Clerics & Preachers

Albania is planning a new Muslim state inside its capital Prime Minister Edi Rama says he wants to give members of the Bektashi, a Shiite Sufi order, their own Vatican-style enclave as a way of promoting religious tolerance.

(NY Times) The Muslim cleric preparing to lead what, if everything goes as planned, will become the world’s smallest state, has laid-back plans for the tiny new country. His hoped-for Muslim state in Tirana, Albania’s capital, will be a Vatican-style sovereign enclave […]

Government & Politics

Serbian police kill suspect linked to crossbow attack on Israeli embassy Law enforcement fatally shoot Sanad Ramović, linked to attacker responsible for Belgrade terror attack, after he opened fire on officers

(Ynet) Serbian police shot and killed Sanad Ramović, a key figure connected to a crossbow attack outside the Israeli Embassy in Belgrade, during an operation on Saturday night. Ramović, who was associated with the June 29 attack, was located in a village […]

Legal

Ex-New York resident sentenced to life in prison for helping ISIS Mirsad Kandic, a Kosovo native who had lived in New York before traveling to ISIS territory, was found guilty last year of conspiracy and of providing material support to the group.

(NY Times) In 2013, Mirsad Kandic began working with the Islamic State, helping to advance its campaign of global jihad. Over the next four years, he fought in at least one battle and operated from safe houses in Syria, Turkey and Bosnia, […]

Government & Politics

‘Camps in NE Syria mean ticking bomb for Europe’: EU counter-terrorism chief Ilkka Salmi warns of radicalization of former members of Daesh/ISIS terror group, unknown future of evacuated Afghans

(Anadolu) Former members of the Daesh/ISIS terror group and their families in camps and prisons of northeastern Syria mean “a ticking bomb” for European security, the EU’s new counter-terrorism chief said on Tuesday. Speaking for the first time at the European Parliament’s […]

Law Enforcement

German police raid suspected IS supporters Ten warrants were executed across the German state of Hesse on suspicion of financing a terror group. The accused include eight men and two women between the ages of 20 and 51.

(Deutsche Welle) Police in the German state of Hesse searched multiple locations in connection with investigations involving suspected “Islamic State” extremists, local authorities said Wednesday morning. Ten search warrants were executed across the state “on suspicion of terrorist financing and the preparation […]

Internet

Gündogan and Can ‘like’ controversial Turkish football Instagram post Ilkay Gündogan and Emre Can have embroiled themselves in a row over a controversial military salute celebration. The German internationals liked an Instagram post featuring Turkey players that is thought to be political.

(Deutsche Welle) Germany players Ilkay Gündogan and Emre Can have found themselves mixed up in the contentious debate over a military salute celebration performed by Turkish international footballers, after the pair both liked an Instagram post showing the celebrations. The two German-born […]