Academics & Education

Sweden banning Islamic schools Closing Islamic schools is political decision with anti-Islamic motives, says Swedish politician

(Anadolu) Despite many being among the best-performing schools in the country, the Swedish government continues to close down Islamic academic institutions in a bid to push “anti-Islamic rhetoric” and “stop privatization” in education. Earlier this year, the Nordic country’s then-Educational Minister Lena […]

Academics & Education

Muslim schoolchildren in France often denied food options that fit their faith Court ruling found offering alternate menu choices did not violate secularist principles, argue concerned parents in petition, saying their children often go hungry

(Anadolu) Although the subject gets little media coverage, the problem of food in French school cafeterias is a headache for many parents of Muslim students. Citing their version of secularism, some mayors have decided not to offer alternative menus in school cafeterias. […]

Crime

Islamophobic hate crime rising as UK government tries to ‘appease far-right’: head of Muslim group Anti-Muslim hate crimes rose 42% in England, Wales for year ending March 2022: British Home Office

(Anadolu) Hate crimes in the UK are on the rise because the government “tends to try to appease the far right by adopting some of their positions,” according to a prominent Muslim scholar. Anas Altikriti, CEO of Cordoba Foundation, told Anadolu Agency […]

Government & Politics

Muslims in Germany’s Cologne welcome Friday call to prayer over loudspeaker First call to prayer over loudspeaker in Cologne expected to be held on Oct. 14, says Muslim leader

(Anadolu) Muslims in Germany’s city of Cologne welcomed the permission granted to them for two years to announce the call to prayer every Friday on loudspeaker. Speaking to Anadolu Agency, Abdurrahman Atasoy, the acting president of the Turkish-Islamic Union for Religious Affairs […]

Christians

Greek authorities want to install Christians in mufti offices in Western Thrace: Muslim cleric 'Discrimination began when there were efforts to remove our elected clerics (muftis) from office,' says Mustafa Trampa

(Anadolu) The newly elected Muslim cleric (mufti) of the Turkish minority in the Xanthi region of Western Thrace in Greece said Monday that discriminatory practices are being carried out against the Turkish minority in the region. Mustafa Trampa, who was elected as […]

Clerics & Preachers

Greece’s Muslim Turkish minority set to elect new religious leader Election to manifest minority’s rejection of state intervention on matter, says candidate running for elections

(Anadolu) In defiance of state intervention, Greece’s 150,000-strong Muslim Turkish minority is set to elect their new religious leader. The elections — in which two candidates, Mustafa Trampa and Mustafa Kamo, are running — will be held following Friday prayer in Xanthi […]

Clerics & Preachers

Türkiye urges Greece to stop denying recognition to elected Muslim clerics Ankara urges Greece to respect rights of Western Thrace Turkish minority to elect their religious leaders, guaranteed by international agreements

(Anadolu) Türkiye on Monday again urged Greece to respect the rights of the Turkish minority in its Western Thrace region and to stop denying recognition to elected Muslim clerics (muftis). Talking to Twitter, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said that Türkiye expects Greece […]

Discrimination & “Islamophobia”

‘UK leadership candidates not held to account over Islamophobia’ Addressing anti-Muslim hatred is not government’s priority, says former head of Conservative Muslim Forum

(Anadolu) The UK leadership candidates must address Islamophobia within the Conservative Party, according to the head of the country’s largest and most diverse Muslim umbrella organization. That has triggered demands that the next prime minister takes Islamophobia within the Tory party seriously […]

Clerics & Preachers

Türkiye calls Greek move disclaiming minority Muslims’ local elected leaders ‘unacceptable’ Ankara urges Greece to respect international law, fulfill obligations stemming from Lausanne Peace Treaty on Turkish minority in Western Thrace

(Anadolu) Türkiye on Thursday criticized Greece’s latest move denying recognition to the Turkish minority’s elected Muslim clerics (muftis), calling it “unacceptable.” In a statement, the Turkish Foreign Ministry urged Greece to respect international law and fulfill its contractual obligations under the longstanding […]

Government & Politics

EU’s border agency deliberately, systematically cooperated with Greece in pushbacks: report EU Commission’s vice president acted more for Greece than as bloc’s senior official, says German magazine Der Spiegel

(Anadolu) The European Union’s border agency, Frontex, has deliberately and systematically cooperated with Greece in illegal pushbacks of asylum seekers to Turkish waters, a German magazine reported Thursday. Findings of an investigation by OLAF, the bloc’s anti-fraud agency, on the dimension of […]

