Clothing

Austria’s controversial ‘burqa ban,’ a year on With few burqa wearers in Austria, police have often been forced to deal with the absurd side effects of the law. Public opinion, however, remains divided one year after the country banned full-face coverings.

(Deutsche Welle) “Not much has changed,” says Herbert Trappel, enjoying a glass of wine at an outdoor sausage stand at Vienna’s Viktor Adler Market. “When was the law introduced, back in April?” The stand’s proprietor, Vesna Dudek, shakes her head indecisively. You […]

Clothing

Boris Johnson stands by burka remarks, accusing colleagues of ‘confected indignation’ Mr Johnson also tells Sky News he is worried the EU may go for the Chequers proposal as it's 'a great deal for them.'

(Sky News) Boris Johnson has refused to apologise for comparing women wearing burkas to “bank robbers” and accused colleagues of whipping up “confected indignation” over the remarks. In a wide-ranging interview with Sky News, Mr Johnson also warned that the EU may […]

Government & Politics

Rep. Keith Ellison is asking the House to investigate an ex-girlfriend’s claims that he abused her 'I am taking this step now because I am innocent and eager to see this entire matter resolved,' Ellison told BuzzFeed News after Karen Monahan accused him of abuse.

(BuzzFeed) A growing number of Democrats say the domestic abuse allegations against Democratic Rep. Keith Ellison should be investigated, and now the House Democrat says he will request a House investigation himself. Ellison, the deputy chair of the Democratic National Committee and […]

Converting to Islam

Norway: Number of converted Muslims increases recently Norwegian newspaper Verdens Gang reports approximately 3,000 Norwegians convert to Islam in recent years

(Anadolu) The number of converted Muslims in Norway increased to at least 3,000 in the recent years, a researcher at Oslo University’s Department of Culture Studies and Oriental Languages said. Norway’s leading Verdens Gang newspaper reported on Sunday that the number of […]

Government & Politics

Conservatives claim media, Dems ignoring allegations against Ellison After some early stories, Democratic lawmaker has lately received relatively little mainstream national coverage.

(Politico) Christine Blasey Ford’s accusation against Brett Kavanaugh is ricocheting back on a Democrat who has faced his own allegations but, ostensibly, has nothing to do with the Supreme Court fight: Rep. Keith Ellison, the candidate for Minnesota attorney general and deputy […]

Clerics & Preachers

The Berlin Muslims reforming Islam, one co-ed prayer meeting at a time A female cleric. Men and women praying together in the same room. Berlin’s liberal mosques are working toward an Islamic reformation, all while avoiding death threats.

(Handelsblatt) German security services were recently in touch with one of Berlin’s best-known Muslim clerics. He should take their warnings seriously, they again told Abdul Adhim Kamouss. Death threats were being made against him by members of the Islamic State extremist group […]

Children & Teens

Twitter allowed a ‘pro-FGM’ account to sponsor a tweet Activists said the tweet, posted by a group called Dawoodi Bohra Women for Religious Freedom, promoted female genital mutilation.

(BuzzFeed) Twitter has come under fire for allowing a tweet that activists have said is pro–female genital mutilation to be promoted on its site, meaning that it showed up on the timelines of users who didn’t follow the poster’s account. The tweet, […]

Citizenship

Bernardi renews his push for burqa ban Australian Conservatives senator Cory Bernardi has introduced draft laws to parliament banning facial coverings at commonwealth sites.

(AAP) Burqas could be banned at major airports and citizenship ceremonies under legislation introduced to parliament by right-wing senator Cory Bernardi. The Australian Conservatives’ leader on Tuesday introduced a bill banning facial coverings at commonwealth sites, including all public places in the […]

Academics & Education

Austria mulls to expand headscarf ban in schools People on public duty should not use religious, ideological symbols on duty, says Austria's education minister

(Anadolu) Expanding the range of headscarf bans for students and teachers in secondary school should be discussed throughout the country, especially in parliament, Austria’s education minister said on Monday. Speaking at Austrian state television ORF on a draft law to ban Muslim […]