Government & Politics

Trump pick for critical foreign policy role thinks Islam incompatible with the West Michael Anton will serve as director of policy planning at the State Department, a role that effectively sets the agenda for the secretary of state

(Middle East Eye) A staunch anti-immigrant conservative who was a spokesperson for the White House during Donald Trump’s first year in office in 2017 is returning to government — this time, as director of policy planning at the US State Department, which […]

Crime

‘Reckless’ man jailed after brandishing deactivated AK-47 in video on X during summer riots Habeeb Khan pleaded guilty at a previous hearing to making threats of death or serious harm contrary to the Online Safety Act.

(Sky News) A “reckless” father, who brandished a decommissioned AK-47 assault rifle as he threatened to “blow away” the English Defence League (EDL) in an “inflammatory” video, has been jailed for 27 months. The footage of Habeeb Khan in his living room […]

Demonstrations

Germany’s far-right stages anti-migration rally in Magdeburg A far-right protest was held late on Saturday in Magdeburg the night after the attack on the Christmas market.

(Euronews) Far-right protesters have held a rally in Magdeburg, following Friday evening’s attack on a Christmas market which left five people dead and hundreds injured. Police estimate around 1,000 protesters gathered in the city’s central square, calling for stronger controls on migration […]

Demonstrations

AfD party calls for major rally after Germany’s Christmas market attack Leading right-wing figures in Europe have also weighed in, criticising the German authorities for failing to take stronger preventative action.

(Euronews) German far-right political party Alternative for Germany (AfD) is calling for a major rally following the attack at a Christmas market in Magdeburg which left several people dead and hundreds injured. At a memorial site for the victims, AfD co-leader Tino […]

Discrimination & “Islamophobia”

‘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.

(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 […]

Government & Politics

Deadly Magdeburg Christmas market attack shakes Germany as election looms With voters going to the polls in February, the tragedy ramps up concerns about security.

(Politico) A driver plowed a car at high speed into crowds of people at a Christmas market in the eastern German city of Magdeburg, adding further tension to an election campaign already riven by a bitter debate over migration. Right-wing parties seized […]

Government & Politics

Italian court acquits Matteo Salvini in migrant ‘kidnapping’ case The far-right former interior minister prevented more than 140 migrants, including kids, from coming ashore in Italy.

(Politico) Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini was acquitted Friday on kidnapping charges over his decision in 2019 to block a migrant rescue ship carrying more than 140 people from coming ashore in Italy. Salvini, who was serving as Italy’s interior minister […]

Crime

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.

(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 […]

Government & Politics

Europe’s Syrians shaken by debate over repatriation to their war-ravaged homeland For many Syrian refugees in Europe, joy at the fall of Assad has been tempered by immediate calls for them to go home.

(Politico) When Osama Sabsabi learned that opposition forces had captured the city of Homs, where he grew up, he did something that would have been unthinkable just days earlier: He booked a ticket home. “We, the Syrian people, are experiencing an indescribable […]

Holidays

German police foil planned Islamist terror attack on Augsburg Christmas market The suspect, an asylum seeker, was arrested after surveillance revealed suspicious online activity

(European Conservative) A 37-year-old Iraqi asylum seeker has been arrested in Augsburg, Germany, for allegedly planning a terrorist attack on the city’s popular Christmas market, local police confirmed. Authorities acted after discovering evidence that the suspect, named as Ali Al-G, had scouted […]

Christians

Finland reverses quota refugee policy, accepts half from Muslim-majority countries Finnish media previously reported that the Interior Ministry planned to favour refugees from Christian-majority nations over Muslim-majority countries.

(Yle) Finland will take in 500 quota refugees next year as part of the UNHCR’s resettlement programme, the Interior Ministry confirmed in a press statement released on Thursday. The statement also revealed the allocation of the quota, meaning which refugee groups will […]

Crime

Two men who ran people-smuggling operation from car wash in Caerphilly plead guilty Dilshad Shamo, 41, and Ali Khdir, 40, had previously denied all five counts but pleaded guilty to all charges on the tenth day of their trial.

(Sky News) Two men who ran a people-smuggling operation from a car wash have pleaded guilty. Dilshad Shamo, 41, and Ali Khdir, 40, had previously denied the charges of assisting a breach or attempted breach of immigration laws. But on Friday, on […]

Christians

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.

(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 […]