News: Europe

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.

May 3, 2019   

(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

May 3, 2019   

(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.

May 2, 2019 and   

(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.

April 29, 2019   

(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.

April 29, 2019   

(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

April 29, 2019   

(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 […]

Government & Politics

Finnish MP under fire for comparing Israel to ISIS Dr. Efraim Zuroff, the head of the Jerusalem office of the Simon Wiesenthal Center, told the Jerusalem Post on Sunday: 'This guy [Hussein al-Taee] is obviously an antisemite.'

April 28, 2019   

(Jerusalem Post) The newly elected Finnish MP Hussein al-Taee of the Social Democratic Party of Finland (SDP) is facing a wave of criticism this week for comparing Israel to the Islamic State, antisemitic rants against Jews and pro-Iranian regime advocacy. The Finnish-Kurdish […]

Government & Politics

Germany stops processing some Syrian asylum applications: report Germany has postponed decisions on asylum for some Syrians. Refugee organizations fear the Interior Ministry will deny temporary protection to some Syrians based on an assessment portraying parts of the country as safe.

April 27, 2019   

(Deutsche Welle) Germany will put off ruling on asylum applications for some Syrians pending an assessment of the security situation in the war-torn country, according to a report on Saturday. Funke Media Group, citing the Interior Ministry, said for the past several […]

Immigration

Germans increasingly hostile towards asylum-seekers More than half of Germans view asylum-seekers in a negative light, a new study shows. Prejudice against the newcomers has grown even as fewer migrants come to Germany.

April 25, 2019   

(Deutsche Welle) Right-wing populist attitudes have become “normal” in Germany’s mainstream, said authors of a new study presented by the left-wing Friedrich Ebert Foundation in Berlin on Thursday. “The center is losing its footing and its democratic orientation,” researchers said. The foundation […]

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 […]

Government & Politics

New SDP MP under scrutiny over contentious Facebook posts The MP’s employer, Martti Ahtisaari’s Crisis Management Initiative, says it stands behind Hussein al-Taee.

April 21, 2019   

(Yle) Fledgling politician Hussein al-Taee, who was recently elected to parliament on a Social Democratic Party ticket, has come under intense scrutiny over old Facebook posts about the situation in the Middle East. Among other things, the new MP from Vantaa appeared […]