Bulgaria: Anti-Turkish posters mark independence day The Bulgarian town of Sliven awoke on March 3 showered with nationalistic and anti-Turkish posters from the Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organisation, (VMRO) as abbreviated in Bulgarian. While some of the posters congratulated Bulgaria on its national holiday, others were staunchly nationalistic and anti-Turkish, calling for a ban on Turkish integration into Europe.
Finland: Sharp increase in asylum requests In other news from Finland, authorities are investigating an online hate site calling for the murder of immigrants and politicians who support multiculturalism. The site is registered to an American Neo-Nazi
France: 6th mosque defaced this year France’s main Muslim group says a mosque has been defaced with racist graffiti in the sixth such incident this year. The head of the French Council of the Muslim Faith says racist words were painted over the weekend on the walls of the mosque in Sorgues, in the picturesque Vaucluse region. It is the sixth time this year that a French mosque has been tarnished by racist graffiti
Germany: Orthodontist refuses to treat ‘Jihad’ A few months ago a German court ruled that a Jihad (Djehad) was a common Arabic name, regardless of its meaning or what the parents intended it to mean. ——————– An orthodontist in the state of Baden-Württemberg has reportedly turned a 16-year-old boy out of her practice because she was offended by his name – “Cihad,” an alternate spelling for “Jihad,” which she interpreted to mean “holy war.” The doctor in Donaueschingen told local daily Schwarzwälder Bote on Friday that she believed his name was a declaration of war against all non-Muslims and refused to treat him
Wales: Five arrested for anti-Muslim Facebook comments FIVE men have been arrested after a Facebook site was set up declaring “all Muslims should be thrown out of Wales”. Around 150 people joined the group on the social networking site claiming they would march through the Rhondda Valleys to make their feelings known
Belgium: ‘A daughter is a small catastrophe’ for a Muslim A briefing about Islam earlier this week for Belgian soldiers just before departure to Afghanistan has given rise to controversy. During the briefing professor Jacques Rifflet gave a highly remarkable explanation in which he said that a daughter is a catastrophe for a Muslim man, as it’s considered a sign of poor sperm quality and she must be married off, reports Le Soir
Switzerland: Minaret referendum was a vote against the spread of Islam According to a new analysis the supporters of the minaret ban weren’t voting against Muslims, they were voting against the spread of Islam.
Switzerland: Artists against an ‘intolerant’ nation Two months have passed and many people are still trying to figure out what happened with the anti-minaret initiative vote. While the media continue to analyze what this means for Switzerland, a group of artists have banded together to express their thoughts on the matter and counter some of the “xenophobic” images out there. The Swiss Creators Initiative was formed last November in response to the yes vote.
Strasbourg: Graffiti against minarets, Muslims A car parked at the residence of an official of the future Grand Mosque of Strasbourg was covered with swastikas and racist and anti-minaret graffiti, the association running the mosque said Tuesday. The residence of the Strasbourg mayor (Socialist Party) was similarly attacked 48 hours previously. A car parked in the Bischheim suburb of Strasbourg, in the private parking of Fouad Douai, manager of the Grand Mosque building project, was defaced with racist graffiti Monday night, according to a statement by Abdelaziz Choukri, executive vice president of the mosque
Germany: Muslims upset at mosque checks In the wake of the Christmas Day terror attempt aboard an American airplane, countries on both sides of the Atlantic have turned their attention to places within their borders where potential terrorists may be radicalized or recruited. But in one part of Germany, heavy monitoring of mosques and Muslim-frequented cafes is not just a matter of public debate.