Discrimination & “Islamophobia”

New leader must tackle Islamophobia within UK ruling party: Muslim group Whoever wins race to succeed Boris Johnson 'must represent everybody,' says Muslim Council of Britain head

(Anadolu) The new British prime minister must treat “systemic” Islamophobia in the ruling Conservative Party seriously, according to the head of the UK’s leading Muslim organization. As the party searches for outgoing premier Boris Johnson’s successor, whoever wins “must represent everybody and […]

Government & Politics

France closes another mosque for allegedly defending ‘radical Islam’ Al-Farouk Mosque in Pessac district near city of Bordeaux shut down for 6 months, says local governorate

(Anadolu) France has shut down a mosque for a six-month period amid an ongoing drive against Muslims and their places of worship. The Al-Farouk Mosque in Pessac district near the city of Bordeaux in southwestern France was closed for allegedly defending “radical […]

Academics & Education

Austrian Greens take flak over alleged coalition deal for headscarf ban Thought to be ally to Muslims in Austria, Greens party rejects allegations that erupted after emergence of leaked documents

(Anadolu) Austria’s Greens party continued to take public criticism on Wednesday over an alleged coalition agreement to ban headscarves for teachers in schools. Recently leaked documents suggested that the Greens had engaged in an undisclosed deal with the Austrian People’s Party (OVP) […]

Crime

Canada to appoint special representative on combatting Islamophobia 'Islamophobia is unacceptable,' says Canadian premier on 5th anniversary of deadly Quebec city mosque rampage

(Anadolu) Canada on Saturday announced its intention to appoint a special representative on combatting Islamophobia as part of the country’s anti-racism strategy, five years after a deadly mosque shooting in Quebec. “This year, on the eve of the five-year anniversary of this […]

Academics & Education

Lawyers training school in Paris accused of Islamophobia Student lawyer claimed she was forced to remove her headscarf, threatened with expulsion from oath ceremony

(Anadolu) A young Muslim student accused France’s foremost legal institution of Islamophobia after being threatened with expulsion from an oath ceremony for wearing a headscarf. Graduating lawyer Sara, who only revealed her first name, told Revolution Permanente, a far-left digital news site, […]

Animals

Belgium’s Muslim community challenges halal slaughter ban at Strasbourg Court Belgium’s ban on ritual animal cutting curbs religious freedom, support[s] populist attacks against minorities, organizations argue

(Anadolu) The Muslim community in Belgium will appeal at the European Court of Human Rights against the ban on ritual halal animal slaughtering. “The Belgian Muslim Executive and the Coordination Council of Islamic Institutions of Belgium will challenge at the European Court […]

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 […]

Clerics & Preachers

Turkey urges Greece to end pressure against elected muftis in Western Thrace Ankara stands with Turkish minority in Greece in protecting their rights, religious freedoms, says Turkish foreign minister

(Anadolu) Greece must put an end to its interventionist practices and policies of pressure against Muslim religious leaders elected by the Turkish minority in Western Thrace, Turkey’s foreign minister said on Saturday. Mevlut Cavusoglu’s statement came on Twitter after Ibrahim Serif, the […]

Government & Politics

Muslim American groups support US withdrawal from Afghanistan USCMO urges Biden, Congress to 'pull back' any American armed forces deployed over past 20 years in Middle East, elsewhere

(Anadolu) Muslim groups in the US voiced support for the country’s withdrawal from Afghanistan. The US Council of Muslim Organizations (USCMO) released a written statement late Tuesday, hailing President Joe Biden’s decision to withdraw the US military from Afghanistan by the Aug. […]

Academics & Education

Greece closing 12 more Turkish minority schools in Western Thrace Turkey blasts Greece for closing schools serving Turks in region, saying this violates education rights of minority children

(Anadolu) In a violation of longstanding treaties, Greece on Monday decided to close 12 more schools serving the country’s Muslim Turkish minority, claiming there are too few students. Under an Education Ministry decree, eight schools in Rhodope (Rodop) and four schools in […]

Discrimination & “Islamophobia”

Muslims in France worried over controversial anti-separatism bill Paris administration trying to criminalize Muslims, says French human rights activist

(Anadolu) The controversial anti-separatism bill in France limits the existence and rights of Muslims, a French Muslim human rights activist said on Sunday. “The anti-separatism bill completely limits the right to organization and the existence of Muslims as people who have Islamic […]

