European Union

Clerics & Preachers

France: European Commission urged to investigate Paris over ‘imam charter’ Civil society groups say a number of French laws disproportionally discriminate against Muslims, violating their fundamental human rights

March 8, 2021   

(Middle East Eye) A coalition of civil society organisations on Monday urged European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to investigate France at the European Court of Justice over its controversial “imam charter,” saying that it violates Muslims’ right to free speech […]

Clothing

EU companies can ban workers from wearing headscarves, magistrate says The court adviser found that small-scale religious displays can be allowed at work, but it’s up to national courts to determine what falls in that category.

February 25, 2021   

(Courthouse News) In a consolidated case involving a drug store clerk and a day care center employee, a magistrate for the European Union’s high court held that employers can ban Islamic headscarves on neutrality grounds. In a nonbinding legal opinion for the […]

Government & Politics

‘EU failed to do its share for 4M refugees in Turkey’ Turkish President Erdogan criticizes EU for giving €3B to Greece but not sharing responsibility for 4M refugees in Turkey

February 22, 2021   

(Anadolu) Turkey’s president on Monday criticized the EU’s double standard of supporting Greece on the issue of migrants but not sharing responsibility for 4 million refugees hosted by Turkey. “While the EU gives Greece €3 billion [$3.65 billion] for 100,000 refugees, it […]

Government & Politics

Judge: Italy illegally expels asylum seekers An Italian judge ordered the Interior Ministry to assess a gay Pakistani man’s claim for asylum after he was forcefully and immediately expelled from Italy last summer.

January 22, 2021   

(Courthouse News) Italy is illegally sending asylum seekers who cross its borders back into the Balkans, where they are routinely beaten and mistreated by police, according to an Italian judge. In a ruling this week, Judge Silvia Albano with the Court of […]

Government & Politics

EU watchdog opens investigation into border agency Frontex Organization faces allegations of harassment, misconduct and migrant pushbacks.

January 11, 2021   

(Politico) The EU’s anti-fraud watchdog, OLAF, has opened an investigation into Frontex, the bloc’s border agency, over allegations of harassment, misconduct and migrant pushbacks, according to four EU officials. OLAF investigators have been interviewing members of the Warsaw-based agency “since the start […]

Clerics & Preachers

Austria calls for European register of Muslim imams Austria has already adopted an obligatory imam registry among other measures aimed at reducing terrorism after a November terror attack in Vienna.

January 2, 2021   

(Deutsche Welle) Since the start of 2021, Austria has required the registration of all imams in the country. The mandate was one of several new measures Chancellor Sebastian Kurz’s government adopted after a November 2 terror attack in Vienna. Four civilians were […]