Source: National-UAE – Page 3

Shamima Begum and other women who joined ISIS should be returned to UK, adviser says Jonathan Hall KC suggests Britain is out of step with western allies in blocking return of women who joined terrorist groups in Syria

February 27, 2023 Neil Murphy

(National-UAE) Shamima Begum and other women who joined ISIS should be allowed to return to Britain to face justice, according to the UK’s independent reviewer of anti-terror legislation. Jonathan Hall KC said British women or those who are former citizens should be […]

Dozens of bomb manuals found in crackdown on terrorist groups Police across Europe target extremists planning to use chemical warfare

February 24, 2023 Nicky Harley

(National-UAE) Police forces across Europe have discovered dozens of bomb manuals for creating chemical weapons. Special counter-terrorism units from 17 countries worked together with Europol’s European Counter Terrorism Centre to restrict access to instructions online on how to use high-risk chemicals for […]

UK to fast-track Syrian and Yemeni asylum claims to cut backlog London launches quicker process for claimants as numbers waiting on decisions continue to rise

February 22, 2023 Soraya Ebrahimi

(National-UAE) The Home Office plans to fast-track thousands of asylum cases from a handful of countries, including Syria and Yemen, as the backlog of people waiting for an initial decision climbs to almost 161,000. About 12,000 asylum seekers from nations that have […]

UK summons Iranian diplomat after threats force TV channel to close in London Britain's foreign secretary also announced further sanctions on Iranian officials linked to human rights abuses

February 20, 2023 Laura O'Callaghan

(National-UAE) Britain summoned Iran’s most senior diplomat on Monday to make clear that threats to journalists on UK soil “will never go unchallenged” after a Persian-language TV channel was forced to close its London newsroom. Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said he was […]

Conservative MP Lee Anderson says aid workers ‘as bad as people smugglers’ Charity says it provides refugees with 'dignity' not 'encouragement' to cross English Channel

February 19, 2023 Simon Rushton

(National-UAE) Refugee charities that work with migrants in northern France are “just as bad as people smugglers” who ferry people across the English Channel in search of new lives, the new Conservative deputy chairman Lee Anderson has said. The MP, who was […]

UK terrorist police investigations ‘quadruple’ with Iran behind 15 plots 'Close calls' saw would-be attackers picking targets and gathering weapons when officers intervened

February 16, 2023 Simon Rushton

(National-UAE) The number of investigations by UK counter-terrorism police into state threats has quadrupled in the past two years, with several “close calls,” a senior officer has said. Matt Jukes, head of counter-terrorism policing, described the workload as “unprecedented” and said it […]

UK’s Prevent terror strategy review to address classifying extremists as victims Shawcross report expected to warn that treating potentially dangerous people as vulnerable presents serious security issues

February 7, 2023 Laura O'Callaghan

(National-UAE) The classification of extremists as vulnerable people is a “mischaracterisation,” the author of a review of the UK’s Prevent strategy is expected to say. William Shawcross, author of the review, is understood to have taken issue with how the government’s counter-terrorism […]

Scholz hits Berlin campaign trail amid debate on Arab integration German capital will elect a new mayor on Sunday

February 6, 2023 Tim Stickings

(National-UAE) German Chancellor Olaf Scholz hit the campaign trail on Monday in a Berlin mayoral election marked by concerns over violence and integration. Ugly scenes on December 31 including attacks on police and buses led to fingers being pointed at Arab and […]

Norway bans protest over ‘security concerns’ amid fears of Quran burning Norwegian media report that a group of anti-Islam protesters planned to destroy a copy of the Quran at the demonstration

February 2, 2023 Simon Rushton

(National-UAE) A planned demonstration outside the Turkish embassy in Oslo has been banned amid fears it would become a Quran-burning protest, Norwegian police have said. Turkey summoned Norway’s ambassador on Thursday over the planned protest that was expected to take place on […]

Far-right terrorism rise in UK ‘masks threat of Islamist extremism’ Security expert concerned risk is being misjudged and warns of possible ISIS resurgence

January 17, 2023 Laura O'Callaghan

(National-UAE) Britain cannot afford to underestimate the threat Islamist terrorism continues to pose to its security, an expert has warned, amid growing emphasis on the rise of far-right ideology among prisoners. Dr Paul Stott, head of security and extremism at Policy Exchange, […]

