Source: Politico

Citizenship

French senator demands footballer Karim Benzema lose citizenship over Muslim Brotherhood claim Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin said the star was ‘linked’ with the Muslim party. Benzema’s lawyer said that’s not true.

October 18, 2023   

(Politico) A French senator on Wednesday called for Karim Benzema to be stripped of his French citizenship after Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin suggested the football star was linked to the Muslim Brotherhood, a Sunni Islamist party considered to be a terrorist group […]

Government & Politics

Belgian officials knew all about Brussels terror attack gunman — but were unable to stop him Tunisian shooter’s profile sheds light on Belgium’s security failures.

October 18, 2023 and   

(Politico) Belgian authorities were well aware of the gunman who caused terror in Brussels — and yet he was still able to shoot two people dead. The attacker — who killed two Swedish football fans on Monday evening — had been on the authorities’ […]

Government & Politics

DeSantis spars with Haley over Gaza comments Haley criticized her Republican presidential rival, who over the weekend said that Palestinians in Gaza 'are all antisemitic.'

October 16, 2023   

(Politico) Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida on Monday rejected criticism from Republican presidential rival Nikki Haley of remarks he made about Palestinians over the weekend. In an interview with NBC’s Dasha Burns published on Monday, DeSantis dismissed Haley’s criticisms as her “trying […]

Academics & Education

Killing of French teacher inflames tensions over security, immigration A string of violent attacks by foreigners over recent years has reignited the immigration debate in France.

October 16, 2023   

(Politico) Just three days after an Islamist stabbed a French teacher to death, an already fierce discussion on immigration in France has become a lot more heated. The killing last Friday of Dominique Bernard, a high school teacher in Arras, has emotionally […]

Interfaith

FBI director warns of increase in domestic threats related to Middle East conflict The FBI does not have 'specific and credible intelligence indicating a threat to the United States stemming from the Hamas attacks in Israel,' but continues to monitor events as they unfold.

October 14, 2023   

(Politico) FBI director Christopher Wray on Saturday said reported domestic threats have surged as conflict in Israel escalates. Wray acknowledged the increase in threats due to the “heightened environment,” calling for increased vigilance and requesting that police continue to share intelligence and […]

Government & Politics

Germany will ban all Hamas-linked activities, Scholz says Germany vows zero tolerance for antisemitism, after terror celebrations by a minority spark outrage.

October 12, 2023   

(Politico) German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said that anyone who glorifies the crimes of Palestinian militant group Hamas, uses its symbols, condones murder, calls for criminal acts or burns Israeli flags could be prosecuted in Germany. Speaking in the Bundestag, the German parliament, […]

Government & Politics

Henry Kissinger on Hamas attacks fallout: Germany let in too many foreigners As a minority in Berlin cheer Hamas’ attacks on Israel, former top US diplomat says mass immigration was a ‘grave mistake.’

October 11, 2023   

(Politico) Hamas’ attack against Israel being celebrated on the streets of Berlin indicates that Germany has let too many foreigners into the country, according to former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger. “It was a grave mistake to let in so many […]

Interfaith

Graphic videos of Hamas attacks spread on X Beheadings, mass shootings and other images linked to the violence targeting Israel widely shared on Elon Musk’s social media network.

October 9, 2023   

(Politico) Videos and images of mass shootings, kidnapped civilians and soldiers and other violence linked with Hamas’ attack on Israel are being widely shared on X, formerly known as Twitter, in violation of the company’s own rules against inciting violence. POLITICO’s review […]

Government & Politics

Athens wants to revamp EU-Turkey migrant deal Greek interior minister says now is time to ‘reenergize, rejuvenate and expand’ pact that returns migrants to Turkey.

