Manchester: Mall introduces squat toilets

Via Daily Mail:

From next week, shoppers in Rochdale who push open the cubicle door expecting the reassuring sight of a modern, clean lavatory could instead be faced with little more than a hole in the ground.

Bosses of the Greater Manchester town’s Exchange mall have installed two as part of an upgrade costing several thousand pounds after attending a cultural awareness course run by a local Muslim community activist.

A familiar sight in parts of the Middle East, and still sometimes seen in France and Italy, the toilets require users to squat above them, rather than sitting.

This article was prepared by the Islam in Europe blog – islamineurope.blogspot.com

With one in ten of Rochdale’s population of Pakistani or Bangladeshi origin, centre managers say they have been told some members of the local Asian community prefer them for cultural reasons.

News of the introduction of squat toilets was met by disbelief, however.

‘This strikes me as a classic case of excessive pandering to a politically correct minority,’ said Philip Davies, Conservative MP for Shipley.

‘We in Britain are rightly proud of our toilets, and the onus is on people who come to this country to appreciate them for what they are.

‘It’s absolutely ludicrous – Thomas Crapper would be turning in his grave!’

The Exchange shopping centre is in the process of refurbishing its ladies’ and gents’ toilets, and the changes were made after managers went on a cultural training course.

It was hosted by Ghulam Rasul Shahzad, a retired Rochdale Council training officer who runs courses for the groups including the police on cultural understanding and community cohesion.

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Norway: Hizb ut-Tahrir members given asylum

At least six Uzbeks and Uighur were given residence permits in Norway in recent years due to their links to the radical Islamist party Hizb ut-Tahrir.

Two Uighur brothers whose asylum request had been rejected were granted residence by the appeals board in October 2003. The Central-Asian Uighurs risked persecution due to their links to Hizb ut-Tahrir.

This article was prepared by the Islam in Europe blog – islamineurope.blogspot.com

Since then, at least four other Hizb ut-Tahrir members from the same area were allowed to stay in Norway, according to a survey conducted by Aftenposten of the appeals handled by the UNE. One of the six was granted residence because he convinced the UNE that he had really been active for Hizb ut-Tahrir in his homeland.

Having a background in Islamist movements can in itself be reason to receive a residence permit in Norway.

Spokesperson Bjørn Lyster of the UNE says that the appeals board considers whether they risk persecution or inhumane treatment due to their religious political convictions. In one of the cases, the refugee risked being tortured if he was returned.

The UNE and the Directorate of Immigration (DI) both notify the PST, the Norwegian security service, in such cases.

Bjørn Lyster says that there were only very few such cases. UDI say they have clear routines in such cases.

The immigration services do not have exact figures on how many radical Islamists were granted residence permits in recent years.

In May 2009, Aftenposten revealed that at least seven Taliban members received residence permits in the past years, and that several had lied about their terrorist past to increase their chances of asylum.

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Following the terrorist cell arrests, Justice Minister Knut Storberget promised a more serious background check of immigrants and asylum seekers.

He told VG that since the number of asylum seekers decreased by 50% compared to last year, it enables Norway to have better control of those who come, and that less asylum seekers would also decrease the threat of terrorism in Norway.

Kari Helene Partapuoli of the Anti-racism Center (Antirasistisk Senter) says that the minister’s statement is an attack on the asylum institute. She says it’s wrong to link between asylum seekers and terrorism.

Tore Bjørgo, a terrorism researcher for NUPI (Norwegian Institute of International Affairs) says that is a certain link between asylum seekers and terrorism, but says that Storberget is missing the main pattern. All three terror suspects had permanent residence in Norway, and most terror attacks were committed by people who lived in the country for years, including second generation immigrants.

Partapuoli says that many asylum seekers come to Norway because they’re fleeing places where terror groups are active. Most asylum seekers have their identity confirmed and very few are criminals. “If you’re fleeing terrorism, you’re automatically suspected of terrorism. It’s absolutely absurd,” she says.

She thinks the link Storberget made will rubb off on the immigration debate. A survey conducted by VG shows that a third of Norwegians have become more skeptical of minorities after the terrorist arrests. 56.8% think immigrants will have a more difficult time in Norway because of it.