Vienna terrorist slipped through net after seeking AK-47 bullets Prosecutors were not alerted to activities of ISIS supporter Kujtim Fejzulai, who killed four people

January 10, 2023 Tim Stickings

(National-UAE) Austrian intelligence agents should have raised the alarm about a known ISIS supporter before he killed four people in a 2020 terrorist attack in Vienna, an inquiry has found. A counter-terrorism team failed to pass on evidence that Kujtim Fejzulai was […]

Terrorist who posed with bodies in Syria jailed years after MI6 failure Sweden has jailed Bherlin Gildo for four months for links to Al Qaeda

January 4, 2023 Nicky Harley

(National-UAE) Al Qaeda-linked terrorist Bherlin Gildo has been jailed for four months in Sweden for international crimes committed in Syria which saw him pose with corpses. His conviction comes seven years after a trial against him in the UK collapsed amid allegations […]

UK ministers ‘at odds’ over Prevent counter-extremism review The report was finished in the summer but has yet to be released

December 28, 2022 Laura O'Callaghan

(National-UAE) British Cabinet ministers are said to be locked in a row over a long-awaited review of Prevent, the government’s flagship counter-extremism programme. Suella Braverman, the home secretary, is reportedly at odds with Michael Gove, the secretary for levelling up, housing and […]

Brussels bomb attack victims ‘feel like hostages’ as defendants dispute security measures Separate court will hear from defendants' lawyers on Friday

December 19, 2022 Sunniva Rose

(National-UAE) Lawyers of victims of the 2016 Brussels bombing attack on Monday said they had been “taken hostage” by defendants’ repeated walkouts and protests against security measures since the opening of the trial this month. Lawyers of four defendants — Mohamed Abrini, […]

Iranian influence and threats growing in the UK, says security minister Hardline regime in Tehran has threatened to kill or kidnap 10 people in Britain this year

December 13, 2022 Laura O'Callaghan

(National-UAE) Britain is facing growing interference, threats and influence from state actors including Iran, security minister Tom Tugendhat has warned. Since 10 Iranian plots were revealed in November more incidents have come to light. Foreign meddling of this nature, he said, poses […]

Defendants refuse to attend Brussels bombing trial until security measures are relaxed 'Humiliating' measures include strip searches twice a day, lawyers tell the National

December 12, 2022 Sunniva Rose

(National-UAE) A stand-off has enveloped the long-awaited 2016 Brussels bombing trial which has faced a rocky start as the main defendants of the triple suicide attacks that killed 32 people have refused to comply with the security procedures put in place. Six […]

Senior MP hits out at erasing extremists’ effort to take over UK schools Khalid Mahmood is concerned local schools in his city are at the centre of an ideological battle

December 11, 2022 Damien McElroy

(National-UAE) A leading British MP has spoken out against a concerted campaign to cover up efforts by extremists to take over UK schools and radicalise pupils. Khalid Mahmood, the Labour MP for a Birmingham seat and the longest serving Muslim in the […]

Brussels bombing trial: Judge calls for dialogue after accusations of violence Ali [El] Haddad Asufi claims he was mistreated in retaliation for complaining about security measures

December 8, 2022 Sunniva Rose

(National-UAE) The presiding judge of the Brussels bombing trial on Thursday intervened to call for improved relations between the parties involved after one of the defendants accused a policeman of strangling him. The incident was said to have been in retaliation for […]

Watchdog opens inquiry into Iran-linked UK centre The Islamic Centre of England was previously warned over praising a designated terrorist

November 24, 2022 Nicky Harley

(National-UAE) Britain’s charity watchdog has launched a statutory inquiry into a London Islamic centre after a trustee described protesters in Iran as “soldiers of Satan.” The Charity Commission is assessing a speech made by Seyed Moosavi, one of the trustees of the […]

Bomb and weapons instructions linked to Manchester Arena bomber removed from internet Reposted video had been viewed more than 100 times

November 23, 2022 Nicky Harley

(National-UAE) Bomb and chemical weapons instructions linked to the Manchester Arena bomber have been removed from the internet. The recent video had received more than 100 views. Suicide bomber Salman Abedi killed 22 people and injured more than 1,000 when he exploded […]

