Austria: Prosecution investigating FPÖ muezzin-shooting game Via Austrian Times : The Styrian Greens have reported the Freedom Party (FPÖ) for agitation over a computer game in which the player must shoot at mosques and kill muezzins [ed: with little stop signs]. The FPÖ’s Styrian branch is identified as creator of the online game called “Moschee ba ba” (Bye, bye mosque).
Congratulations to the three winners of the Elenany Eid Giveaway .
Opinion: Do moderate Muslims exist? A couple of weeks ago the Guardian was all aghast about the fact that the Quilliam Foundation accused moderate peace-loving Muslims of being radicals. The assumption being that if a Muslim is working for the Scotland Yard, then he must be moderate
Netherlands: Somali refugee worked for al-Shabab in asylum center Last year Dutch authorities arrested American-Somali Mahamud Said Omar by request of the American authorities. Omar is suspected of being a key figure in al-Shabab activities in the US, and specifically Minneapolis. His extradition case is still making its way through the Dutch judicial system.
EU: ‘A new notion of normalcy’ ( photo ) Via New York Times : Which politician, President Nicolas Sarkozy, or Jean-Marie Le Pen, the voice of rightist extremism here for more than a generation, said the following about the role of immigrants, particularly Muslims, in their country’s future? Newcomers must avoid “self-designated victimization.” “The success of the integration process is hindered by the disproportionate number of nonnatives involved in criminality and troublemaking, by burqas, by men who refuse to shake hands with women.” And, “The street is mine, too. I don’t want to walk away if they’re standing in my path.” Answer: Neither Frenchman
UK: Muslim group holds ‘anti-terrorism’ summer camp Via the Guardian : After a modest breakfast came the first choice of the day: to take part in sporting activities ranging from five-a-side football to archery, or to join the Sunday morning nature stroll around the campus.
UK: Protester throws shoes at Pakistani president Via Daily Mail : A protester who threw his shoes at the Pakistan president as he gave a speech in Birmingham last night said he was proud of his actions. Sardar Mohammed Shamim Khan, 57, said Asif Ali Zardari’s speech had incensed him so much that he spontaneously decided to unlace his size 10 leather shoes and hurl them at the bewildered Pakistani leader
Germany: “People are afraid of this Islam … that’s why people also don’t want to see Turkey in the EU” Via Qantara : Chairman of the German Bundestag’s Committee on Foreign Affairs, Ruprecht Polenz, argues in favour of Turkish accession to the EU, and grapples with negative western perceptions of the nation, as well as of Islam. He spoke to Eren Güvercin Opponents of a full membership deal argue among other things that Turkey would not fit in with Europe on a cultural level
Basel: Parents fined for missed swimming lessons Via SwissInfo : Several Muslim families have been fined for keeping their children out of mandatory school swimming lessons, the first time such a punishment has been handed down. Education authorities in canton Basel-City said on Thursday that seven children from five families had missed the lessons
UK: Healthy heart training for imams Via Manchester Evening News : The British Heart Foundation and QUIT are working together to encourage the Muslim community to stop smoking and lead a healthier lifestyle this Ramadan. Statistics suggest that South Asians in the UK are 50 per cent more likely to die from heart disease than those in the general population . This article was prepared by the Islam in Europe blog – islamineurope.blogspot.com As part of the Ramadan campaign, the BHF will be training 300 imams in major cities across the UK.