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 […]

Discrimination & “Islamophobia”

Turkish-origin politician forms Migrant Party in Sweden Mikail Yuksel, dismissed from Center Party, says new party will fight against Islamophobia and for the rights of migrants

(Anadolu) A Swedish politician of Turkish origin, expelled earlier from the Center Party, has formed the Migrant Party. Talking to Anadolu Agency, Yuksel said his party will represent migrants. He said for the first time such a party has been formed in […]

Clerics & Preachers

San Francisco imam claims Egypt’s Morsi killed by ‘Zionist agents’ Khalid Siddiqi says those allegedly responsible for the former Egyptian president’s death were ‘working for Satan’

(Times of Israel) An imam in San Francisco claimed the death of former Egyptian president [Mohamed] Morsi during a court hearing this month was the work of “Zionist agents.” Morsi, a member of the Muslim Brotherhood, was Egypt’s first democratically elected leader. […]

Clerics & Preachers

Muslims say Germany should provide Bundeswehr with imams The Bundeswehr provides Catholic and Protestant clergy for soldiers, but no spiritual counsel for Muslims. According to the government, key questions must be answered before the Bundeswehr's religious ranks are expanded.

(Deutsche Welle) Nariman Reinke, a naval petty officer, is one of about 1,500 Muslim soldiers who serve in the Bundeswehr. Born to [Moroccan] parents in 1979, Reinke has been in the military since 2005 and has twice deployed to Afghanistan. But being a Muslim […]

Clerics & Preachers

To ease Turkish pressure on Saudis over killing, White House weighs expelling Erdogan foe 'Once they realized it was a serious request, the career guys were furious,' a U.S. official said of request tied to Khashoggi killing.

(NBC) The White House is looking for ways to remove an enemy of Turkish President Recep Erdogan from the U.S. in order to placate Turkey over the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, according to two senior U.S. officials and two other people […]

Government & Politics

Open Day at the mosque: ‘Everyone must contribute’ The Cologne Central Mosque has been making headlines recently, and the effects have not all been negative. On the contrary: An especially large number of curious, non-Muslim visitors attended this year's mosque Open Day.

(Deutsche Welle) “If not now, then when?” thought Dana and Julia. The two young women have travelled from their hometown of Olpe to the Central Mosque in Cologne, not despite but precisely because of the negative headlines surrounding its opening by the […]

Government & Politics

Austria may ban four-fingered MB salute

(IPT) The Austrian government is considering outlawing a four-fingered salute representing support for the Muslim Brotherhood. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan popularized it and began using it after Egypt’s military toppled the Brotherhood in 2013. Muslim Brotherhood members and sympathizers around the […]

Government & Politics

Turkish far-right Erdogan greetings cause concern in Germany The Turkish president's opening of Germany's largest mosque and use of hand gestures associated with extremists have led to German politicians' concerns about the role of the DITIB association.

(Deutsche Welle) Politicians in Germany expressed concern Monday about the use of Turkish ultra-nationalist symbols during Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s recent state visit. Erdogan supporters welcomed him with the Grey Wolves (Bozkurt) hand sign when he arrived in Cologne to open Germany’s largest mosque […]

Clerics & Preachers

Erdogan in Germany: What you need to know about DITIB mosque association Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is opening a new central mosque in Cologne. DITIB, a controversial Turkish-Islamic umbrella group, provides the financing and imams. But what is DITIB?

(Deutsche Welle) The Turkish-Islamic Union for Religious Affairs (DITIB) is the largest umbrella organization of mosques in Germany. DITIB manages about 900 mosques in the country, including the central mosque in Cologne, and has about 800,000 members throughout Germany. Its ties to […]

Government & Politics

Turkey’s Erdogan to open Cologne mosque in controversial state visit The Turkish president's hopes of addressing the German-Turkish community are closer to becoming reality. His upcoming state visit was described as a 'betrayal' by journalist Deniz Yücel, who was imprisoned in Turkey.

(Deutsche Welle) Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will officially open a new central mosque in the western German city of Cologne, the Turkish-Islamic organization DITIB confirmed on Tuesday evening. Erdogan will open the mosque at a ceremony at the end of his […]