France: 6th mosque defaced this year France’s main Muslim group says a mosque has been defaced with racist graffiti in the sixth such incident this year. The head of the French Council of the Muslim Faith says racist words were painted over the weekend on the walls of the mosque in Sorgues, in the picturesque Vaucluse region. It is the sixth time this year that a French mosque has been tarnished by racist graffiti
Germany: Opposition to minaret request A small Muslim community in a western German town would like to build a minaret on its mosque. But the plan has triggered passionate opposition from locals, many of whom rely on rhetoric from the extreme right in railing against the “symbol of Islam’s quest for power.” “Willkommen,” reads the stencilled print on the wall along the riverside boardwalk in the small town of Völklingen.
Germany: Town authorizes call to prayer A town in Germany authorized the call of the muezzin by loudspeaker. The German town of Rendsburg authorized the call to prayer of the muezzin by loudspeaker from the minaret of the mosque, despite protests from some people, the social-democrat mayor, Andreas Breitner, said Tuesday. There are no legal ground for a possible ban, said the mayor, who announced the call to prayer outside the mosque.
Mainz: Muezzin-Bell ringing exhibit Loud muezzin calls alternating with bell-ringing puzzled passers-by in Mainz, Germany.
Netherlands: Mosques to participate in anti-radicalization program The administrators of 18 mosque in the Noord-Holland province will go on a study-week in April, dealing with how to better attract youth to the mosque’s social activities.
Norway: Sharp increase in number of Muslim faith-communities The number of Muslim communities in Norway has increased by close to 40% since 2000. Over 30 new Muslim communities registered in Norway in the past five years. The new figures from Norway Statistics (SSB) and newspaper Vårt Land show that the ratio of faith communities increased at a much greater pace than the ratio of Muslims.
UK: ‘Mosque on Christian site’ – rumour quashed AN internet story claming a mosque was being built on a Christian-run centre has turned out to be fake. More than 1,500 people protested on a Facebook page opposing ‘plans’ to demolish the YMCA building, in Lisieux Way, Taunton, to build “a giant mosque”
Strasbourg: Graffiti against minarets, Muslims A car parked at the residence of an official of the future Grand Mosque of Strasbourg was covered with swastikas and racist and anti-minaret graffiti, the association running the mosque said Tuesday. The residence of the Strasbourg mayor (Socialist Party) was similarly attacked 48 hours previously. A car parked in the Bischheim suburb of Strasbourg, in the private parking of Fouad Douai, manager of the Grand Mosque building project, was defaced with racist graffiti Monday night, according to a statement by Abdelaziz Choukri, executive vice president of the mosque
Germany: Muslims upset at mosque checks In the wake of the Christmas Day terror attempt aboard an American airplane, countries on both sides of the Atlantic have turned their attention to places within their borders where potential terrorists may be radicalized or recruited. But in one part of Germany, heavy monitoring of mosques and Muslim-frequented cafes is not just a matter of public debate.
Hague: Child abuse in Koran classes to be investigated The prosecution in the Hague will investigate 49 cases of child abuse during Koran classes in mosques in the city, it was announced Tuesday. The local GGD (municipal health department) received so many reports of child abuse that according to the youth health department (JGZ), it’s a pattern. This is because the number of reports (49), is almost equal to the number of indications of domestic child abuse (52)