Crime

Germany: Asylum-seeker jailed for random attacks in Amberg Four men from Afghanistan and Iran have been sentenced over arbitrary attacks on passersby in the Bavarian town of Amberg. The incident fueled debate on rules for deporting asylum-seekers who commit crimes.

(Deutsche Welle) A court in the southeastern German town of Amberg on Friday handed a jail term of two years and seven months to an 18-year-old Iranian who carried out arbitrary attacks on passersby in the town shortly before New Year’s Eve in […]

Arts & Entertainment

‘A Regular Woman’: Remembering honor killing victim Hatun Sürücü The film 'A Regular Woman' tells the true story of Hatun Aynur Sürücü, shot dead in 2005 by her own brother to 'protect the family honor.' The haunting work gives a voice to the victim.

(Deutsche Welle) “I was an honor killing” and “The bundle under this shroud is me”: Through sentences like these, an off-screen voice speaks in the name of Hatun Aynur Sürücü, who was shot by one of her brothers on the street in 2005. The film A Regular Woman unsparingly […]

Government & Politics

UN: Hungary depriving rejected asylum-seekers of food The UN has accused Hungary of illegally denying food for up to five days to failed asylum-seekers. Budapest replied it 'is not responsible' for people whose asylum requests have been denied.

(Deutsche Welle) The United Nations on Friday said Hungary was deliberately depriving rejected asylum-seekers awaiting deportation of food, in violation of international law. “According to reports, since August 2018, at least 21 migrants awaiting deportation had been deprived of food by the […]

Clerics & Preachers

Government and DF to blacklist ‘forces of darkness’ The government and its supporting party is ratcheting up the regulations on foreign donations to religious groups

(Copenhagen Post) Concerns over large amounts of foreign money supporting the building of mosques in Denmark have led to the government and Dansk Folkeparti proposing a donor blacklist similar to the one applying to “hate preachers.” “The ‘forces of darkness’ should not […]

Academics & Education

German conference on Islamic veil sparks controversy Islamic veils are a hot topic in Germany, particularly due to a growing Muslim population. Now, outcry over an academic conference on the issue has surprised even its organizer, who says freedom of speech is at stake.

(Deutsche Welle) Islamic veils and headscarves remain the subject of heated public debate in Germany. Some view them as part and parcel of religious freedom; others as a symbol of women’s oppression in Islam. The German court system has already taken up […]

Crime

Germany: Afghan asylum-seeker stands trial for grisly murder An Afghan asylum-seeker is accused of slitting an 85-year-old retiree's throat while he slept. Prosecutors have called the German man's daughter a key witness in the case.

(Deutsche Welle) A German court on Monday opened a trial against a 20-year-old Afghan asylum-seeker for murdering an 85-year-old sleeping pensioner last year in the small town of Wittenburg. Details of the case: The asylum-seeker is accused of slitting the pensioner’s throat. […]

Government & Politics

SDP: Authenticity of MP Hussein al-Taee’s social media posts ‘news’ to us SDP says the party did not know that antisemitic, homophobic and other comments made by MP Hussein al-Taee on social media were authentic.

(Yle) Following news about alleged antisemitic, homophobic and racist Facebook comments made by Social Democrat MP Hussein al-Taee, al-Taee admitted in his blog on Monday that they were authentic and he was the author. Previously, he had questioned whether they were written […]

Children & Teens

IS fighters’ parents stage German protest

(AFP) German parents and relatives of Islamic State militants demonstrated Monday outside the foreign ministry, urging Berlin to repatriate wives and children of fighters held in Syria. Some brought posters saying “Children are not responsible,” while others held up banners reading “Innocent […]