Government & Politics

Social media giants compelled by eSafety commissioner to report on efforts to combat terrorist and violent extremist material

(ABC-Australia) Australia’s eSafety commissioner has put the big social media companies on notice, demanding they do better to stop the proliferation of violent extremist material and activity on their platforms. Julie Inman Grant said YouTube-owner Google, Meta (owner of Facebook and Instagram), […]

Holidays

Outrage as Los Angeles synagogue hosting Muslim group covers up hostage posters Conservative synagogue cancels lease to Muslim group after backlash from members, threats of mass departure; speaker at Ramadan event revealed to have supported Hamas' October 7 attack

(Ynet) A central Los Angeles synagogue leased its facility to a Muslim group for the holy month of Ramadan, covering up all posters of Israeli hostages taken by Hamas on October 7 hanging on its walls. Photos of the covered posters circulated […]

Government & Politics

Is migration the EU’s biggest challenge in 2024? Few topics were as influential in shaping social discourse last year as migration. It's likely to dominate the EU's agenda again in the new year.

(Deutsche Welle) The number of asylum applications to the European Union has risen over the past two years. While there were just under 1 million in 2022, the European Union Agency for Asylum has predicted that this mark could now have hit […]

Interfaith

CAIR director says he was ‘happy’ to witness Oct. 7 attacks, Israel ‘does not have right to self-defense’ CAIR co-founder Nihad Awad also stated that Israel had no right to defend itself from Hamas attacks because it is an 'occupying power'

(Fox) One of the top executives of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) said he was “happy” to witness the Oct. 7 terrorist attack on Israel. Nihad Awad, executive director and co-founder of CAIR, expressed his feelings on the terrorist attack at […]

Government & Politics

More EU countries threaten to close Russian borders amid migrant surge Latvia and Lithuania say they are monitoring the situation, after Finland accused Moscow of ‘cynical’ actions.

(Politico) A growing number of asylum seekers arriving on the EU’s eastern frontier is forcing Baltic countries to consider border closures with Russia, due to fears the Kremlin is weaponizing desperate people to create a migration crisis on the continent. Latvia, Lithuania […]

Demonstrations

‘Clash of civilizations’ looms over EU elections Far-right parties are cashing in on decades of campaigning against Islam and migration, as they move to the center ground.

(Politico) Geert Wilders may be just the tip of the iceberg. Following the anti-Islam politician’s shock election win in the Netherlands, European elites are nervously scanning the political landscape for signs of what’s to come — including further surprise wins from far-right […]

Government & Politics

Far-right leader’s anti-mosque remarks could undermine Sweden’s NATO bid: former Swedish envoy Jimmie Akesson's suggestion to demolish mosques is extreme, unfortunate, says Michael Sahlin, Sweden's former ambassador to Türkiye

(Anadolu) A far-right Swedish politician proposing blocking new mosques and demolishing existing ones could undermine the country’s NATO hopes, warned a former Swedish diplomat on Sunday. Jimmie Akesson, leader of the country’s far-right Sweden Democrats, on Saturday proposed a ban on the […]

Crime

Maryland hate crimes commission member under fire for pro-Hamas posts Zainab Chaudry, the Maryland director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, took to Facebook to call Hamas terrorists ‘freedom fighters’ and compare Israel to Nazi Germany

(Jewish Insider) When Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown announced the inaugural members of the state’s Commission on Hate Crime Response and Prevention in August, he said Maryland residents “deserve a safe and inclusive state” and pledged to develop strategies to address hate […]

Government & Politics

US Muslim group slams White House’s ‘no red line’ policy amid civilian casualties in Gaza Every such declaration without 'red lines' emboldens Israeli government to escalate their military actions, says CAIR official

(Anadolu) The US-based Muslim advocacy group the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) strongly criticized the White House on Wednesday over its “no red line” stance concerning Israel amid ongoing civilian casualties in Gaza due to Israeli airstrikes. CAIR “strongly condemned White House […]

Government & Politics

Swing-state Muslim Americans threaten to vote against Biden Muslim Americans voted overwhelmingly for Biden. But community leaders in swing states tell NBC News that the president's handling of the war in Gaza risks losing their support.

(NBC) As Israel’s U.S-backed war against Hamas intensifies and Palestinian civilian deaths mount, a growing number of swing-state Muslim American and Arab American leaders are warning President Joe Biden that he is losing support from their communities in ways that could cost […]

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.’

(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 […]

Discrimination & “Islamophobia”

Muslims ‘unjustly placed on blacklists’ across Europe, rights groups warn Muslim leaders urge European governments to take action against Islamophobia in Europe at security and human rights conference in Poland

(Middle East Eye) Muslim civil society groups from Europe warned of the growing level of Islamophobia spreading across the continent at a major security and human rights conference in Poland. On Thursday, seven Muslim groups from Austria, France, Sweden, Spain, and the […]

Law Enforcement

AFP officers attend Sydney Airport as emergency incident unfolds Cops have stormed a Malaysia Airlines flight to arrest an 'unruly' passenger whose behaviour forced the plane to return to Sydney.

(NCA NewsWire) A man who forced a Malaysia Airlines plane to make a dramatic turn back to Sydney International Airport after he became unruly and made references to Islam has been arrested. The MH122 Airbus-a330 flight to Kuala Lumpur was diverted back […]

Demonstrations

Sweden Quran burnings: How the Kremlin benefits The Swedish government is dealing with increased terrorist threats sparked by repeated Quran burnings. Now Russia appears to be instrumentalizing the issue.

(Deutsche Welle) Husam El Gomati scrolls through his phone and points at a long post in Arabic. “Mohammad Ahmad Ali, the most typical name, with some funny picture,” he notes. Scrolling through the post, El Gomati confirms what he expected: “Yeah, you’re […]

Academics & Education

Iran’s IRGC poses biggest security threat to Britain, authorities say Group reportedly attempting to recruit members of crime gangs to target opponents of Iranian regime

(National-UAE) British authorities consider Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to be the greatest threat to national security amid reports the group is increasing activities in the country. Home Secretary Suella Braverman is said to be concerned over reports that the group […]

Demonstrations

Iraqi refugees set fire to Quran outside Swedish Parliament in Stockholm Both Momika and Najem have repeatedly stated that they want the Quran banned completely in the Nordic nation, which has broad free speech laws.

(Euronews) Two men set fire to a copy of the Quran on Monday in front of the Swedish Parliament in Stockholm, in a rally similar to previous events that provoked a diplomatic crisis between Sweden and the Muslim world. Smiling wryly, Salwan […]