Brussels: Six people charged in deadly exorcism of Muslim woman

Brussels: Six people charged in deadly exorcism of Muslim woman

Via al-Arabiya:

A court in Brussels opened on Monday the trial of six people charged in connection with the 2004 murder of a young Muslim woman in a deadly act of exorcism, a practice of evicting demons or other spiritual entities from a person believed to be possessed.

The woman was reportedly deceived into believing that she could not have children because she was possessed and that she had to undergo a practice of exorcism.

But the woman apparently could not stand the severe punishment the exorcism allegedly entails to scourge the demon out of the body, and she lost her life.

The detainees in the case include two self-appointed exorcists, the victim’s husband and three female members of a radical Muslim group, will be standing trial for three weeks and facing charges of “torture leading to death.” If they are convicted, they face up to 30 years in prison.

(source)

READ MORE - Brussels: Six people charged in deadly exorcism of Muslim woman

Belgium: 60% immigrants by 2060

Belgium: 60% immigrants by 2060

Via VRT:

An immigration report by think-tank Itinera says that 25% of the people in Belgium have at least one parent born abroad.

Half a million people immigrated to Belgium in the last decade, 4.5% of the population.  "There total there are about 10% foreigners, 7.5% Belgians of immigrant origin and 7.5% are 2nd and 3rd generation immigrants," says researcher Laurent Hanseeuw.  "That doesn't mean that those 25% aren't Belgians, but it's always interesting to show that the proportion is much greater than 50 years ago, and that it will certainly grow."

According to official figures, just 3% are registered as foreigners.  Itinera says that because so many people are cut from those figures, there's is a systematic under-estimation

"Our country has become a true migration nation," says Hanseeuw.  "By 2060, 60% of the population will be of foreign origin."  But the immigration policy is not prepared for it.

Hanseeuw says the policy too often concentrates on immigrants who have just arrived.  An integration policy that falls short.  "If you see the figures, there should be a more horizontal policy for almost all Belgians, instead of the small target group which is currently reached.  It's important to find a broad consensus about how we can live together in our country."

See also: Flanders: 25% of children are of foreign origin

READ MORE - Belgium: 60% immigrants by 2060

Belgium: Moroccan Expatriates to Back Development Initiatives at Home

Belgium: Moroccan Expatriates to Back Development Initiatives at Home

Via StarAfrica:

IOM and the Belgian Embassy in Rabat have signed an agreement to launch an innovative project aimed at encouraging Moroccans living in Belgium to start businesses back home in Morocco.

The EUR 1.2 million, two-year programme seeks to encourage Moroccan expatriates to invest their savings, knowledge and expertise into the setting up of private ventures that will further the development of impoverished regions in the north and east of the country.  

(source)

READ MORE - Belgium: Moroccan Expatriates to Back Development Initiatives at Home

Belgium: 1.3 million immigrant voters

Belgium: 1.3 million immigrant voters

Via Knack:

According to sociologist Jan Hertogen, about 1.3 million immigrants will participate in the next municipal elections.  They are required by law to vote because they were naturalized (1.1. million) or because they signed up for the elections (0.2 million).  In total they make up 16.7% of the voters: 9.8% in Flanders, 18.1% in Wallonia and 62.3% in the Brussels Region.  In Antwerp they make up 36.3% of the voters, in Ghent 25.8% and in Mechelen 22.8%.

89.2% of Turks are obligated to vote, as well as 88.4% of Moroccans, 75.4% of Italians, 56.2% of French immigrants and 47.8% of Dutch immigrants.

Of the 575,000 foreigners who will not participate in the elections: 100,000 are from outside the EU and about 475,000 are from the EU.

READ MORE - Belgium: 1.3 million immigrant voters

Belgium: Moroccans upset at immigrant 'starter kit'

Belgium: Moroccans upset at immigrant 'starter kit'

Via HLN:

The Moroccan community is upset at Flemish Minister Geert Bourgeois. "In his new 'starter kit' for migrants he portrays Moroccans as stupid beasts," says actor Noureddine Farihi.  "The brochure and accompanying video are patronizing and full of prejudices."  Bourgeois says it's unjustified criticism.  "The majority of them happen to be very ignorant of our norms and values."