September 29, 2023   

(Politico) Athens wants to expand a migration deal with Turkey, Greek Interior Minister Dimitrios Kairidis said. The European Union reached the contentious agreement with Turkey at the peak of the migration crisis in March 2016. It foresaw that all undocumented migrants arriving […]

Discrimination & “Islamophobia”

Muslim New Jersey mayor denied entry to White House plans lawsuit against ‘watchlist’ Prospect Park Mayor Mohamed Khairullah has said he believes his name is allegedly on a federal terrorist watchlist.

September 15, 2023   

(Politico) A Muslim Democratic mayor from New Jersey plans to sue the Biden administration seeking to end a federal terrorism watchlist which he has previously said unfairly targets Muslims — including himself this spring at the White House. More details of the […]

Government & Politics

Jeffries endorses Ilhan Omar amid AIPAC primary threat Democratic leadership is sending a message to progressives who are worried about primary challenges from the pro-Israel group: Caucus leaders plan to support all incumbents.

August 30, 2023   

(Politico) When Pramila Jayapal faced fierce blowback in mid-July after dubbing Israel a “racist state,” it immediately unnerved fellow House progressives. Their concern: Would Democratic leaders recommit to the longstanding policy of backing all incumbents, including critics of Israel? The answer was […]

Arts & Entertainment

Antisemitism accusations over rapper split France’s left A tweet by the rapper Médine is dividing parties in the hard left-Green Nupes coalition that currently leads in French polls.

August 24, 2023   

(Politico) The left’s antisemitism problem has taken center-stage in France. The summer jamborees of the French Green party and the hard left were supposed to be opportunities to discuss climate change, wealth inequalities and next year’s European elections in a festive, holiday […]

Government & Politics

Ramaswamy: I ‘don’t believe’ the 9/11 Commission report The GOP candidate went on to insist he was expressing doubts about the Saudi government’s explanation for the attacks.

August 2, 2023   

(Politico) Vivek Ramaswamy cast doubt on the veracity of the government’s explanation of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, saying he didn’t believe the findings of the 9/11 Commission. In an interview Tuesday night on the conservative Blaze TV, host Alex Stein […]

Government & Politics

UK minister denies barge housing asylum seekers is a ‘potential death trap’ Grant Shapps defends Bibby Stockholm vessel, currently moored in Dorset as part of UK plans to cut asylum accommodation costs.

August 2, 2023   

(Politico) Cabinet minister Grant Shapps rejected claims Wednesday that the Bibby Stockholm, a barge the U.K. government is planning to use to house asylum seekers, represents a fire safety “death trap.” The stark warning over the 222-bedroom ship — currently moored at […]

Government & Politics

The EU has revealed its blueprint to curb migration It involves lots of cash for Northern African countries. Tunisia is the first to sign up. Egypt and Morocco could follow.

July 17, 2023 and   

(Politico) Cash is king in the EU’s plan to stop migrants from coming to Europe. On Sunday, the EU finalized a deal with Tunisia — a common departure point for people seeking asylum in Europe — that essentially offers the country millions in exchange […]

Government & Politics

Greece to the EU: Come help stop migrant boats before they get here ‘These tragedies will continue to happen unless we stop departures from Libya,’ Greece’s migration minister told POLITICO following a shipwreck that killed hundreds.

July 16, 2023 and   

(Politico) Greece wants the EU to stop migrant boats before they even get to Europe. In an interview with POLITICO, newly appointed Greek Migration Minister Dimitris Kairidis called on the EU to resume an operation that aims to halt migrants before leaving […]

Government & Politics

Minister in Brussels region government resigns over Tehran mayor invite Pascal Smet was criticized for inviting the ultra-conservative mayor of Tehran to the Brussels Urban Summit.

June 18, 2023   

(Politico) Pascal Smet, foreign affairs minister of the region of Brussels, resigned on Sunday after coming under fire last week for inviting the ultra-conservative mayor of Tehran to the Brussels Urban Summit. “I have decided to resign,” Smet, who is also urban […]

Government & Politics

EU countries agree to major migration deal Last-minute concessions to Italy unblocked a deal that could overhaul the EU’s asylum system for the first time in years.