State secretary Pål K. Lønseth answered the criticism saying that nobody think all asylum seekers are refugees or terrorism, but that it’s clear that there are people among them who want to exploit the asylum system for terrorism. He says that asylum seekers hadn’t been involved in many terrorism cases, but that nonetheless 95% of them come without ID. It’s important for Norway’s security to clarify their identity. Fewer asylum seekers makes that easier.

Sources: Aftenposten, VG (Norwegian)

UK: Ethnic minorities 20% by 2051

Via BBC:

Ethnic minorities are set to make up a fifth of the UK population in 40 years, a University of Leeds study predicts.

It says the proportion of black, Asian and other ethnic minorities will rise from 8% of the population, as recorded in the 2001 census, to 20% by 2051.

This article was prepared by the Islam in Europe blog – islamineurope.blogspot.com

Researchers say the population will reach nearly 78 million – up from 59 million in 2001.

One of the authors, Professor Philip Rees, said the UK’s ethnic make-up was “evolving significantly”.

He said: “Groups outside the white British majority are increasing in size and share, not just in the areas of initial migration, but throughout the country, and our projections suggest that this trend is set to continue through to 2051.

“At a regional level, ethnic minorities will shift out of deprived inner city areas to more affluent areas, which echoes the way white groups have migrated in the past.
Continue reading the main story

“In particular, black and Asian populations in the least deprived local authorities will increase significantly.”

The Leeds study suggested the population is also set to become more racially diverse as well as less segregated over the coming years.

(…)

Other groups set to increase rapidly include those of south Asian origin and from countries such as India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, where immigration into the UK has been high in the past.

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Russia: Authorities break up female suicide bomber cell

Via NYT:

Russian security services have broken up what they described as a terrorist cell in a Muslim region of the country the was preparing female suicide bombers for attacks on major Russian cities, officials announced on Monday.

They said six women had been arrested who had already written “farewell letters” as they were being prepared for deployment. But the officials did not disclose whether attacks were imminent, or any other details about planning.

This article was prepared by the Islam in Europe blog – islamineurope.blogspot.com

Two men were also arrested, including one said to have played a role in attacks by two female suicide bombers on two subway stations in Moscow in March, which killed 40 people.

On Monday night, state-controlled television broadcast footage of the female suicide bombers detained by security forces. The National Antiterrorism Committee, a federal body, said the six women ranged in age from 15 to 29 years, adding that four of them were widows whose husbands had died in security operations.

The committee said suicide belts and weapons were confiscated.

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Netherlands: Muslims unfazed by rise of anti-Islamic party

Via Hurriyet:

The rise of an anti-Islamic political party in recent Dutch elections leaves some Muslims in the Netherlands concerned for their future. Others, however, say the hostility is unlikely to last long because it is only a symptom of a lack of knowledge about the religion and does not reflect the day-to-day reality of their experience

Although Dutch voters gave the anti-Islamic party a boost in recent elections, Muslims in the Netherlands predict the hostile political atmosphere will be short lived, an idea bolstered by the fact that they are facing no increase in discrimination.

This article was prepared by the Islam in Europe blog – islamineurope.blogspot.com

In the recent general elections, Geert Wilders’ far-right Party for Freedom, or PVV, recorded significant gains and ended in a strong third place, with 24 seats out of 150 in parliament. Wilders campaigned on a platform that included ending immigration from Muslim countries and instituting a ban on new mosques and the Quran.

With coalition talks ongoing since the shock of Wilders’ election victory and debates continue over his possible participation in the Cabinet, many immigrants and Dutch people think the far-right’s surge in popularity is a temporary situation and does not reflect what they encounter in daily life. And, generally, they don’t take Wilders seriously.

“Although we don’t receive the anti-Islam party’s election success favorably and describe Wilders as a racist, we believe that this was not because of increasing discrimination in this country,” İslam Erkal told the Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review. He also said he thought the political atmosphere would change soon.

The negative image that minorities in Holland – especially Turks – face is nuanced: Religious stereotypes, as evidenced by Gert Wilders’ party, that depict Muslims as criminals and the question of whether immigrants are integrating into European society remain as obstacles.

The Turkish Institute in the Netherlands serves to eradicate these prejudices by informing Dutch society about Turkey and its people. “It’s been two-and-a-half years since we were founded,” Turkish Institute Director Lily Sprangers said. “We still need time to change Turkey’s image.”

Whether Turkish immigrants have integrated into Dutch society is still debated, even within the Turkish community. “We can’t say Turkish immigrants have integrated into Dutch society yet,” said Zihni Özdil, program manager at the Turkish Institute. He said Turks in the Netherlands rank lowest among immigrants in the country when it comes to participating in social activities.

