Netherlands: Minister says imams should speak out against homophobia Via spitsnieuws (Dutch): Education Minister Van Bijsterveldt says all imams in the Netherlands should jointly speak against homophobic violence and support respecting gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgenders.
Netherlands: Burka ban might popularize it, warns Muslim politician Via JPost : It’s easy to see why Fatima Elatik dislikes burkas.
Morocco: Sex for a European husband Via nieuwsblad (Dutch): Poor Moroccan girls are willing to do everything in order to get a European husband.
Hague: Muslim party wants dog ban via Spitsnieuws (Dutch): Hasan Küçük, Hague councilor for the Islam Democrats, says dogs should be banned as pets in the city, reports De Telegraaf.
Sweden: Bid to ‘define Swedish citizenship’ Or in other words, define what ‘being Swedish’ means. Via the Local : The government plans to launch an inquiry to study Swedish citizenship in hopes of finding ways to boost its value and use it as a tool for integration.
Germany: “Discrimination with a smile” Via Deutsche Welle : Experts call it “discrimination with a smile” when describing the practice of gently fobbing off those who don’t typically look like they fit in.
One day, the father of a very wealthy family took his son on a trip to the country with the express purpose of showing him how poor people live. They spent a couple of days and nights on the farm of what would be considered a very poor family. On their return from their trip, the father asked his son, “How was the trip?” “It was great, Dad.” “Did you see how poor people live?” the father asked
Sweden: Teachers free to ban Islamic veils Via the Local : Teachers in Swedish schools can, in certain situations, prohibit students from wearing Islamic veils that reveal only their eyes, the country’s school’s agency has ruled. The ban covers clothing that could hinder interaction between students and teachers or which could pose a specific risk, such as in a laboratory. However, a general ban on headscarves isn’t possible
Part I by Hira Amin Political From the political front unrest was found both in the provinces and in the elite Janissaries. The Janissaries, who comprised of young Christian boys being conscripted into the dervishme system, were trained to be officers, governors and soldiers
Strasbourg: First Muslim cemetery in France Via Le Parisien (French): The first Muslim cemetery will be inaugurated in Strasbourg on February 6th. The cemetery will have place for 1000 graves. The cemetery is the first to be established by a French municipality, and was made possible by the special local laws of the region, which do not recognize separation of Church and State.