June 8, 2023 and   

(Politico) Italy finally gave its blessing. Rome’s green light on Thursday evening unlocked a major deal to overhaul the EU’s asylum procedures for the first time in years after a grueling gathering of home affairs ministers in Luxembourg. “I wasn’t sure this […]

Government & Politics

Belgium swaps convicted terrorist to free aid worker jailed in Iran ‘Olivier Vandecasteele is on his way to Belgium,’ PM Alexander De Croo says.

May 26, 2023 , and   

(Politico) Iran has released Olivier Vandecasteele, a Belgian humanitarian worker who had been detained in Iran for more than a year, in exchange for convicted terrorist Assadollah Assadi, who had been imprisoned in Belgium. “Olivier Vandecasteele is on his way to Belgium,” […]

Government & Politics

EU’s Johansson slams Greece over ‘deportation’ of migrants Footage showing Greek coast guard abandoning migrants in the open sea is ‘absolutely unacceptable,’ EU home affairs commissioner says.

May 24, 2023 , and   

(Politico) EU Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson criticized Greece for reportedly forcing migrants onto an emergency raft and abandoning them in the Aegean Sea. In an interview with POLITICO, Johansson said the episode was more than a pushback — when migrants are […]

Government & Politics

EU lawmakers endorse pact to revise migration rules The proposal would speed the return of migrants entering the EU without permission and force countries to accept asylum seekers during emergencies.

April 20, 2023   

(Politico) EU lawmakers on Thursday gave the green light to a central plank of the EU’s flagship migration package, the latest sign of progress on long-stalled reforms. The European Parliament measure endorses new rules seeking to speed up the return of migrants […]

Government & Politics

EU lawmakers break ranks to endorse controversial funding for border protection The amendment’s approval killed a broader budget bill as EU lawmakers squabbled over the subject.

April 19, 2023   

(Politico) The EU’s brawl over whether to pay for border fencing has spilled into the European Parliament. On Wednesday, EU lawmakers approved a controversial amendment endorsing the use of EU funds to help support border barriers, although it stopped short of explicitly […]

Government & Politics

EU tells UK its asylum plan ‘violating international law’ Commissioner Ylva Johansson takes aim at Illegal Migration Bill as U.K.‘s Suella Braverman pushes back.

March 8, 2023   

(Politico) The European Union warned Britain its crackdown on Channel migrant crossings violates international law — as the U.K. urged it to read the details. In an interview with POLITICO in Brussels, European Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson said she had spoken […]

Government & Politics

Belgium’s top court reopens door for contentious prisoner-swap deal with Iran The deal could allow an exchange between a Belgian aid worker jailed in Iran and an Iranian diplomat convicted for terrorism in Belgium.

March 3, 2023 and   

(Politico) Belgium’s highest court on Friday overturned a freeze on a controversial treaty on prisoner exchanges that could allow an Iranian diplomat convicted of terrorism to be sent back to Tehran. The treaty would allow Iranians convicted in Belgium to serve their […]

Government & Politics

Dems mobilize to defend Omar in face of GOP defections McCarthy plans to hold a House vote to remove her from the Foreign Affairs panel, but it’s unclear that he’ll have enough support in his conference.

January 24, 2023 and   

(Politico) House Republicans are already facing defections over a leadership push to oust Rep. Ilhan Omar from her committees. Democrats plan to make the vote even more painful. The Minnesota Democrat and her caucus allies have begun to mount a robust defense […]

Discrimination & “Islamophobia”

Court upholds French far-right leader’s conviction over anti-Muslim comments The European Court of Human Rights dismisses former French presidential candidate Eric Zemmour’s freedom of speech claim.

