Academics & Education

From Spain to Sweden: European countries diverge on religious symbols in public office As Berlin reconsiders its controversial secularism policy, Europe continues to debate the limits of religious expression in public life.

(Euronews) In the heart of Germany’s capital, a heated political debate has reignited over the boundaries of religious freedom in the public sphere. The Bundestag’s Green Party group has submitted a motion to abolish Berlin’s Neutrality Act (“Neutralitätsgesetz”), a law that prohibits […]

Government & Politics

Belgian MP Sam van Rooy: ‘Europe must wake up to the threat of radical Islam’ 'Israel is fighting Islamic jihad more than any other country. We should realize that and support them. After they take Jerusalem, the next target will be Rome.'

(JNS) Belgian Member of Parliament Sam van Rooy issued a stark warning on Monday about the future of Europe, arguing that rising Islamic extremism and unchecked immigration are threatening democratic values across the continent. “We want to remain a democratic society, but […]

Christians

Belgium’s Easter Quran hunt leads to police investigation Distressed residents woke up to 800 copies of the Muslim holy book placed on their windshields and mailboxes on Easter weekend.

(European Conservative) The residents of the Belgian city of Liège woke up to quite a surprise over the weekend, hardly left by the Easter bunny: hundreds of pocket-sized, French-language Qurans had been distributed throughout multiple neighborhoods by unknown activists. Concerned locals believe […]

Christians

Ramadan iftar sparks controversy across Europe An interfaith iftar event in Brussels sparked controversy, with some critics accusing it of turning Catholic spaces into areas outside their intended purpose.

(Yabiladi) “Iftar at the church.” A single meal was enough to ignite the latest episode in the ongoing series of Ramadan controversies, adding fuel to the broader debates surrounding Islam in Europe. On March 23, the Brussels district of Molenbeek hosted a […]

Arts & Entertainment

From push-ups to propaganda: Fitness and gaming used as Islamist recruiting tools Online followers — often teens — are invited to private chat groups where they are exposed to and encouraged to share extremist and violent anti-Western jihadist propaganda.

(European Conservative) Seven fitness influencers were arrested in Spain on January 20th, suspected of jihadist indoctrination. The arrests, the result of a months-long investigation, took place in several Spanish cities, although the operations are not all connected. At least one of those […]

Fasting

European football leagues adapt to Ramadan: Breaks for fasting players gain momentum Across Europe, an increasing number of football leagues are implementing or renewing specific measures to allow their Muslim players to break their fast during evening matches.

(Yabiladi) Every Ramadan, a debate resurfaces among football enthusiasts and professionals about introducing breaks to allow Muslim players to break their fast. This year, several federations and leagues worldwide are extending this exceptional measure, while others, such as in France, have remained silent […]

Legal

Hezbollah ties exposed: Hind Rajab Foundation linked to terrorist funding network New evidence reveals deep ties between Belgium-based Hind Rajab Foundation and Hezbollah’s global financial network, raising concerns over its true agenda.

(Jerusalem Post) New information reveals even deeper connections between Hezbollah and the Hind Rajab Foundation (HRF), a new Belgium-based NGO with a declared mission to prosecute former Israeli soldiers abroad. “Over 1,000 cases have been filed against Israeli soldiers across the globe,” […]

Legal

Pro-Palestinian conference in Denmark drops speaker from group with Hezbollah ties Hind Rajab Foundation’s founder, Dyab Abou Jahjah, has said he is ‘very proud’ of his military training with Lebanese terror group; the NGO blames Israeli press for the decision

(Times of Israel) A pro-Palestinian conference in Denmark has withdrawn the participation of an organization dedicated to prosecuting Israeli soldiers abroad, seemingly due to its founder’s past Hezbollah membership. The Hind Rajab Foundation (HRF) blamed “false information circulated by the Israeli press” […]

Immigration

The ex-Hezbollah terrorist behind Hind Rajab Foundation, doxxing IDF soldiers A leaked Israeli Diaspora Affairs Ministry profile on Dyab Abou Jahjah described him as a 'former Hezbollah operative.'

(Jerusalem Post) Dyab Abou Jahjah, the man behind the Hind Rajab Foundation, which has been doxxing Israeli soldiers and seeking legal action against them in foreign states, admitted to joining Hezbollah as a youth and implied that he was returning to Lebanon […]

Legal

The Hind Rajab Foundation behind IDF soldiers’ doxxing, legal campaign threats — explainer Most recently, the foundation targeted soldiers vacationing in the Netherlands and the United Arab Emirates.

(Jerusalem Post) The Belgium-based Hind Rajab Foundation filed a complaint last week against an IDF soldier vacationing in Brazil, accusing him of “participating in massive demolitions of civilian homes in Gaza during a systematic campaign of destruction.” Subsequently, the Brazilian Federal Court […]

Children & Teens

Muslims attack Jewish boy in Belgian Jewish neighborhood Pro-Palestinian activists publish footage of attack on Ultra-Orthodox boy on social media in Antwerp; Jewish Belgian MP Michael Freilich demands police reinforcement and deployment of soldiers in the Jewish neighborhoods

(Ynet) Against the background of the attack on Maccabi Tel Aviv fans in Amsterdam after the game against Ajax on Thursday, pro-Palestinian Hamas supporters shared videos of an attack on an Ultra-Orthodox boy from two weeks ago. The video was shared on […]

Children & Teens

Antwerp police arrest five, as fears of a ‘Jew hunt’ rise following calls to action on social media After the Amsterdam pogrom, calls began to appear on social media for local youth to organize a jodenjacht (Jew hunt); five youths were administratively arrested and then released.

(Jerusalem Post) Antwerp police arrested five people as part of proactive operations against a suspected “Jew hunt” following calls to action on social media, according to De Morgen. A police spokesperson told De Morgen that five people had been put under administrative […]

Legal

Victims of 2016 terrorist attack disappointed by final hearing The judgment on the compensation of the victims of the 22 March 2016 terrorist attacks in Brussels and Zaventem came to a close in a five-minute hearing yesterday.

(VRT) The hearing yesterday to deliver the final judgment on the compensation of the victims of the 2016 terrorist attack in Belgium came to an end almost as soon as it had begun. The court chose not to read the 600-page report […]

News Media

Brussels venue de-platforms Al Jazeera-funded conference over Hamas leader participation Majed Al-Zeer, who was designated by the US earlier this week, was set to lead an event at the private-owned Brussels Press Club with his lobbying organization, EUPAC.

(Jerusalem Post) A conference funded by Al Jazeera and led by Hamas officials in Europe was canceled by its Brussels host venue’s website following a recent US Treasury designation. The European Palestinian Council for Political Relations (EUPAC), a Belgium-registered lobbying organization, organized […]

Government & Politics

Belgium strongly rejects Hungary’s ‘provocation’ to bus migrants to Brussels The showdown between Budapest and Brussels over migration policy and the rule of law is quickly escalating.

(Euronews) The Belgian government on Monday came forcefully against Hungary’s intended plan to bus migrants to Brussels in retaliation for the €200 million fine imposed in June by the European Court of Justice, which Budapest refuses to pay. No transfer has yet […]