Home Office accuses UK Muslim student group of acting ‘dangerously and irresponsibly’ Federation of Student Islamic Societies plans to host anti-counter-extremism university tour

November 18, 2022 Nicky Harley

(National-UAE) A British Muslim student group has been accused of acting “dangerously and irresponsibly” by the government for hosting an anti-counter-extremism university tour. The Federation of Student Islamic Societies (Fosis) is hosting a tour of seven universities, including three Russell Group institutions, […]

Muslim Americans fare well in US midterms In all, 145 Muslim Americans ran for local, state and federal positions

November 9, 2022 Katarina Holtzapple

(National-UAE) Mehmet Oz, the first Muslim to be nominated by a major party for the US Senate, was defeated by Democrat John Fetterman in Pennsylvania during the midterms, but elsewhere, Muslim Americans fared better. In all, 145 Muslim Americans ran for local, […]

Arab Americans flex their muscles at the US midterms ballot box Arabic voting ballots available in two Michigan cities as Arab Americans enjoy growing political power

October 30, 2022 Natasha Dado

(National-UAE) The upcoming US midterm elections serve as a reminder of how far the Arab American demographic has come in gaining political power and influence. In Dearborn, Michigan — the Detroit suburb long considered the heart of America’s Arab American community — […]

London becoming ‘safe refuge for Iranian regime proponents,’ MPs fear Parliament hears of 'substantial rumours' that families of Iran's elite are applying for UK passports to flee to British capital

October 25, 2022 Unlisted Author

(National-UAE) The UK Foreign Office has pledged to investigate claims that family members of Iran’s leaders are applying for British passports to seek refuge in London, as protests continue in their country. Iranians have taken to the streets to protest against the […]

Mehmet Oz faces backlash from Pennsylvania’s Armenian community over Turkish ties Would-be Republican senator's refusal to recognise genocide has made him persona non grata for many Armenian voters

October 18, 2022 Joyce Karam and Katarina Holtzapple

(National-UAE) For many of the roughly 40,000 Armenian Americans living in Pennsylvania, the Senate race between Democratic candidate John Fetterman and Republican Mehmet Oz is personal and has become focused on a genocide that occurred during the First World War. Oz, a […]

British women take bid for release from ‘appalling’ Syrian camp to High Court The hearing is due to conclude on Wednesday

October 18, 2022 Soraya Ebrahimi

(National-UAE) Two British women who had their request for release denied by the UK government are facing indefinite detention in “appalling” conditions at a Syrian camp, the High Court has been told. The two mothers, who can only be identified as C3 […]

Manchester Arena bombing victim’s mother fears new terror law will leave ‘loopholes’ open Five years on from attack that killed 22 people, grieving parent still fighting for change of legislation

October 11, 2022 Laura O'Callaghan

(National-UAE) A woman whose son was killed in the Manchester Arena bombing on Tuesday voiced an evocative “mother-to-mother” message for Prime Minister Liz Truss, as she continues to battle for a change of law five years on. Figen Murray said the killing […]

Truss and Macron signal progress on tackling Channel migrant crisis UK prime minister also took the opportunity to hail French leader as 'a friend'

October 6, 2022 Soraya Ebrahimi

(National-UAE) The UK and France will work together more closely to tackle the migration crisis gripping both countries, British Prime Minister Liz Truss and French President Emmanuel Macron said during a meeting on Thursday. The pair met outside the first summit of […]

Nice 2016 attacker ‘cannot be divorced from ISIS’ Six years after attack that killed 86 people in southern France, there is a chance to bring accomplices to justice

September 7, 2022 Damien McElroy

(National-UAE) French officers investigating the 2016 Nice attack told a court that the ISIS terrorist group bore responsibility for the “lone wolf” rampage, having drawn in Mohamed Lahouaiej-Bouhlel through propaganda in the weeks before the July 14 killing spree. The Tunisian used […]

British man found guilty of sharing ISIS propaganda on Facebook Sabbir Miah has five previous convictions for similar offences

August 26, 2022 Soraya Ebrahimi

(National-UAE) A 29-year-old man has been found guilty of sharing a video on Facebook that glorified ISIS fighters after the propaganda was posted in a private group in June last year. Jurors at the Old Bailey took 10 hours and two minutes […]

