Source: Anadolu – Page 3 – Eye on Islamism

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

August 4, 2022 Merve Aydogan

(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 […]

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

July 28, 2022 Ahmet Gencturk

(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 […]

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

July 14, 2022 Karim El-Bar

(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 […]

EU lawmakers delay approval of border agency’s budget over illegal pushbacks European Parliament postpones decision due to ongoing investigation against Frontex

May 4, 2022 Agnes Szucs

(Anadolu) EU lawmakers on Wednesday withheld approval on the EU border and coast guard agency’s (Frontex) budget over “illegal pushbacks of migrants” as they signed off [on] the bloc’s budget for 2020. With 492 votes in favor, 145 against, and eight abstentions, […]

Far-right presidential candidate wants total ban on Muslim headscarf in France Marine Le Pen says she wants to extend law prohibiting wearing the veil to entire public domain

April 4, 2022 Shweta Desai

(Anadolu) Right-wing candidate Marine Le Pen has pledged to impose a total ban on the wearing of the Muslim headscarf in public places if elected France’s next president. The leader of the National Rally party, who is currently leading second in polls […]

French interior minister’s Ramadan greeting message draws ire Gerald Darmanin defends message, denounces 'ordinary racism' for tweet

April 3, 2022 Shweta Desai

(Anadolu) France’s interior minister denounced racist comments Saturday and defended his greetings to French Muslims commemorating the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan. Gerald Darmanin took to social media to post a message condemning “ordinary racism” for his tweet April 1 […]

French court annuls decision to close Al Farouk Mosque Local governorate shut down Al Farouk Mosque for 6 months on March 14

March 24, 2022 Yusuf Ozcan

(Anadolu) A French court on Wednesday annulled the government’s decision to close a mosque near the city of Bordeaux. Sefen Guez Guez, the lawyer of the association of the Al Farouk Mosque, said that the Bordeaux Administrative Court annulled the Gironde governorate’s […]

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

March 15, 2022 Yusuf Ozcan

(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 […]

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

February 2, 2022 Askin Kiyagan

(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) […]

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

January 30, 2022 Burak Bir

(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 […]

French region cancels its subsidy to art festival over mural of woman wearing hijab Mural ‘provocative,’ ‘unacceptable,’ says Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes region

January 29, 2022 Yusuf Ozcan

(Anadolu) The French region of Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes suspended subsidies for a street-art festival in Grenoble because of a mural of a woman wearing a hijab. The region said in a statement that the mural was “provocative” and “unacceptable.” It argued that it only […]

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

January 8, 2022 Shweta Desai

(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, […]

Police in French city of Calais clash with migrants 15 gendarmes hospitalized after attempt to clear encampment erupts in hour-long brawl described as 'a scene of war'

December 31, 2021 Cindi Cook

(Anadolu) Police in the northern French city of Calais clashed with migrants Thursday morning as the officers stood at the ready, securing an area that is often an exit point for asylum seekers fleeing through the Channel Tunnel to the UK. Fifteen […]

Sweden grants over 27,000 citizenships to Syrians in 2021 Total of 85,000 migrants get Swedish citizenship in 2021, says Swedish Migration Agency

December 31, 2021 Atila Altuntas

(Anadolu) Sweden granted at least 27,340 citizenships to Syrians in 2021, the country’s migration agency said on Friday. According to [the] Swedish Migration Agency’s report, 85,000 people were granted Swedish citizenship during the year. At least 4,067 Somalis and 3,471 Eritreans also […]

Turkey attaches importance to ties with US Muslim community Presidential spokesman attends annual MAS-ICNA Convention of Muslims

December 28, 2021 Kasım İleri

(Anadolu) Turkey attaches importance to healthy and strong relations with the Muslim community in the US, the country’s presidential spokesman said on Tuesday. Ibrahim Kalin’s remarks came at the gala dinner of the Muslim American Society and Islamic Circle of North America […]

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

December 17, 2021 Agnes Szucs

(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 […]

‘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

November 30, 2021 Agnes Szucs

(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 […]

France to close 7 more mosques, associations by end of 2021 French interior minister also welcomes decision to close mosque in city of Allonnes for 6 months

October 27, 2021 Yusuf Ozcan

(Anadolu) France will close seven more mosques and associations by the end of this year suspected of promoting “radical Islamism,” the country’s interior minister announced Tuesday. Gerald Darmanin welcomed the decision to close a mosque in the city of Allonnes for six […]

