Moderation & Reform

Clerics & Preachers

Founder of Berlin’s liberal mosque honored for inclusive vision Seyran Ates' long fight for women's rights in the Muslim world led her to open a tolerant mosque where non-veiled women could preach and pray alongside men. She has now been honored with the prestigious Urania Medal.

November 26, 2019   

(Deutsche Welle) A lawyer, activist, author and now imam, Seyran Ates has long lent a critical voice to debates about migration, women’s rights and religious freedom in Germany and beyond. Ates co-founded the “liberal” Ibn Ruschd-Goethe Mosque on the third floor of St. John’s Church near […]

Clerics & Preachers

Muslim, Jewish leaders team up in ‘exemplary’ European initiative Imams and rabbis from across Europe are attending a summit in Italy organized by the Muslim Jewish Leadership Council. Anti-Semitism, Islamophobia and right-wing populism are all topics they'd like to address better.

September 15, 2019   

(Deutsche Welle) Although the site is remote, it has plenty of symbolism: Beginning this Sunday, Jewish and Muslim religious leaders from some 15 countries will meet in the southern Italian city of Matera, one of Europe’s 2019 cultural capitals, to take part […]

Clerics & Preachers

French Muslim association to forge ahead with imam training plans despite Macron reticence Hakim El Karoui’s association plans to raise cash from taxes on halal products and Hajj trips

August 14, 2019   

(National-UAE) A new French Muslim association is pressing ahead with plans to finance the training and payment of imams despite silence from President Emmanuel Macron on his long-promised initiative for the organisation of Islam in France. Analysts believe the president shelved his […]

Clerics & Preachers

Rivlin meets delegation of European Muslim leaders in Jerusalem President and group of imams and activists from France and Belgium discuss anti-Semitism, value of interfaith dialogue

June 16, 2019   

(Times of Israel) President Reuven Rivlin on Sunday met with a delegation of French imams and French and Belgian Muslim activists in Jerusalem. The group was headed by Hassen [Chalghoumi], an imam well-known in France for his involvement in interfaith initiatives. The […]

Clerics & Preachers

No to BDS: French Muslim leaders tour northern West Bank as guests of settlers Cleric Hassen Chalghoumi, known for his close ties to French Jews, says anti-Israel boycott efforts run contrary to Quranic law

June 14, 2019   

(Times of Israel) A group of French imams toured the northern West Bank Thursday on the invitation of settler leaders. One of them, Hassen Chalghoumi, said support of boycotts of Israel ran against Quranic law. Chalghoumi, who is well-known in France for […]

Clerics & Preachers

French imam in Jerusalem: Anti-Zionism is antisemitism Hassen Chalghoumi is currently leading a delegation of French and Belgian Muslims in Israel to improve Muslim-Jewish ties.

June 13, 2019 and   

(Jerusalem Post) French Imam Hassen Chalghoumi, currently heading a delegation of French Muslims in Israel, said on Wednesday that anti-Zionism is antisemitism, and blamed the Muslim Brotherhood for incitement against Jews in France and Belgium. Chalghoumi is on his second visit to […]

Children & Teens

Hate campaign targets Dr Jamal Rifi over charity work Threats against Muslim community leader Jamal Rifi are being investigated after vile comments were made over his involvement in a charity.

May 31, 2019   

(AAP) A prominent member of Sydney’s Muslim community has reportedly been threatened over his work with a charity set up to help sick Palestinian children. Dr Jamal Rifi’s support for Project Rozana has led to him being branded an “enemy” by anti-Israel […]

Academics & Education

Germany: Leading politicians call for a ‘European Islam’ Everyday measures are key to preserving the European way [of] life, say Germany's health minister and the premier of Schleswig-Holstein state. Jens Spahn and Daniel Günther want a faith that shares the continent's values.

May 23, 2019   

(Deutsche Welle) Two senior German politicians have called for a more progressive form of Islam in order to align the religion with the European way of life. Health Minister Jens Spahn and Schleswig-Holstein State Premier Daniel Günther published the appeal Thursday in […]

Crime

Controversial scholar Ramadan’s absence overshadows Muslim gathering with France at crossroads over Islam’s role The Swiss academic accused of rape continues to hold ideological sway over some attending the Muslims of France group meeting despite efforts by organisers to distance themselves from him

April 24, 2019   

(National-UAE) As tens of thousands of people attended the annual congress of a French Muslim organisation, the name of a controversial absentee was in many thoughts. Tariq Ramadan, the Swiss academic accused of two rapes but vehemently protesting his innocence, has been […]

History

Mosque scrapped Shoah exhibit over ‘security threat and Yad Vashem link’ Leading Muslim warns moderates are ‘held to ransom’ by extremists after Golders Green mosque abandons Holocaust event

January 4, 2019   

(Jewish News) A leading Muslim activist has warned “forward-thinking” members of his community are being “held to ransom” by extremists, after Golders Green mosque abandoned an exhibition about Muslims who helped Jews during the Holocaust over security threats and the event’s links […]

Government & Politics

Germany mulls introducing ‘mosque tax’ for Muslims The idea, similar to Germany's church tax, would aim to make mosques independent of foreign donors. Germany's government and progressive Muslim leaders have supported the idea.

December 26, 2018   

(Deutsche Welle) Lawmakers from Germany’s grand coalition government said on Wednesday that they were considering introducing a “mosque tax” for German Muslims, similar to the church taxes that German Christians pay. Thorsten Frei, a member of Chancellor Angela Merkel’s Christian Democrats (CDU), […]

Academics & Education

German Islam Conference reconvenes search for German Islam Interior Minister Horst Seehofer is convening the latest iteration of the German Islam Conference. The 2018 DIK will focus on integration, Islam and German law. Many new faces in attendance will make for lively debates.

November 27, 2018   

(Deutsche Welle) This year’s German Islam Conference (DIK) will be held on Wednesday and Thursday in Berlin. It has been over a year and a half since the last DIK. For this latest iteration, German Interior Minister Horst Seehofer, of Bavaria’s Christian […]