Pro-Iranian group chief ‘praised fatwa against Salman Rushdie’ Massoud Shadjareh is accused of telling Islamophobia conference in 2021 that Muslims thought publishing of The Satanic Verses 'was wrong'

August 21, 2022 Laura O'Callaghan

(National-UAE) The head of a pro-Iranian non-profit group based in Britain voiced support for the fatwa calling for the death of Sir Salman Rushdie, it has been claimed. Massoud Shadjareh, founder and chairman of the Islamic Human Rights Commission (IHRC), allegedly backed […]

European governments accused of giving almost €80m to Muslim Brotherhood-linked groups MEPs criticise funding as 'absurd' and 'concerning'

August 3, 2022 Nicky Harley

(National-UAE) Muslim Brotherhood-linked groups have received almost €80 million in funding from European governments over the past decade, a report has revealed. The latest Global Influence Operations Report documented €79,551,732 in donations given to groups with reported links to the Muslim Brotherhood […]

Tony Blair’s government feared backlash over failure to expel UK extremists after 9/11 Newly released archive reveals rising tensions among young Muslims in Britain

July 19, 2022 Nicky Harley

(National-UAE) Former British prime minister Tony Blair feared his government would face a backlash over its failure to remove extremists from the UK in the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Newly released Cabinet papers from the UK’s National Archives in Kew […]

Downing Street confirms ban on Muslim Council of Britain contacts New controversy surrounds Penny Mordaunt after 2021 meeting with MCB

July 18, 2022 Thomas Harding

(National-UAE) Downing Street has stated that ministers should continue to boycott the Muslim Council of Britain following controversy over a meeting with one of its leaders by Conservative leadership candidate Penny Mordaunt in defiance of the long-standing policy. The trade minister has […]

After her time with ISIS, French prisoner seeks rehabilitation Meeting Emilie Konig reveals a young woman alienated from the society of her homeland

July 10, 2022 Colin Randall

(National-UAE) In the relative comfort of a prison outside Paris ― after nearly five years in a spartan Kurdish detention camp in north-eastern Syria ― a policeman’s daughter once described as a dangerous terrorist now talks of regaining “the life of a […]

Biden to honour Khizr Khan, who lashed out at Trump’s ‘Muslim ban’ US president to award nation's highest civilian honour to 17 people, including gymnast Simone Biles and football star Megan Rapinoe

July 1, 2022 Holly Aguirre

(National-UAE) President Joe Biden will present the top civilian honour to Khizr Khan, the Pakistani-American father of a veteran killed in action who criticised Donald Trump over his proposed “Muslim ban.” He is one of 17 people Mr Biden announced would receive […]

Swedish would-be ISIS fighters jailed after recruitment sting Two brothers were prepared to travel wherever terrorist group needed them

May 25, 2022 Paul Peachey

(National-UAE) Two Swedish brothers have been sentenced to jail for eight months after their efforts to join ISIS unravelled when their recruiter was revealed as an undercover intelligence officer. The men, who have not been identified, were arrested in February at Gothenburg-Landvetter […]

Peace TV founder Zakir Naik’s charity that funded hate speech channels shut down in UK Islamic Research Foundation International closed over 'repeated misconduct,' says watchdog

May 20, 2022 Nicky Harley

(National-UAE) A charity founded by Zakir Naik, a television personality whose Peace TV stations were fined in the UK for broadcasting hate speech, has been shut down due to misconduct. UK charity watchdog the Charity Commission took action against Islamic Research Foundation […]

French government calls UK advocacy group Cage ‘Islamist militants’ Anti-radicalisation body accuses organisation of supporting terrorists and seeking to smear France

April 28, 2022 Nicky Harley

(National-UAE) UK advocacy group Cage, which has a focus on Muslim detainees, has been labelled “Islamist militants” by the French government’s anti-radicalisation body. The Interministerial Committee for the Prevention of Delinquency and Radicalisation has published nine tweets accusing Cage, founded by former […]

Dutch ISIS recruits ‘held frontline roles’ despite their protestations Report from counter-extremism think tank finds many came from groups linked to Anjem Choudary