Greek court postpones trial of Turkish minority’s elected mufti Jurists worried case against Ibrahim Serif intends to suppress Muslim Turkish minority in Greece

October 8, 2021 Ahmet Gencturk

(Anadolu) A court in northern Greece has postponed the trial of a religious leader of the country’s Muslim Turkish minority elected in defiance of Greek authorities who have sought to appoint the holder of [the] post. Ibrahim Serif, the elected mufti of […]

Turkey’s president visits Turkevi Center ahead of inauguration President Erdogan to open 35-story skyscraper located at 821 First Avenue in Manhattan on Monday

September 20, 2021 Servet Günerigök

(Anadolu) Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan visited the soon-to-open Turkevi Center on Sunday for a brief survey, shortly after landing in New York. Erdogan is in New York to attend the 76th session of the UN General Assembly on Tuesday. He was […]

Muslim-owned French publishing house faces closure French interior minister says publishing house is being closed for its anti-Western and separatist line

September 18, 2021 Alaattin Dogru

(Anadolu) French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin on Friday announced the closure of the Muslim-owned publishing house Nawa, describing it as contrary to Western values and having separatist tendencies. Taking to Twitter, Darmanin wrote: “I have started the termination process due to some […]

Politicians call on Turks in Germany to make their voice heard in elections Nearly 1M ethnic Turks are eligible to vote in Germany’s parliamentary elections next week

September 16, 2021 Ayhan Simsek

(Anadolu) Politicians in Germany are calling on members of the Turkish community to cast their vote in elections next week to make their voice heard in national politics. “Regardless of which democratic party they support, I am calling on all citizens of […]

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

September 5, 2021 Zehra Nur Duz

(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 […]

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

August 25, 2021 Jeyhun Aliyev

(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. […]

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

August 2, 2021 Mehmet Hatipoglu

(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 […]

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

July 25, 2021 Alaattin Dogru and Esra Taskin

(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 […]

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

July 25, 2021 Faruk Zorlu

(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, […]

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

July 24, 2021 Alaattin Dogru

(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 […]

Turkey condemns EU court ruling on headscarf ban at workplace Decision violates freedom of religion, says Foreign Ministry

July 18, 2021 Iclal Turan

(Anadolu) Turkey on Sunday condemned a top EU court ruling allowing companies in member states to ban employees from wearing headscarves. The Foreign Ministry said in a written statement that the decision by the European Court of Justice is an “open violation […]

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

July 6, 2021 Muhammad Mussa

(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, […]

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

July 1, 2021 Shweta Desai

(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 […]

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

June 29, 2021 Servet Günerigök

(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 […]

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'

June 23, 2021 Esra Taskin

(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) […]

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

May 30, 2021 Tevfik Durul and Mehmet Hatipoglu

(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 […]

‘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

May 12, 2021 Dilan Pamuk

(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,” […]

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

May 9, 2021 Servet Günerigök

(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 […]

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

May 5, 2021 Tevfik Durul

(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 […]

US Muslim group says 2020 saw 9% spike in complaints CAIR tracks 20% dip in reported hate crimes in 2020, which it says may be due to coronavirus lockdowns

April 26, 2021 Michael Hernandez

(Anadolu) A leading US Muslim advocacy group said on Monday it saw a 9% increase in the number of complaints it received in 2020 compared to the previous year. In all, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) said it received 6,144 complaints […]

France to bring anti-terror law on tech surveillance Bill will be tabled on April 28 at request of president, premier, says interior minister

April 25, 2021 Shweta Desai

(Anadolu) France will bring a new anti-terrorism legislation specifically devoted to intelligence, in the wake of recent attacks carried out by lone, radicalized individuals, the interior minister announced. The bill will be tabled on April 28 at the request of President Emmanuel […]

‘Greece does not show Turkish descendants respect’ Turkish imams, muftis should decide on chief mufti in Greece as we don't appoint patriarch, says Turkish president

April 17, 2021 Merve Berker

(Anadolu) Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday condemned the latest move by Greece on appointing the chief mufti and Athens’ treatment of Turkish descendants in Western Thrace. “Under Treaty of Lausanne, Greece has no right to appoint the chief mufti for […]

Turkish minority decries Dendias’ identity remarks Denying Turkish minority's identity unacceptable, says minority's consultation council