“The question is whether Turkish immigrants are going to become Turkish Dutch or whether they will segregate themselves,” he said. Integration means “the Dutch will become a little bit Turkish and the Turkish will become a little bit Dutch. But except in some underdeveloped countries, there is no example of this kind of ideal integration.”

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EU: Somali girls lured into sex-slave rings

The police are investigating a suspected racket through which young African girls are lured from Malta into European sex-slavery rings.

The suspicions were confirmed last Wednesday when a young, attractive Somali girl turned up at the airport to buy a plane ticket to Denmark. When she was arrested for possession of a counterfeit Italian travel document, she could not identify her final destination.

She told police she was given the travel document and offered the ticket money by a co-national in Malta. The woman was told that someone would pick her up at Copenhagen airport. However, she would not name the man or give more details for fear of reprisals.

This article was prepared by the Islam in Europe blog – islamineurope.blogspot.com

The Italian passport was a fake copy of a document which Italy issues to asylum seekers who have been processed and been given some form of status.

Police believe her story because it is consistent with others that have surfaced in the past three months or so whereby young African girls have said they are being lured to mainland Europe by the promise of an arranged marriage.

In the past, migrants trying to flee the country illegally were predominantly male, but the number of women making their way out has risen of late. But unlike their male counterparts, the women do not appear to have contacts or plans in the country they would be travelling to.

“The probability is that they would then end up being turned into sex slaves,” one police source said. “We do have some corroborating information from our European contacts but we’re a long way from establishing a link.”

Once there, the girls would end up in a soaring trade of European sex slaves – women who are literally sold by criminal organisations, often for as little as a few hundred euros, to pimps all over Europe and forced into prostitution. The line the local police are following is that the girls are being lured with the promise of an arranged marriage and a better life in northern Europe.

Arranged marriages are the norm for nationals of a number of African countries, especially war-torn Somalia, where millions follow customs that fuse a conservative form of Islam with tribal traditions.

“It is unlikely, especially for Somali girls, that they walk into the sex trade consciously,” one immigrant told The Sunday Times. “Prostitution would be taboo for them, but I have heard about this kind of racket going on… obviously it’s very hush hush.”

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Source: Times of Malta

UK: Terrorism mostly homegrown

Most terrorism in Britain is homegrown, according to the most comprehensive survey of those convicted of offences over the last 10 years.

The Centre for Social Cohesion has compiled profiles of 124 individuals convicted of Islamic terrorism offences since 1999.

It found that 69 per cent of offences were perpetrated by individuals holding British nationality.

This article was prepared by the Islam in Europe blog – islamineurope.blogspot.com

Robin Simcox, co-author of the report, said their aim was to “focus the government’s counter-terrorism efforts.”

“There are clear trends emerging with those involving themselves in terrorist activity in the UK,” he added. “It is crucial that this is recognised and then acted upon by the relevant authorities.”

His comments follow private remarks by Assistant Commissioner John Yates, Britain’s most senior counter-terrorism officer, that the country faces “eye-watering cuts” in counter-terrorism funding that could hand an advantage to al-Qaeda.

Douglas Murray, Director of the Centre for Social Cohesion, said: “The report proves how great a threat violent Islamism poses to the world – and the fact that Britain is at the centre of this global struggle.”

The Social Cohesion report outlines the links individuals had to terrorist groups, their nationality and ethnic origin, their age, hometown, occupation and education, which other radical Islamists they were connected to and what legislation the government used to jail them.

The report also shows how Britain’s links to violent Islamism are almost two decades old by profiling almost 100 other offences committed abroad since 1993 that are connected to Britain, including terrorist convictions, terrorist training, suicide attacks, and extraditions.

The survey found almost half (46 per cent) of offenders had their origins in south Asia including 28 per cent who had Pakistani heritage – of whom at least 80 per cent were British nationals.

Six of the eight plots, 75 per cent, contained individual members who had trained in Pakistan and four of the leaders of those plots were directly linked to one or more Pakistani based terrorist groups.

The next most common origin for offenders was Somalia, accounting for 6 per cent, demonstrating a growing threat from East Africa.

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Source: Telegraph

London: Gay nightclub owner slammed for Muslim boycott

Community leaders have slammed XXL club owner Mark Ames today after he vowed to boycott British Muslims.