Discrimination & “Islamophobia”

Turkey’s communications head slams France over controversial bill New law will further marginalize Muslims, interfere with way of life of religious minorities, says Fahrettin Altun

(Anadolu) Turkey’s communications director on Saturday criticized France’s parliament for passing a controversial bill, stressing that it would further marginalize Muslims and other religious minorities. Fahrettin Altun said on Twitter that though France claims to be based on the principles of freedom, […]

Clerics & Preachers

Mosque imam sacked in France for reciting verses deemed ‘contrary to values of Republic’ Human rights advocate criticizes French interior minister for targeting imams, for asking governor to dismiss imam

(Anadolu) The imam of a mosque in France’s Loire region was dismissed at the behest of Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin, on the grounds that the verse and hadith the former recited in the Eid al-Adha prayer sermon were deemed “contrary to the […]

Government & Politics

British lawmaker takes up issue of Prophet Muhammad’s sanctity in Parliament In debate on law to protect statues, Naz Shah calls for same level of sensitivity to be extended to revered Muslim prophet

(Anadolu) A British MP has defended the honor of Islam’s Prophet Muhammad in an impassioned speech in Parliament, highlighting the emotional stress and harm caused to Muslims across the world by the offensive cartoons and caricatures repeatedly published in Europe. Naz Shah, […]

Government & Politics

French Senate adopts anti-terrorism bill with controversial provisions Bill blocks access to archives and strengthens internet surveillance to prevent terrorism

(Anadolu) France’s Senate adopted a controversial bill early Wednesday aimed at strengthening anti-terrorism measures and intelligence with provisions to shut down places of worship and blocking access to the state’s secret archives to strengthen internal security. The bill, which was approved by […]

Government & Politics

US Muslim group urges Biden to condemn Israel for demolitions in East Jerusalem Israel using American taxpayer dollars to engage in ethnic cleansing against Palestinians, says CAIR chief

(Anadolu) The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) on Tuesday urged US President Joe Biden to condemn Israel’s demolition of Palestinian homes and businesses in East Jerusalem. The nation’s largest Muslim advocacy organization also urged Washington to pressure Israel to stop all appropriation […]

Clothing

Polling official in French regional elections demoted for wearing headscarf Rachida Kabbouri was demoted to polling station assessor due to her headscarf allegedly violating 'neutrality'

(Anadolu) A top polling official during France’s regional elections last Sunday was demoted from her post for wearing a headscarf, according to official statements and French local media. Rachida Kabbouri, a Muslim municipal councilor of the European Ecology — The Greens (EELV) […]

Clerics & Preachers

Turkey’s foreign minister meets Muslim Turkish minority in Greece 'Work of muftis contributes greatly to strengthening of unity, solidarity of Turkish minority,' says Mevlut Cavusoglu

(Anadolu) Turkey’s Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu on Sunday met with representatives of the Muslim Turkish minority in the Western Thrace region of Greece. Arriving in Greece on a two-day visit, Cavusoglu was welcomed by Deputy Foreign Minister Sedat Onal, Turkey’s Ambassador to […]

Discrimination & “Islamophobia”

‘Virus’ of Islamophobia making Europe a prison for Muslims: Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan voices concern over 'serious security threat' facing Muslims living in Europe

(Anadolu) The disease of Islamophobia is making Europe into an open-air prison for the millions of Muslims living there, warned Turkey’s president on Wednesday. “The virus of Islamophobia, which is as dangerous as the coronavirus, is spreading rapidly, especially in European countries,” […]

Government & Politics

US Muslim groups decry Israeli violence against Palestinians American president, Congress urged to halt US support for Israeli government and institutions

(Anadolu) American Muslim organizations on Sunday strongly condemned Israeli violence at the Al-Aqsa Mosque, which has left hundreds of Palestinians injured during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. In a statement, the US Council of Muslim Organizations (USCMO) said it denounced the […]

Government & Politics

Turkish deputy foreign minister visits Greek city with Ottoman roots Yavuz Selim Kiran tours birthplace of Turkish republic founder Ataturk, Ottoman mosques, also meets with Turkish community

(Anadolu) A senior Turkish diplomat on Wednesday visited Thessaloniki, a multiethnic Greek city with deep significance for both Ottoman and Turkish history. Deputy Foreign Minister Yavuz Selim Kiran was met at the city’s airport by Turkey’s Ambassador to Athens Burak Ozugergin and […]