Legal

French court orders release of Lebanese militant imprisoned since 1984 for Paris killings Georges Ibrahim Abdallah was convicted over 1982 murders of two foreign diplomats in Paris

(National-UAE) A French court on Friday ordered the release of pro-Palestinian Lebanese militant Georges Ibrahim Abdallah, jailed for 40 years after being convicted over the killing of two foreign diplomats, prosecutors said. The court said Abdallah, first detained in 1984 and convicted […]

Government & Politics

Arab Americans who backed Trump disappointed by pro-Israel picks for cabinet and senior roles President-elect has nominated loyalists and pro-Israel candidates to key positions in charge of foreign policy

(National-UAE) During his campaign, Donald Trump reached out to Arab Americans with promises that he would bring about peace in the Middle East — but to the chagrin of many in the community, recent nominations to top foreign policy posts have included […]

Government & Politics

UK’s new national security adviser called for ISIS talks at height of terrorism Jonathan Powell helped bring peace to Northern Ireland with Tony Blair and is welcomed by leadership as 'an excellent choice'

(National-UAE) Britain’s new national security adviser argued that the West should negotiate with ISIS extremists to bring peace to the Middle East. Jonathan Powell, who was former prime minister Tony Blair’s chief of staff, was a leading player in bringing a peace […]

Discrimination & “Islamophobia”

Outcry after researcher says prominent French mayor ‘appears Muslim’ Israeli-Gaza conflict is hugely sensitive topic in France, home to Europe's largest Muslim and Jewish communities

(National-UAE) Senior French officials have rallied behind Karim Bouamrane, a prominent mayor of Moroccan origin, in response to remarks widely viewed as racist by a researcher who said he is “Muslim in appearance” and suggested his popularity comes from his refusal to […]

Discrimination & “Islamophobia”

Government considers new definition of Islamophobia over fears for UK equality laws Faith Minister Lord Khan concerned free speech may be impinged by current interpretation

(National-UAE) The UK’s Labour government could change its proposed definition of Islamophobia over concerns it is “not in line” with equality laws and may impinge on free speech. The party is under pressure to publish its definition of Islamophobia in an effort […]

Clerics & Preachers

First Muslim men jailed over violence at UK riots Fears Britain will face a weekend of unrest as more protests planned alongside the start of the football season

(National-UAE) Two Muslim men have become the first rival protesters to be jailed for attacking far-right activists during the UK riots. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer warned on Friday that authorities must “stay on high alert” for more far-right riots over the […]

Children & Teens

Paris Olympics faces twin terror threats of ISIS and teenage extremists Games will feature vast security operation to keep 15 million visitors safe as radicalisation spreads, not least though short viral videos

(National-UAE) Paris is facing the threat of terrorist attacks during the Olympics from a branch of ISIS resurgent in Afghanistan as well as teenagers radicalised on social media, experts have told the National. A major security operation is under way in France […]

Government & Politics

Pro-Gaza candidates capture seats from Labour as Muslim heartlands revolt Keir Starmer's party suffers startling loss of support in once-safe constituencies despite national landslide win

(National-UAE) Pro-Palestinian candidates scored shock wins in the UK general election, as Britain’s new Labour government suffered a startling loss of support in heavily Muslim areas. Independent candidate Shockat Adam declared “this is for Gaza” as he unseated Labour front-bencher Jonathan Ashworth […]

Demographics

Pro-Palestine campaigner sets sights on unseating Labour frontbench MP Shabana Mahmood Solicitor Akhmed Yakoob focused on Gaza to secure election upset against potential UK justice secretary

(National-UAE) Outsider Akhmed Yakoob believes “this election is mine to lose” as he looks to unseat the most senior frontbench Muslim Labour MP in the July 4 UK general election. Shabana Mahmood stands to become the UK’s justice secretary if her party […]

Government & Politics

Rochdale loyalties tested by Galloway’s Labour challenge on Gaza policy Flamboyant MP tells the National his by-election victory was a signal that British Muslims could provide a significant general election upset

(National-UAE) Rochdale, says its current MP George Galloway, will be remembered as the place where Britain’s Muslims saw that there was a new way of finding a political voice. His view, although bound with self-interest, was certainly borne out during the National’s […]

News: Europe

Paris Olympics: ISIS circulates ‘detailed attack manuals’ on using drones to hit games Terrorism expert tells the National there is a good chance ISIS and other groups are plotting an assault on crowds

(National-UAE) ISIS extremists have published “detailed” manuals for adapting drones to attack the Paris Olympics, a counter-terrorism expert has told the National. Matt Mooney believes there is a “moderately high” probability that there will be a drone attack using a home-made bomb […]

Alcohol & Drugs

Foxtrot and Rumba: Who are the violent Swedish gangs doing Iran’s bidding? Rival groups are led by Rawa Majid, known as the Kurdish Fox, and his former associate Ismail Abdo

(National-UAE) Two notorious Swedish criminal gangs have been named as the groups recruited by Iran to carry out attacks on Israeli [targets] and Iranian dissidents. Foxtrot is led by Rawa Majid, known as the Kurdish Fox, while his former criminal associate, Ismail […]

