Netherlands: 117 attacks on mosques in 6 years Via Telegraaf (Dutch): There were 117 incidents of anti-Muslim attacks on mosques in the Netherlands in the years 2005-2010. There were 43 cases of graffiti and 37 cases of vandalism. Researcher Ineke van der Valk studied Islamophobic violence for the Euro-Mediterranean Migration and Development Center (EMCEMO).
Russia: 110 year old makes pilgrimage to the Hajj Via RT : A 110-year-old woman from Russia’s North Caucasus has fulfilled a lifelong ambition by traveling 3,000 kilometers as a pilgrim to join the Hajj. The Hajj is the largest annual pilgrimage in the world and also considered a religious duty that must be carried out at least once in every Muslim’s lifetime
Germany: Antisemitism ruled out in murder of Israeli Update to this story . Via M&C : German police said Thursday that a Syrian medical student was the main suspect in the murder of a 26-year-old Israeli in the university town of Goettingen, but ruled out a political motive. The suspect, 24, fled the country shortly after the woman was suffocated on December 18 in her room at a student residence, police said.
Sweden: Agency slams immigrant language class failings Via the Local : Many of Sweden’s municipalities fail to place newly arrived immigrants in Swedish language classes within the time frames stipulated by law, a new investigation has found. “It’s regrettable that municipalities don’t prioritize the possibility for new arrivals to start their education as soon as possible,” Erica Sahlin, a project leader with the Swedish Schools Inspectorate (Skolinspektionen), said in a statement.
Bosnia: Muslims urged to “boycott New Year” Via B92 (h/t Jihad Watch ): The Islamic Community in Bosnia-Herzegovina has called on Muslims in that country to boycott the upcoming New Year celebrations. By taking part, said the organization, they would “violate Allah’s boundaries, and do something their master hates and despises”. The Islamic Community statement on Wednesday quoted from a book by Almir Dumica, entitled, “Pearls of the Sunnah in the Mosaic of Time”: “On that night, turn off the lights early and let everyone see you’re boycotting everything happening on that night
Sweden: Somalis ’shut out’ of health system Via the Local : Many Somalis in Sweden feel dismissed when visiting a doctor in Sweden, according to a new study, which shows that many end up looking abroad for medical treatment as a result. The findings come from a new doctoral dissertation by Kristian Svenberg with the Sahlgrenska Academy at Gothenburg University
France/Belgium: Veil arrests In Belgium three people were detained when they tried to stop police from checking a woman wearing a niqab (Via VRT ): Police detained a woman in the Brussels borough of Schaarbeek on Tuesday because she was wearing a niqab. The garment is a full veil sometimes worn by Muslim women that only leaves the eyes uncovered.
Finland: Swimming pool purchases curtains for immigrant swimmers Via Tundra Tabloids (via HS ): Martinlaakso swimming pool will begin swimming periods for immigrants early next year. In practice, after normal business hours are held, the hall’s large windows will be covered with curtains.
Antwerp: Police detain Islamists over harassment Via AFP : Belgian police on Wednesday detained 15 members of a radical Islamic group after they harassed passers-by in the city of Antwerp and shouted anti-Western slogans, police said. The Sharia4Belgium militants distributed leaflets glorifying Islam and criticizing the Western way of life in a central street of the northern port city, Belga news agency quoted a police spokeswoman as saying
Netherlands: Somalis fight for residency rights 33 Somali asylum seekers are staging a protest in front of a detention centre in Ter Apel, a village in a remote part of the northeast of the Netherlands. Full clip here .