April 17, 2021 Mehmet Hatipoglu

(Anadolu) Comments by Greece’s foreign minister regarding the identity of the Muslim Turkish minority in Western Thrace during a visit to Ankara drew strong reactions from the group’s minority institutions and organizations. “It is unacceptable to us that our Foreign Minister Mr. […]

‘Athens has no right to appoint Muslims’ chief mufti’ Athens doesn't pay 'necessary care' for citizenship of 150,000 Turks in Greece, says Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan

April 16, 2021 Jeyhun Aliyev and Faruk Zorlu

(Anadolu) Athens has “no right” to appoint the chief Islamic cleric, or mufti, of Muslims living in Greece according to the Treaty of Lausanne, Turkey’s president said on Friday. “How can you do that? We don’t appoint the patriarch,” Recep Tayyip Erdogan […]

Amnesty condemns controversial French bill Calls on government to withdraw discriminatory provisions stigmatizing Muslims

April 13, 2021 Shweta Desai

(Anadolu) Amnesty France on Tuesday urged the Macron government to withdraw discriminatory provisions adopted in an amended version of a controversial bill confirming respect for the principles of the Republic that targets the French Muslim population. The rights group expressed concerns about […]

Growing diaspora in Europe instills hope in us: Erdogan Islamophobia one of most important tools for Western politicians to cover up their failures, says Turkish president

April 11, 2021 Gozde Bayar

(Anadolu) The Turkish president on Sunday said that the Western countries do not want to acknowledge the reality of [the] Turkish diaspora getting stronger. Recep Tayyip Erdogan said they never doubted that Turks and Muslims would take a much more visible place […]

French Senate OKs proposal to ban prayers at universities Senate approves adding proposal to ban religious practices in university corridors to bill against 'Islamist separatism'

April 8, 2021 Alaattin Dogru

(Anadolu) France’s Senate approved the addition of a ban on religious practices in university corridors to a controversial bill to fight “Islamist separatism” late Wednesday. Discussing the draft bill, which has been criticized for alienating Muslims, the center-right Republicans (LR) party proposed […]

French ministry bashes religious symbols proposals Lawmakers adopt measures against religious symbols on parents accompanying children on school trips

March 31, 2021 Shweta Desai

(Anadolu) France’s interior minister on Wednesday criticized two legal amendments adopted by lawmakers prohibiting parents from wearing visible religious symbols while accompanying their children on school trips and allowing public swimming pools to ban “burkini” swimwear. Gerald Darmanin said the measures, approved […]

Muslim scholars slam French call on same-sex marriage IUMS secretary-general describes call as double standard against Islam

March 27, 2021 Yasin Aydhi

(Anadolu) The International Union [of] Muslim Scholars (IUMS) on Saturday decried a French government request for mosque imams to recommend same-sex marriage as a double standard against Islam. In a Facebook post addressed to French Minister of Citizenship Marlène Schiappa, IUMS Secretary-General […]

Turkey decries Macron’s ‘unacceptable’ remarks Foreign Ministry says ‘unjust, inconsistent' statements made about Turkey, Turkish president during TV program

March 24, 2021 Sena Guler

(Anadolu) Ankara on Wednesday denounced recent remarks by the French president about Turkey and its leader, calling them “unacceptable.” “We find the statements by French President [Emmanuel] Macron, which he gave in response to the deliberate questions asked in the program and […]

France: Protests against controversial bill continue 'Separatist' bill slammed because it targets Muslim community, imposes restrictions on almost every aspect of their lives

March 22, 2021 Yusuf Ozcan

(Anadolu) Protests continued across France on Sunday against Islamophobia and a controversial bill that has been criticized for targeting Muslims. Demonstrators took to streets in the capital Paris, Marseille, Lille, Strasbourg, Bordeaux and Lyon. Chanting slogans against Islamophobia, the crowd marched from […]

Turkey: 2,764 foreign terrorists deported since 2019 66 French, 57 German, 22 Dutch, 14 Swedish and 7 Swiss nationals among those deported back to countries of origin

March 21, 2021 Muzaffer Cagliyaner

(Anadolu) Turkey has deported a total of 2,764 foreign [terrorist] fighters (FTFs) of 67 different nationalities since 2019, the country’s Interior Ministry announced on Sunday. In a statement, the ministry said the FTFs had left their home countries to join ranks of […]