"It is forbidden to hurt someone mentally or physically, including your partner or children."  That is just one of the many remarkable - and for Moroccans, offensive - sentences from the new 'Starterskit Migrating to Flanders'.

Flemish Minister of Integration Geert Bourgeois (N-VA), flew to Casablanca specially this week in order to hand out the first copies.  At the local press conference there was a lot of criticism from local journalists.  But the Moroccan community in Flanders are also critical.  "I read the brochure and watched the video," says Noureddine Farihi.  "Geert Bourgeois  apparently thinks that Moroccans live on another planet.  One that is far, far from the sun.  It's sad."

2,500 Moroccans migrate to Flanders and Brussels every year as part of marriage-migration or family reunification.  From the Belgian state they get a valid visa.  Flanders is responsible for their integration.  Once on Flemish soil, they must go to an integration course, which focuses on teaching Dutch.  But Bourgeois wants the integration process to start earlier and together with the King Baudouin Foundation he developed a starter-kit for migration who are about to move to Flanders.

The minister thinks the criticism is unwarranted.  "I invite Mr. Farihi and other Moroccans in Flanders to calmly clarify everything.  But they are naturally not the target audience for whom this kit was developed.  We know from a study last year that a majority of family-migrants are unemployed and very ignorant about the norms and values which are acceptable in Flanders.  This think the wording is not patronizing, but simple and comprehensible.  Presently attuned to the target audience."

READ MORE - Belgium: Moroccans upset at immigrant 'starter kit'

Belgium: Belgium's integration problem

Belgium: Belgium's integration problem


Via New Europe:

In Europe, and especially in Belgium, most Muslims are part of the underclass. As immigrants, most have come from underdeveloped nations, many as economic and political refugees. As such, they have often lacked the skills necessary for success in the labour market. That reality, combined with discrimination by the native population, has led to sub-average economic conditions for Europe’s Muslims.

The social and civil status of religion is another key factor in the integration process of Muslims in Belgium. European secularism has traditionally meant that political power interacts in a neutral manner with religious institutions.

Three scenarios for the future of Muslims in Belgium are possible: acceptance, avoidance, or resistance. Professor Jocelyne Cesari of Harvard University says that these three possible Muslim attitudes subtend the multiplicity of discourses and actions in the name of Islam, whether they are oriented towards Muslims or non-Muslims.

Cesari explains that acceptance means that the dominant Western discourse is accepted by Muslims, and is accompanied by cultural amnesia and a definite will to assimilate. This trend is marginal among immigrant Muslims.

Lastly, avoidance refers to behaviours or discourses that attempt to separate Muslim communities from the non-Muslim environment by developing, for example, a sectarian usage of Islamic religious beliefs. Resistance means refusing the status given to Islam within dominant discourses and politics.

(source)

READ MORE - Belgium: Belgium's integration problem

Belgium: Homophobic murder might be xenophobic hate crime as well

Belgium: Homophobic murder might be xenophobic hate crime as well

Update to this story: Belgium: Moroccan killed in first homophobic murder


VRT news reports as follows:

The four suspects have all been apprehended. Just like the victim, all four are of foreign descent. Three have a Belgian passport, one a Turkish passport. According to the suspects, the victim "made advances".

The judicial authorities were hesitant about the homophobic motives at first, but later during the day they changed the charges after a fourth suspect confessed that they "wanted to teach the man a lesson", Het Laatste Nieuws reports.

The four suspects are Eric Parmentier, Jeremy Wintgens, Jonathan Lekeut and Mutlu Kiziaslan. Based on their names, the suspects might be of 'foreign descent', but they are not Muslim (with the possible exclusion of the Turkish suspect).  The family thinks the murderers were both homophobic and xenophobic.

