May
Muslims in Germany are alarmed over a new law that they say could lead to a ban on Islamic headscarves through the back door. The law, which comes as France debates a hijab ban for under-18s, would allow for German civil servants to be banned from displaying symbols that “reduce trust in their neutrality”. Although […]
Apr
France’s right-wing majority Senate has approved proposals including expanded bans on religious symbols and clothing in a set of new draft laws to counter what President Emmanuel Macron has called Islamist separatism. Critics say the new measures, which may not be included in the final version, discriminate against Muslims. The French Senate, dominated by right-wing […]
Mar
Muslim leaders in France have criticised a recent decision to ban the slaughter of poultry animals in line with Islamic principles ahead of the holy month of Ramadan. A joint statement issued by Paris Mosque director Chemseddine Hafez, Lyon Mosque director Kamel Kaptane and Evry Mosque director Khalil Maroun, says that the French Agriculture and […]
Mar
A broad majority of Parliament has voted in favour of banning donations that seek to undermine democracy in Denmark. The move aims to prevent potentially extremist forces from using donations to erode basic freedom and human rights. “There exists extremist forces abroad that try to turn our Muslim citizens against Denmark and drive a wedge […]
Mar
Switzerland will follow France, Belgium and Austria after narrowly voting in a referendum to ban women from wearing the burqa or niqab in public spaces. Just over 51% of Swiss voters cast their ballots in favour of the initiative to ban people from covering their face completely on the street, in shops and restaurants. Full […]
Feb
France’s National Assembly approved a controversial bill Tuesday that has been criticized for targeting Muslims. The draft law was approved with 347 lawmakers voting in favor, 151 against and 65 abstaining. Known as the “separatism” bill, it was supported by President Emmanuel Macron’s ruling La Republique En Marche (LREM) party, the Democratic Movement (MoDem), the […]
Feb
France’s Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin crossed swords with far-right leader Marine Le Pen Thursday night in a televised debate, with the two clashing over their competing visions on how to fight radical Islam and terrorism. The duel was highly anticipated, four years after Le Pen’s disastrous performance in a debate against then-candidate Emmanuel Macron dealt […]
Feb
French far-right leader Marine Le Pen Friday proposed a ban on Muslim headscarves in all public places, in a bid to build on a record recent poll that put her almost neck-and-neck with President Emmanuel Macron. The hijab policy, which would be contested in court and would almost certainly be ruled unconstitutional, saw the 53-year-old […]
Jan
Amid controversy over the government’s stance towards Muslims, Islamophobic attacks in France shot up by over half in 2020, the head of a monitoring group said Friday. There were 235 attacks on Muslims in France in 2020, up from 154 the previous year, a 53% jump, Abdallah Zekri, head of the National Observatory of Islamophobia, […]
Dec
The French authorities have launched inspections of dozens of mosques and prayer halls suspected of links to Islamist extremism. Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin announced the crackdown, saying some could be closed if found to be encouraging “separatism”. It comes a week before the unveiling of a new law to combat such extremism. It is a […]
