Catalonia: Mayor closes mosque for being too popular Via Telegraph : Angel Ros, the socialist mayor of Lleida, in the northeastern region of Catalonia, complained that the mosque was too full and closed it on Wednesday until further notice. The building, a former garage used to service trucks, was often filled with crowds exceeding a thousand people, the council said, when the authorised limit for the venue is 240.
Lower Bavaria: Christian, Muslim asylum-seekers segregated Via Euro-Islam.info : The government of Lower Bavaria in southern Germany has segregated Christian and Muslim asylum seekers into different residential homes. The Bavarian Refugees Council called the measure an “inhuman act of reallocation”. The government confirmed that they had moved 40 asylum seekers of Christian background due to rising numbers of incoming Muslim asylum seekers from Somalia
UK: Local council issues Ramadan guide for schools via BBC : Swimming lessons in some Staffordshire schools should stop during Ramadan to ensure Muslim pupils “do not swallow water”, a council has suggested. Stoke-on-Trent City Council has issued an 11-page Ramadan guide for schools to help pupils who may be fasting when the school year starts in September
Netherlands: Muslim orgs to boycott Israeli dates A large number of Muslim organizations, including the Council of Dutch Moroccan Mosques (RMMN), the Islamic Foundation of the Netherlands (ISN) and Milli Görüs are urging Dutch Muslims not to buy Israeli dates during Ramadan.
UK: Anger as swimming pool windows covered up at Darlaston People in the Black Country are angry that windows at a public baths have been covered up because some people do not want to be seen swimming. Walsall Council has put film over windows at Darlaston Leisure Centre’s windows after groups, including Muslim women, complained.
Denmark: New attack planned against Mohamed cartoonist?
Copenhagen: Criticism of imam proposal to mediate in gang attacks The Danish People’s Party (DPP) is demanding that the government intervene in the case of the Netto supermarket branch which had to close due to violence and threats against the employees. Sharp criticism of the mediation efforts between Netto, imams and gang leaders. The DPP is demanding the government act, and asks Justice Minister Lars Barfoed (K) to intervene in the case of the Netto branch in Blågårdsgade in Nørrebro (Copenhagen), which had to close last week after violence and threats against the employees
Denmark: Fewer immigrants voting in municipal elections Immigrants and their descendants in Denmark are increasingly leaving democracy. From 1997 to 2009 the share of foreigners who voted in municipal elections fell by 11% in Copenhagen and 17% in Aarhus.
UK: County looks for “female, white and non-Muslim” taxi driver An advert issued by Northamptonshire County Council asking for a “female, white and non-Muslim” taxi driver has been labelled “deeply disturbing and outrageous” by a Muslim faith group in the county. This article was prepared by the Islam in Europe blog – islamineurope.blogspot.com The Chronicle & Echo revealed yesterday that the council had issued the tender for private firms to bid for the contract, which would require them to transport a vulnerable child to and from school.
Open thread: Dutch elections Polling stations opened across the Netherlands Wednesday for elections dominated by Europe’s economic woes and led by the centre-right liberal party with its plans to slash public spending. The PVV led in opinion polls just a few months ago, but its main campaign issue, to stop the “Islamisation of the Netherlands”, has been eclipsed by budget concerns amid Europe’s economic downturn