April 14, 2022 Nicky Harley

(National-UAE) Dutch ISIS recruits held pivotal roles in the terrorist group — not the minor roles they have claimed — and they should be held fully accountable for their crimes, a report from the Counter [Extremism] Project think tank says. Claims that […]

UK holds terror conference to make Square Mile ‘safest city area in the world’ London's business district set to trial new counter-terrorism tool

March 16, 2022 Nicky Harley

(National-UAE) A terror conference took place [last week] in London with the aim of making the capital’s business district the “safest city area in the world.” Hosted by City of London Police, more than 150 security professionals, business leaders and counter-terrorism experts […]

Denmark charges ‘ISIS fighter’ with treason Prosecutors say the 31-year-old Dane travelled to Syria and fought against the international coalition

March 10, 2022 Unlisted Author

(National-UAE) Danish prosecutors have for the first time charged a citizen accused of being an ISIS fighter in Syria with treason. The man was recruited in 2013 and remained with the group for four years until it was defeated on the battlefield, […]

British-Moroccan woman who joined ISIS loses appeal to return to UK from Syria Mother-of-three, identified as U3, cannot be reunited with her children in the UK

March 7, 2022 Paul Peachey

(National-UAE) A British-Moroccan woman stripped of her citizenship after travelling to Syria with her husband to join ISIS has lost an appeal to return to the UK to join her three children. The woman, named only as U3, claimed she only went […]

German mother on terror charges after ‘joining women-only ISIS unit’ in Syria Solale M is also accused of child protection offences after taking two children with her

March 4, 2022 Paul Peachey

(National-UAE) A German-Iranian mother has been charged with terrorism offences for allegedly joining a women-only ISIS combat unit after taking her two children to Syria. The woman — identified only as Solale M — was one of three German women arrested in […]

Tell MAMA’s Fiyaz Mughal calls for funds to tackle Muslim anti-Semitism in the UK Calls mount after four people were taken hostage at a Texas synagogue by a British Muslim

February 23, 2022 Nicky Harley

(National-UAE) Tell MAMA founder Fiyaz Mughal is calling for investment to tackle Muslim anti-Semitism after a British man took four people hostage in a Texas synagogue. Malik Faisal Akram was shot dead in the armed siege at the Congregation Beth Israel synagogue […]

Germany home to 1,950 potentially violent Islamist extremists Interior Ministry releases data on those known or willing to be violent

February 22, 2022 Tim Stickings

(National-UAE) The German government has revealed there are about 1,950 potentially violent Islamist extremists in the country. These people were assessed by the Interior Ministry as both extreme in their beliefs and either known to be violent or showing a willingness to […]

Five ISIS arrests in Spain on grooming and funding charges Two were detained on recruiting allegations and three on funding

February 14, 2022 Simon Rushton

(National-UAE) Five people have been arrested in Spain on charges of grooming potential ISIS recruits and funding the organisation in Libya. In two separate anti-terrorist operations, Spanish national police swept on suspects in Barcelona, Girona, Valencia and Melilla, one of two Spanish […]

German intelligence on alert for extremists travelling to Afghanistan Intelligence chief says Al Qaeda could establish new training camps in country

February 9, 2022 Tim Stickings

(National-UAE) German security services are bracing themselves for the possibility of extremists in Europe travelling to Afghanistan to fight or train with Al Qaeda. Bruno Kahl, the head of Germany’s foreign intelligence agency, said the Taliban’s return to power had made Afghanistan […]

EU Commission accused of giving €52m to groups linked to Muslim Brotherhood Controversial Islamic Relief Worldwide received €36.2m over 13 years

January 27, 2022 Jamie Prentis

(National-UAE) More than €52 million ($57.96m) in European Commission money was directly or indirectly given to organisations with alleged links to the Muslim Brotherhood between 2007 and 2020, according to a new report. The lion’s share of funding from the EU’s executive […]

Sweden deports imam accused of being an ISIS recruiter Ahmed Ahmed had been held for a year on suspicion of Islamist extremism

January 20, 2022 Nicky Harley

(National-UAE) An imam suspected of being a recruiter for ISIS has been deported by Sweden after a year in detention. Ahmed Ahmed, 52, was detained last year on suspicion of being a key figure in the radicalisation and recruitment of ISIS fighters […]