READ MORE - Belgium: Homophobic murder might be xenophobic hate crime as well

Belgium: Moroccan killed in first homophobic murder

Belgium: Moroccan killed in first homophobic murder

Via VRT:

On Sunday, the body of a 32-year-old man was found in a field in Villers-le-Temple, between the cities of Huy and Liège in Wallonia. Four suspects have been apprehended, and there are strong indications that they had homophobic motives. The case is causing commotion both in Wallonia and in Flanders.

The man had gone missing one week before his body was discovered in Liège province. "The victim left a bar and was approached by four men in a car. He entered the car voluntarily. A couple of hours later, nothing was heard of him and a friend informed the police", Danièle Reynders of the Liège judicial authorities explains.

The four suspects have all been apprehended. Just like the victim, all four are of foreign descent. According to the suspects, the victim "made advances".

(source)

Fatima Omari, the lawyer of victim Ihsane Jarfi, published the family's statement, thanking all those who supported them in their difficult time. "Ihsan has never hurt anyone, unless his homosexuality, his Moroccan origins and his Muslim faith are a crime."

READ MORE - Belgium: Moroccan killed in first homophobic murder

Kenya: Belgian, German seized over suspected terror links

Kenya: Belgian, German seized over suspected terror links


Via the Daily Nation:

Police in Lamu have arrested two foreigners suspected to be members of the Al-Shabaab terror group.

Lamu East police boss Samuel Obara on Wednesday said the Tunisian born men were Belgian and German citizens.

(source)

READ MORE - Kenya: Belgian, German seized over suspected terror links

Flanders: Muslims upset at Danni Lowinski episode

Flanders: Muslims upset at Danni Lowinski episode


Via HBvL (h/t RR):

A recent episode of the Danni Lowinski series upset Muslims in Flanders.  In the episode, a Turkish girl wanted help as she was being forced to marry her cousin.  One of the characters, bicycle dealer Fuat, said: 'The Koran says that singles MUST marry.'

Columnist Bahattin Kocak: "It's not in the Koran!  This is fiction, but I think it's a pity that something like that is proclaimed as truth.  This way a million viewers, of whom just a minority know the Koran, get a negative opinion about its content."

VTM apologized if they didn't always show 'a nuanced image of the Turkish community'.  The broadcaster stressed that Danni Lowinski is a fictional show which exaggerates issues, people and problems.

READ MORE - Flanders: Muslims upset at Danni Lowinski episode

Belgium: Moroccan PM insults female minister, Moroccan-Belgian MPs want Belgian response

Belgium: Moroccan PM insults female minister, Moroccan-Belgian MPs want Belgian response

Via HLN:

Moroccan PM Abdelilah Benkirane recently met in Rabat with two Belgian ministers: Minister of Foreign Affairs Didier Reynders (MR) and Justice Minister Annemie Turtelboom (Open Vld).  However, during the meeting he barely paid attention to Turtleboom, and instead focused on her male colleague, Reynders.  Benkirane praised Reynders' French, and told him he 'didn't have to come with an interpreter'.  Turtleboom made it clear who she was, but Benkirane continued to ignore her.
 

Turtleboom was upset, but swallowed the insult since she didn't want to cause a diplomatic row.  Moroccan-Belgian MPs say her reaction is unblievable, and that Belgium should respond.

Yamila Idrissi (sp.a) and Nadia Sminate (N-VA) say that Turtleboom should have walked out of the meeting.  But Idrissi says it's not too late for a response.  "Belgium shouldn't leave things like that and make a point of it," she told Het Laatste Nieuws.  "This is outrageous and unacceptable."

Sminate agrees.  "This is disappointing from a strong woman like Annemie Turtelboom.  If this isn't worth a row, than what is?  Turtleboom should have responded .. this is a bad message for Moroccan women in Belgium."

READ MORE - Belgium: Moroccan PM insults female minister, Moroccan-Belgian MPs want Belgian response

Brussels: Mayor accuses journalists of Nazi propaganda after program on Islamism in his town

Brussels: Mayor accuses journalists of Nazi propaganda after program on Islamism in his town

The recent RTBF program on Islamism in Brussels continues to make waves.  See also:Brussels: Imam speaks against Women's Day, Jews.