The London nightclub entrepreneur promised to snub Muslim-owned businesses in response to racial unrest in East London. He also tried to justify his decision by reference to the death toll of British troops in Afghanistan, which has risen above 300.

He wrote on Facebook: “From today I will be boycotting any shops, petrol stations restaurants or businesses I know are owned by Muslims this also includes holidays to muslim [sic] countries today see [sic] our death toll up to 300, so why the hell are we not just flying this scum back out to there beloved states and pull out and let them fight out there [sic] own issues!”

This article was prepared by the Islam in Europe blog – islamineurope.blogspot.com

PinkPaper.com has repeatedly invited Ames to speak to us but he has refused saying he has already been “tried and convicted” and adding, in an email to us, “i [sic] dont [sic] want to see anyone race or creed [sic] being kicked out of the country.”

There is no suggestion that others involved in XXL club share his views but one representative did say they would be supporting his right to freedom of speech.

Now, leading members of London’s gay community have criticised his original comments.

Ali Hili of IraqiLGBT said: “I don’t think it’s acceptable from anyone, especially someone with a high profile. This is especially when the people he’s talking about could be deported to a country which, in turn, may cause them harm. I am in this country because I have fear for my life and I still face discrimination – even here.”

Royston Ford, secretary of gay group Imaan, agrees: “If he [Mark Ames] holds the views attributed to him, he has shown himself to be a rather unpleasant, but unrepresentative example of the LGBT community in London and further afield.

“Whilst racist and Islamophobic views like this do exist amongst a minority of LGBT people, he is not representative of the majority of fair-minded and decent people. If Mr Ames chooses – whilst most of are preparing to celebrate the diversity of our communities in Pride 2010 – to descend into his own gay shame, then that is his loss.

“He is as representative of LGBT people as the drug-peddling, murdering gangsters of Afghanistan are representative of ordinary Muslims – whether gay, straight, in this country or elsewhere. Imaan, and LGBT Muslims are preparing to celebrate Pride 2010 with our brothers and sisters of all communities, both in the parade and with events in London and in Bradford. We suggest Mr Ames is best ignored.”

(…)

And Joseph was worried that the comments would make gay Muslims feel unwelcome at XXL.

“Gay Muslims are a minority amongst a minority and we should be supporting them,” he said. I hope gay Muslims stand up against what he says because their voice isn’t heard enough in this country. I would say boycott XXL if you support gay Muslims.”

However, some PinkPaper.com readers have backed Ames. In response to our exclusive yesterday, one forum user wrote: “whats the big deal? [sic] and why does a phoney pc liberal, pink paper [sic] reader find it disturbing? the reader should be more disturbed by the evil persecution and hate murder on a par to genocide of lgbt people in islamic states.” [sic]

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Source: PinkPaper

Netherlands: NL 2023, a vision for the future

Establishing high-level cultural institutions in disadvantaged neighborhoods, beyond the usual ‘elitist’ locations, upgrading the neighborhood, developing a Dutch ‘Harvard’, companies who sponsor parks and nature reserves, encouraging ‘circular migration’ instead of closing the doors. These are several points in the vision of the future NL 2023, developed by a group of highly-educated Moroccan-Dutch in an attempt to break through the polarized social debate.

This article was prepared by the Islam in Europe blog – islamineurope.blogspot.com

“We want to jump over the shadows of fear, distrust and the issues of the day’ NL 2023 write in an open letter to the ‘future cabinet’. The initiative is not a political manifest, the group emphasizes, but a civil initiative of a group of bi-cultural Dutch who occupy a special position in society. They could, they say, be a connecting link between the Dutch community and the migrant groups, both of which they know well.

Such a link is badly needed, the group says, referring to the outcome of the elections and the divided political landscape. Their vision is not intended as a ready made product. NL 2023 calls “as many Dutch as possible to respond to to our initiative”. They want to join civil forces and to finally offer the future PM a broad-based civil manifest.

The group first showed up in March 2009 in the Volkskrant,calling itself “Young Professionals”. They were annoyed by the grim debate in the Netherlands, by the rhetoric and one-liners and the lack of content. “We remaining on our own with the problems, while the discussion should be raised to the level of solutions,” they said. they noted that many people, both ethnic Dutch and immigrants, needed a new perspective. Their plans weren’t concrete yet. But the starting point was the thought that working on a joint vision for the future could influence the social climate in a positive way. “Working together cultivates mutual trust.”

