Amsterdam: Handling of sharia group criticised

Amsterdam: Sharia4Holland issue death threats against Wilders, passer-by arrested

  

(Sharia4Holland press conference, Passer-by intervened at around 4:20) 

Via Expatica: 

Amsterdam VVD councillor, Robert Flos, has criticised the police for the way they dealt with a hate speech on Dam Square on Friday.

On local television channel AT5, the councillor says the police failed to arrest the Sharia4Holland speakers, who made death threats aimed at Freedom Party leader Geert Wilders and arrested a passer-by who tried to enter a discussion with the speakers.

Mr Flos points out that making death threats is a criminal offence. The passer-by was heavy-handedly removed from the scene. The councillor told AT5 he was shocked but “a message of intolerance can even be made next to our monument of freedom.”

(source)

The group's spokesman was meanwhile arrested.  Via DutchNews:

Amsterdam police have arrested the 29-year-old spokesman for radical Islamic group Sharia4Holland for making threats against MP Geert Wilders.

In an impromptu press conference on Dam square in Amsterdam on Friday, the man likened Wilders to a Roman dog and warned him to learn the lesson of what happened to Theo van Gogh. Van Gog was killed by an Islamic militant.

(source)

READ MORE - Amsterdam: Handling of sharia group criticised

'Ex Muslim extremist issues Krekar warning '

'Ex Muslim extremist issues Krekar warning '

I thought this was an interesting headline.  Anjem Choudary is a former spokesperson of Islam4UK.  In this article he threatens Norway for arresting a terrorist.  So what makes him an ex-extremist?

READ MORE - 'Ex Muslim extremist issues Krekar warning '

Germany: Online terrorist threat against far-right party, magazine

Germany: Online terrorist threat against far-right party, magazine

Via AP:

German officials say they’ve taken security measures at a popular German magazine and for members of a small far-right party after a known terrorist called for them to be attacked in a video online.

(...)

In it, Bonn-born Yassin Chouka, who is believed to be with the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan in the Afghanistan-Pakistan border region, calls for Muslims to kill Pro NRW members.

He also calls for the murder of Der Spiegel employees for printing pictures showing the cartoons.

(source)

READ MORE - Germany: Online terrorist threat against far-right party, magazine

Macedonia: Protests signal surge of radical Islam

Macedonia: Protests signal surge of radical Islam

Via EurActiv:

There is widespread belief among analysts and the Macedonian public that the protests are intended to destabilise Macedonia prior to the NATO summit in Chicago on 20-21 May. Macedonia’s bid to join NATO was blocked in 2008 by Greece over the long-standing name dispute between Athens and Skopje.

Some analysts in the region now worry of renewed attempts to carve out an ethnic Albanian state in western Macedonia.

(source)

READ MORE - Macedonia: Protests signal surge of radical Islam

Germany: Cop suspended for radical Islamist beliefs

Germany: Cop suspended for radical Islamist beliefs

via the Local (h/t Jihad Watch):

Western German police chiefs have suspended an officer after they discovered he belonged to a branch of Salafist Muslim fundamentalists, and had been distributing radical religious material, it was reported on Tuesday.

“Disciplinary action is underway, with the aim to dismiss the man from the police force,” North Rhine-Westphalia’s Interior Minister Ralf Jäger confirmed on Tuesday. It is the first time a policeman has been suspended for radical beliefs in Germany.

The head of the Essen police force told the Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung newspaper that the suspended officer does not believe in the German constitution, which is required of police officers - rather he holds Islamic law to be paramount. When questioned by state security if he lived under Islamic law, he said only that “what he believed privately was his business.”

(source)

READ MORE - Germany: Cop suspended for radical Islamist beliefs

Germany: "Germany will not allow anybody to impose religious wars on us"

Germany: "Germany will not allow anybody to impose religious wars on us"

Via Reuters:

Germany is considering a legal ban on ultra-conservative Salafist Muslim groups, its interior minister said on Wednesday after violent clashes with the police, one of which was provoked by German ultra-rightists.

(...)

"We will use all the possibilities at the disposal of a constitutional state to oppose them (violent Salafists) wherever they fight against... our constitutional order," Interior Minister Hans-Peter Friedrich told n-tv television.