Via Knack (h/t NRP):

Philippe Moureaux (Socialists), mayor of Molenbeek (Brussels), is upset at the journalists of the RTBF program "Questions à la Une".  Moureaux accuses them of racism and Islamophobia.

The actuality program focused on Islamism and showed women walking around Molenbeek wearing burkas.  Burkas are banned in the town.  "Showing that as evidence that Islamism is increasing is pure manipulation," Moureaux told Maghreb TV.

The mayor also appears in the program, but says he was abused by a program 'that only shows unpleasant images and let known Islamophobes speak."  The Muslim people of Molenbeek "deserve the greatest respect.  we shouldn't accuse an entire group just because we don't like the behavior of some people.  That is what Goebbels did to the Jews."

RTBF are outraged at the accusations and are considering filing a complaint against the mayor.

READ MORE - Brussels: Mayor accuses journalists of Nazi propaganda after program on Islamism in his town

Brussels: Imam speaks against Women's Day, Jews

Brussels: Imam speaks against Women's Day, Jews

Via Philosémitisme, La Capitale:

An imam in Anderlecht (Brussels) preached against women and Jews in his Friday sermon, as revealed by the RTBF current affairs program "Questions à la Une". The imam of the Al-Amal mosque was secretly filmed as he spoke in his sermon about International Women's Day.

The imam spoke out against the unthankful, coarse people who created Women's Day, which is not part of Muslim culture. "Only the ignorants celebrate this day, or political politicians who want to confuse the people of God's way. Fear God, follow the Sunnah (Muslim law) and avoid innovative cultures which are not part of Islam."

The imam then went on to speak of the Jewish roots of the day. "What they call Women's Day [...] it's the holiday of Purim, which is of Jewish origin and which dates back to 480 BC. A Jew, Clara Zetkin, revived this holiday in the 20th century. Listen, Muslim women, in celebrating this day, you imitate the Jewish women in behavior which is far from divine."

According to mosque administrator Azzouzi Hamidou, the sermon was not planned, and was delivered as a response to a question asked by a parishioner. The imam was reprimanded and will be fired if he continues.

Update: small fixes throughout

READ MORE - Brussels: Imam speaks against Women's Day, Jews

Flanders: Far-right party creates anti-immigrant website

Flanders: Far-right party creates anti-immigrant website

Via AFP:

A Flemish far-right party launched a website Tuesday inviting people to report crimes committed by illegal immigrants, mirroring a controversial initiative in the Netherlands.

The website created by Vlaams Belang (Flemish Interest) allows people to file anonymous tip-offs of social security fraud, work on the black market and more serious crimes, a move anti-racism activists compared to Nazi tactics.

(source)

READ MORE - Flanders: Far-right party creates anti-immigrant website

Belgium: Moroccan in jail for circumcising son

Belgium: Moroccan in jail for circumcising son

Via Volkskrant:

A 23 year old Moroccan was sentenced to jail for circumcising his two year old son. A court in Tongeren, next to Maastricht, sentenced the man to two years (one of which is conditional). He also has to pay 7500 euro compensation to his son and the baby's mother.

The man circumcised his son, since he couldn't accept that his son wouldn't be raised according to Moroccan values. The mother, a Flemish woman, withheld her pregnancy from him, because she didn't want the kid to be raised as a Muslim.

After the circumcision the boy was successfully treated in a hospital and there are no remaining injuries.

READ MORE - Belgium: Moroccan in jail for circumcising son

Jihad News

Jihad News

I usually post these in the 'in other news' feed, but there were so many items of interest over the past few days I thought they deserved their own post.

Update: Abdelkader Merah is the brother of terrorist Mohamed Merah (Thanks M.)



France
* Abdelkader Merah, father of terrorist Mohamed Merah was investigated by the Belgian police in 2007-2008 for recruiting Jihadists, as part of a larger investigation into a Belgian Jihadist cell. However, there was insufficient evidence to press charges.

