivy League school appears to be withholding information from federal lawmakers as a result of CAIR's suit

April 10, 2025 Alana Goodman

(Free Beacon) The Council on American-Islamic Relations is seeking to block Columbia University from turning over records to Congress this week related to the pro-Hamas group Students for Justice in Palestine’s activities on campus, court filings reviewed by the Washington Free Beacon […]

EU border agency threatens to slash Greek funding amid alleged illegal pushbacks of migrants Greece has the highest number of open investigations on its practices across the European Union.

April 10, 2025 Nektaria Stamouli

(Politico) Greece could lose funding from Frontex as the European Union’s border agency investigates 12 open cases of potential human rights violations of migrants at its borders, the highest number of ongoing investigations by country across the bloc. The majority of the […]

Jewish advocacy group questions DHS on plans to use antisemitism to deny immigration benefits

April 10, 2025 Rebecca Beitsch

(Hill) A Jewish civil rights group is asking the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) how it plans to evaluate migrants’ social media accounts after the agency said it would use antisemitic content as grounds for denying immigration benefits. The department said Wednesday it […]

GOP Rep. Randy Fine, the newest Jewish congressman, calls Rashida Tlaib a ‘terrorist’ 'I think some of these people should not be in Congress. I think they’re a disgrace. I think some of them shouldn’t be Americans,' the Florida representative said.

April 9, 2025 Andrew Lapin

(JTA) Only a week after being sworn into Congress, Jewish Rep. Randy Fine directed his latest inflammatory statement at a Muslim colleague. On a podcast Wednesday, the Florida Republican and self-proclaimed “Hebrew Hammer” called Michigan Rep. Rashida Tlaib a “terrorist” and said […]