After publishing the article, there was a long silence from the group, which renamed itself NL 2023. For months the members conducted behind-the-scenes talks with experts in various fields. They spoke with economist Rick van de Ploeg, former minister of Development Cooperation Jan Pronk, former National anti-terrorism Coordinator Tjibbe Joustra, legal philosopher Paul Cliteur, football trainer Foppe de Haan, publicist Bart Jan Spruyt, the CEO of Schiphol Jos Nijhuis and others. In closed conferences they presented the first building blocks of their vision and asked for feedback.

René Paas, then CNV chairman, warned in such a conference of the ‘blind spots’ of the present. In the 1960s it was thought that computers could never be faster. In short: “We know nothing of the future”. Nevertheless, Paas embraced the initiative. He put it in the context of the American report “Global Trends 2025: A transformed World”, by the National Intelligence Council.

The report stressed that “fossilized Europe” would only survive economically if it succeeded in integrating its Muslim minorities. In other words: we badly need the Moroccan, Turkish, Muslim workers. “What is now considered a big problem, could be the solution. Ethnic Dutch shouldn’t only embrace NL 2023 as a favor, but also – and maybe mostly – for their own interests,” says Paas, now chairman of Divosa, the association of social services managers.

In the open letter, NL 2023 write out their ambitions in various policy fields: education and upbringing, religion and public domain, art and culture, employment, sports, town planning, security and foreign policy.

From the letter:

Religion and the public domain

In 2023 the Netherlands is a country where the background and religion of ‘the other’ no longer matters. We are all Dutch. We proceed from the power of the difference. The maximal use of civil power and the rule of law are important anchor points. Politician or civilian, everybody has a moral responsibility to connect people, not to drive them apart. The basic starting point is that everybody addresses each other in a respectful manner. People apply their forces and talents on a local level. People look at each other in the eye again, and the neighborhood merits a revaluation. Social interaction on a neighborhood level leads to a shared system of values and norms (a ‘moral Esperanto’). This leads to collective responsibility for one’s own living environment and with it the public domain. It’s important that municipalities invest in this civilian power. If all municipalities take this seriously, there will be a powerful, national, social structure and we’ll be more resilient as a country. Civilians should feel more responsible for the well-being of their country. Now the government is too often turned to.

Source: Volkskrant (Dutch)

UK: Attacks on Muslim girls

These are the shocking injuries inflicted upon schoolgirl Sureyya Ozkaya during a brutal daylight assault near her Thornton Heath home.

The 14-year-old’s hair was set on fire and her hands and feet were cut with glass during the attack in Grangewood Park, before her attackers smashed her head against a tree and left her bleeding in a bush.

This article was prepared by the Islam in Europe blog – islamineurope.blogspot.com

She was stumbled upon by a woman walking her dog and carried home to nearby Kitchener Road following the attack, at about 7.30pm on June 9.

Sureyya’s mother Pemdegul Kale, 39, said three girls taunted her daughter about her Muslim faith as they carried out the assault, before burning her hair with a lighter and stealing her trainers.

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RACISTS launched a vicious attack on a Muslim woman who was struck on the head and almost had her headscarf torn off.

They also hurled racial abuse at the mother and her young daughter as they walked through the city.

The shocking assault has been condemned by the city’s Muslim community, along with religious leaders across Exeter.

Hayat Kaddouri Roddy, of Polsloe Road, Exeter, has spoken of the frightening attack in which she describes her attackers as “animals”.

The 37-year-old was with her 13-year-old daughter Huda when the assault happened in Edmund Street, in the St David’s area of Exeter, close to the subway, at around 12.30pm on Tuesday.

Both were wearing hijab head-dresses, and Hayat also had on a traditional Muslim jilbab — a long dress.

Moroccan-born Hayat, who has lived in the UK for 17 years and in Exeter for several years, and her daughter were stopped by two teenagers, a boy and girl aged around 17 to 18, who refused to let them pass.

They racially abused the woman before a man aged around 27 joined in the attack.

Police are investigating the incident and are appealing for witnesses to contact them.

Hayat said: “This couple stopped us and said they weren’t going to let us pass. They said ‘you don’t belong to this country’.

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Sources: Croydon Guardian, Express & Echo h/t Islamophobia Watch, Talk Islam