December 20, 2022   

(Politico) The European Court of Human Rights rejected the appeal of former French presidential candidate Eric Zemmour, who was convicted in France for “inciting discrimination and religious hatred” over comments targeting the French Muslim community. “The court held that the interference with […]

Government & Politics

EU drafts plan to share migrant influx — voluntarily A draft document seen by POLITICO, which is still under discussion, proposes a voluntary relocation of at least 5,000 or 10,000 migrants a year.

October 27, 2022   

(Politico) The EU is discussing a proposal for countries to voluntarily relocate a minimum of 5,000 or 10,000 migrants a year, according to a draft document seen by POLITICO. The proposal is being crafted by the Czech Republic, which currently holds the […]

Books

Biden condemns attack on Rushdie, pledges ‘solidarity’ with author’s ideals 'Salman Rushdie — with his insight into humanity, with his unmatched sense for story, with his refusal to be intimidated or silenced — stands for essential, universal ideals,' Biden said in the statement.

August 13, 2022   

(Politico) President Joe Biden on Saturday condemned the frenzied attack on Salman Rushdie on a New York lecture stage that has left the author on a ventilator. “Jill and I were shocked and saddened to learn of the vicious attack on Salman […]

Government & Politics

Belgium paves way to send convicted terrorist to Iran There is growing international pressure not to back treaty that would allow Iranians convicted in Belgium to serve their sentences in Iran.

July 4, 2022 and   

(Politico) Belgium’s parliament on Tuesday will debate whether to ratify a proposed treaty with Iran that could allow an Iranian convicted of terrorism in Belgium to be sent back to Tehran. Iran has loudly demanded that Belgium release Assadollah Assadi, an Iranian […]

Internet

Online platforms now have an hour to remove terrorist content in the EU If tech companies regularly fail to tackle terrorist content, they could face a fine of up to 4 percent of their global revenue.

June 7, 2022   

(Politico) Facebook, Google and Twitter now have an hour to take down flagged terrorist content spreading on their platforms or risk fines of billions of euros. Passed in 2021, the EU’s terrorist content regulation enters into force Tuesday. It seeks to crack […]

Government & Politics

Muslim leaders want NYPD official censured for denying post-9/11 surveillance One attendee called for the ouster of John Miller, deputy commissioner of intelligence and counterterrorism.

March 23, 2022   

(Politico) Muslim community leaders told Mayor Eric Adams during a closed-door meeting Tuesday that a high-ranking member of the NYPD should face consequences for claiming the department never surveilled Muslims in the wake of 9/11 — with one attendee calling for the […]

Discrimination & “Islamophobia”

State senator who once denigrated Islam as a ‘cult of hate’ seeks recognition for Muslim holidays Practicing Muslims make up about 3 percent of New Jersey’s population, according to the Pew Research Center — the highest percentage of any state.

February 15, 2022   

(Politico) Selaedin Maksut didn’t expect anything specific to come out of his meeting late last year with then-state Sen.-elect Ed Durr after an anti-Muslim tweet of Durr’s surfaced. But what was initially planned as a meeting to explain Islam to Durr — […]

Animals

Top EU official: Religious slaughter bans paint Jews, Muslims as ‘medieval’ Official tasked with fighting anti-Semitism also urges EU countries to properly criminalize Holocaust denial.

January 27, 2022   

(Politico) Belgian bans on the ritual slaughter of animals practiced by Jews and Muslims risk painting these minorities as “medieval” communities with no respect for animal life, the EU’s top official tasked with fighting anti-Semitism across Europe said. Since 2019, citing concerns […]

Internet

Islamic extremists sidestep Facebook’s content police Despite the company’s claims to clamp down on violent hate speech, POLITICO discovered scores of groups supportive of either Islamic State or the Taliban.

December 19, 2021   

(Politico) Photos of beheadings, extremist propaganda and violent hate speech related to Islamic State and the Taliban were shared for months within Facebook groups over the past year despite the social networking giant’s claims it had increased efforts to remove such content. […]