* Investigators believe an accomplice sent Merah's terror music clip to al-Jazeera. Al-Jazeera decided not to air the clip. Police are also looking for a possible accomplice in helping Merah with his scooter.

* Russia Today speculates that Merah might have been an informant of French intelligence. [Grain of salt: RT love conspiracy theories]

* A Franco-Algerian nuclear scientist is on trial for allegedly plotting terror attacks in France


Norway

In a video clip posted online, Mulla Krekar threatens Norway with suicide attacks and kidnappings. Once Norway will become an Islamic state, Muslims will be able to avenge the wrongs done to him, he says, just like the Jews did.

The Norwegian Security Service PST reports it is following about a hundred extreme Muslims in Norway.


Germany

* A 20 year old was jailed for distributing Internet 'Islamist propaganda'.

* Germany is currently monitoring 130 individuals seen as 'Islamist threats' capable of turning violent at any time


Spain

Al-Qaeda's 'librarian' was arrested in Valencia this week. He was a key player in the organization's propaganda and recruitment efforts.


Italy

The European Court of Human Rights ordered Italy to pay compensation to Mohamed Mannai. Mannai had been deported to Tunisia in 2010 after serving jail time for terror charges. Maani was linked to Ansar al-Islam, Krekar's terror group.

READ MORE - Jihad News

Flanders: 25% of children are of foreign origin

Flanders: 25% of children are of foreign origin

Via HLN:

The number of Turks and Moroccans in Flanders is grossly underestimated, according to a new study by the Flemish government.

7% have foreign nationality, but many immigrants naturalize and their children are considered Belgians. If the former nationality of the parents is taken into account, 15% of the people in Flanders in 2011 were of foreign origin. Among children 0-5, 25% are of foreign origin.

Most immigrants come from the Netherlands, Morocco and Turkey, with Italy far behind in 4th place. Most Dutch live along the border, South-Europeans and Turks in Limburg and Moroccans in Antwerp and Brussels.

Researchers Edith Lodewijckx and Jo Noppe conclude that the number of people of foreign origin is 2.2 times higher than the number of foreign nationals. This underestimation factor goes up to 3.4% among youth younger than 17.

READ MORE - Flanders: 25% of children are of foreign origin

Belgium: Nationalists want language requirement for voting rights

Belgium: Nationalists want language requirement for voting rights

Via VRT:

Belgium's largest party, the opposition Flemish nationalist N-VA, wants to ensure that only non-EU foreigners who speak the local language can exercise their vote.

Lawmaker Ben Weyts: "There should be conditions linked to integration, e.g. knowledge of the language of the local area where you are living. In Flanders this means knowledge of Dutch. If you want to have a say in the administration of your municipality, you should also have the politeness to become familiar with the language of the municipality. If it's up to us, then we favour linking language conditions, integration conditions, to acquiring Belgian nationality and casting your vote."

(source)

READ MORE - Belgium: Nationalists want language requirement for voting rights

Belgium: High unemployment among non-Europeans

Belgium: High unemployment among non-Europeans

(left: employment by nationality, right: employment by land of birth. red: women, blue: men)

Just half of non-European men are employed in Belgium. Among women, employment rates drop to around 25%. The situation is better among non-Europeans holding Belgian citizenship: close to 60% of men and 40% of women are employed. The EU wants to bring down the difference between Europeans and non-Europeans down to less than 16.5%. In Belgium, the difference grew over the past four years from 27% to 28.6%.

Employment Minister De Coninck says this is due to the fact that many asylum-seekers were regularized for medical reasons and cannot work. (source 1, 2)

READ MORE - Belgium: High unemployment among non-Europeans

Brussels: Muslims hold unity rally

Brussels: Muslims hold unity rally

In Belgium, more than 2000 people joined a “white march” on Sunday in memory of the Imam who died during a recent arson attack on a Brussels mosque. (source)

READ MORE - Brussels: Muslims hold unity rally