Vienna: FPÖ boss wants minarets referendum (Vienna Mosque, Wikipedia ) Via Austrian Times : Freedom Party (FPÖ) leader Heinz-Christian Strache has announced a referendum over minarets if he wins the upcoming Vienna election. The right-winger announced today (Tues) he will hold a referendum to let residents decide whether they want a law preventing the construction of minarets in the capital
Denmark: Minister speaks up regarding mosque-closing disturbances Social Affairs Minister Benedikte Kiær (K) is asking the parents of the youth, who in recent days have been throwing stones and committing vandalism against a residents associations in Slagelse, to take responsibility. “This is a police issue and so the parents of the youth need to take responsibility. They are doing something illegal.
Russia: Muslims Divided on Whether Mosques Should Follow Ethno-Linguistic Lines Via Georgian Daily : (…) Over the last two decades, many of the mosques in Moscow and other Russian cities have gone over to the use of Russian, a practice that has allowed them to reach out to and draw in many non-Tatars and thus boost the number of practicing Muslims even while reducing the role of the mosque as the center of Tatar life.
Italy: Mosques denied income tax revenue Via AKI : Mosques in Italy will not receive a share of income tax revenue the Italian government allocates to religious faiths each year.
Austria: Muslim leader calls for more mosques with minarets (Vienna Mosque, Wikipedia ) Via Washington Times : A call for more mosques with minarets in Austria gave rise Sunday to heated criticism from right-wing politicians, some going as far as demanding a ban on all immigrants from Muslim countries. In an interview with the Austria Press Agency published Sunday, the head of the country’s Islamic community, Anas Shakfeh, said he wished to see a mosque with a minaret in each of Austria’s nine provincial capitals.
Norway: ‘Neither Christians nor Jews could have done something like this’ Members of the Islamic community in Fredrikstad saw red when a swastika and ‘oink Allah’ were painted on the mosque in the city center.
Finland: Sound Islamic advice hard to find Via YLE : Finland’s Muslims often have to seek advice on religious questions from imams living abroad owing to the lack of qualified clerics at home. Frequently the guidance given from imams via the internet as far away as Saudi Arabia is incompatible with life in Finland
Bulgaria: Mufti battle turns into mosque fist-fight Via Novinite : The famous Dzumaya mosque in Bulgaria’s second largest city of Plovdiv became the scene of a fist fight among 200 Bulgarian Muslims in the eve of their holiest month of Ramadan. The brawl erupted when supporters of the two fractions – of Nedim Gendzhev and Mustafa Ali Hadzhi clashed late Tuesday evening. Eyewitnesses say they saw three Members of the Parliament from the ethnic Turkish party Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS) being drunk and some people in the crowd fighting with knifes
Italy: Church provides tent-mosque for Ramadan prayers Via AKI : Muslims in the northern Italian town of Gallarate have been offered a white tent in the local church car park in which to observe Ramadan.
UK: Police attend Friday prayers Via Halesowen News : POLICE officers took off their size nines and observed Friday prayers at a Cradley Heath mosque to build better community relations. Sergeant Colin Gallier and PC Brian Steatham, from the Cradley Heath and Old Hill Neighbourhood team, joined worshippers at the Baitul Mahdi mosque on School Street. Dr Masood Majoka, President of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Association Cradley Heath Branch, said: “We were delighted when officers from the local neighbourhood accepted our invitation as part of an ongoing commitment to learn more about each other and to discuss ways in which we could work together in creating a harmonious society.” He added: “Indeed that is the very purpose of Islam which means ‘peace’ and is a duty for every Ahmadiyya Muslim Man or Woman where ever they live.” Sgt Gallier explained that the visit was part of a longer process of familisation with local muslims