Government & Politics

Anger over Starmer’s Gaza stance dents Labour election glory Opposition thumps Conservatives in local polls, but Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's leadership may survive his party's losses

(National-UAE) Labour’s elation at thumping the Conservatives in the England and Wales local elections has been tempered by concern that it is losing key voter blocs, particularly in Muslim communities, over its stance on the Israel-Gaza conflict. Labour’s attempt to unseat the […]

Clerics & Preachers

Iran influence in London poses threat to British society, report warns Policy Exchange paper names Islamic Centre of England as 'UK nerve centre' for Tehran's campaign

(National-UAE) Iran’s malign influence in the UK poses a “multidimensional threat to British society” with the government being urged to take urgent action to counter it, an influential think tank has stated. The paper, which was written before Iran’s missile attack on […]

Children & Teens

Record number of children arrested in UK over ‘terrorist-related activities’ Overall, 219 people were detained in 2023, up a third on previous year and highest figure since 2019

(National-UAE) More than 40 children were arrested in connection with alleged terrorism offences in the UK last year — the highest number since records began, official figures show. The Home Office said police made 219 arrests for terrorism-related activities in the 12 […]

Academics & Education

UK to create ‘blacklist’ of Muslim groups under new extremism definition Government is bringing in robust changes to target groups and individuals 'undermining' British values

(National-UAE) The UK government is creating a “blacklist” of organisations under a new definition of extremism which would see their funding cut. Several Muslim groups are likely to be on the list after being singled out in government reports. The groups facing […]

Legal

European prosecutors adopt harsher sentences towards female ISIS returnees New book shows how different countries are adapting to an increase in female extremists behind bars

(National-UAE) European prosecutors are adopting harsher sentences towards female ISIS returnees as their numbers increase due to government repatriation programmes from prison camps in north-east Syria, a new book published by Dutch counter-terrorism think tank ICCT has found. “Women can be both […]

Academics & Education

Austria orders edits to school textbook that called Hamas a ‘resistance movement’ Officials step in over 'one-sided' and 'highly problematic' wording in geography book

(National-UAE) An Austrian school textbook that described Hamas as a “resistance movement” has been rewritten under official orders. The geography book for secondary school pupils is being modified in light of the war in Gaza triggered by Hamas’s October 7 attack on […]

Law Enforcement

Dissidents in London on high terror alert despite sanctions on Iran’s IRGC 'We have to be lucky all the time,' say UK-based journalists under threat from Tehran

(National-UAE) Vigilance against threats from Iran has increased significantly despite sanctions being imposed, journalists threatened by Tehran have told the National. Officials at the London-based Iran International TV channel, which has found itself in Tehran’s crosshairs, say they “have to be lucky […]

Government & Politics

Austria wants to tap Islamists’ messenger apps amid Europe terrorism fears Germany and Austria arrest a group of people from Tajikistan over warnings of a New Year's Eve attack

(National-UAE) Austria’s interior minister is calling for the security services to be given access to suspects’ messenger apps in an attempt to thwart terrorist attacks. [This] comes after five people from Tajikistan were arrested in Austria and Germany with European nations on […]

Christians

Warning of ‘increased risk’ of ISIS terror attacks across Europe on New Year’s Eve Experts say terror group remains a 'serious threat' as arrests made in Spain, Austria, France and Germany

(National-UAE) Security services across Europe have uncovered an ISIS plot to use explosives to target churches. Counter-terrorism experts say the group remains a “serious threat” and is taking advantage of the conflict in Gaza to motivate its supporters. Over the Christmas period, […]

News: Europe

‘Threat-board flashes red’ over Gaza radicalisation spilling into Europe Continued Israeli military operation is driving more people into the arms of extremists, experts tell the National

(National-UAE) Widespread terrorist attacks by Islamic extremists in Europe are a genuine prospect as a result of the mounting deaths in Gaza, security analysts have told the National. While increased state surveillance has made it difficult to mount spectacular attacks such as […]

Clerics & Preachers

German mosque suspends imam for joking about Hamas attack in online post Mohamed Ibrahim's remark was blamed for contributing to collapse of interfaith peace event in Munich

(National-UAE) An imam who responded to Hamas’s attack on Israel by joking that “everyone has their own way of celebrating October” has been suspended in Germany. The Islamic Centre Munich distanced itself from the post by Mohamed Ibrahim, saying it had felt […]

Demonstrations

Ireland’s intelligence services evaluate Hezbollah presence Iran-backed Hezbollah could be creating support networks in Ireland among left-wing republicans and people of Palestinian heritage, reports suggest

(National-UAE) Ireland’s intelligence services have shifted their priorities to focus on identifying extremist activity related to the Israeli-Gaza war, which may include the presence of Hezbollah and Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine operatives within the country. There have been growing […]

Clerics & Preachers

Pressure for investigation into ‘dangerous’ association between UK imams and Taliban A group of British mosque leaders and Islamic scholars held meeting with the Taliban on a 'fact-finding mission'

(National-UAE) Afghan activists are calling for an investigation into British imams who met Taliban ministers amid fears they could have been influenced by the regime’s strict ideology. Hundreds of people including women’s rights campaigners and former Afghan politicians have signed a petition […]