"Germany will not allow anybody to impose religious wars on us, neither radical Salafists nor far-right parties such as the Pro NRW," he said, referring to the ultra-nationalist that clashed with the Salafists in Bonn.  

(source)

READ MORE - Germany: "Germany will not allow anybody to impose religious wars on us"

Bonn: Salafists clash with police over Muhammad cartoon protest (UPDATED)

Bonn: Salafists clash with police over Muhammad cartoon protest

Salafists in Bonn clashed with police on Saturday after a Pro-NRW protest displaying anti-Islam cartoons.  29 police agents were injured, and over 100 people were arrested.

Update: Video was mistakenly dropped from original post. English-language report: AGI.

READ MORE - Bonn: Salafists clash with police over Muhammad cartoon protest (UPDATED)

Germany:Police arrest 30 Salafists after clashes

Germany:Police arrest 30 Salafists after clashes

Police spokeswoman Anja Meis said a group of Salafists protesting against a far-right march threw stones and attacked officers separating the two rallies in the western German city of Solingen Tuesday. Three policemen and a passer-by were injured. (source)

READ MORE - Germany:Police arrest 30 Salafists after clashes

Germany: "We will conquer Rome!"

Germany: "We will conquer Rome!"

Via KATH.NET, translated by Via Catholic Church Conservation:

A 26-year-old regularly preaches in a mosque in Solingen - Cologne City Superintendent: His theses are an "impertinence", Representatives of Muslim organizations distance themselves

Anti-Christian expressions of a radical Islamic preacher concern the Protestant Church Association of Cologne City. The 26-year-old Austrian Mohamed Mahmoud was released in September 2011 after a four-year prison sentence in a Vienna prison on charges of forming and promoting a terrorist organization . After a short stay in Berlin, he moved at the end of 2011 to Solingen, near Düsseldorf. Currently he is living in Erbach in Hessen(Odenwald).

Several television stations reported on his challenge to Christianity: "We will conquer Rome! And then Peter's Square, or whatever it's called, yes, that is [...]to be the site of the conversion and the area to implement Allah's laws in order to implement Allah's punishment, so that enough people will be able to witness the events!" The City superintendent of the Protestant Church Association of Cologne and region, Rolf Domning, called the remarks of the preacher's hate "impudence."

(source)

Catholic Church Conservation updates that Mohamed Mahmoud is to be deported from Germany.

READ MORE - Germany: "We will conquer Rome!"

Paris: 100 Muslims protest against religious extremism

Paris: 100 Muslims protest against religious extremism

Via MSN France, translated by Elder of Zion:

A hundred Muslims gathered Sunday afternoon on the steps of the Opera Bastille in Paris to "say no to religious radicalism" and proclaimed their attachment to France and the values ​​of the Republic, says an AFP reporter.

With French flags on their jackets and under a banner saying "Together against fanaticism", demonstrators observed a moment of silence in memory of "Children of Toulouse and Montauban," victims of Mohamed Merah, responsible for seven murders in both cities in March, and who claimed, according to the Interior Minister, Claude Gueant,to have links with Al Qaeda.

(source)

READ MORE - Paris: 100 Muslims protest against religious extremism

Cambridge: Muslims question militant's speech

Cambridge: Muslims question militant's speech

Via Cambridge News (h/t DW):

Moderate Muslims are appalled that Dr Haitham al-Haddad, who is a judge on a Sharia law court in London, was allowed a platform at the Mawson Road prayer centre.

He spoke to students from Cambridge University’s Islamic Society in a packed room, and has previously told Muslims “to prepare themselves for jihad, all over the world”.

Hasan Afzal, director of the anti-extremism monitoring group StandforPeace, who was alerted to the visit by a concerned Muslim attending the mosque, said: “I understand the mosque is looking to expand and this has been a bone of contention with the local community and has attracted the ire of far-right groups, including the English Defence League.

(...)

Ahsan Mohammed, a Newmarket Muslim leader, said: “I am torn in that I want freedom of speech and think that is what makes Britain great but when the views are bonkers and dangerous we have to draw the line somewhere.”

(source)

READ MORE - Cambridge: Muslims question militant's speech

Wales: Islamic teacher under fire for calling on Muslims to support fight for sharia law abroad

Wales: Islamic teacher under fire for calling on Muslims to support fight for sharia law abroad

Via Wales Onlines (h/t EuropeNews):

An Islamic teacher whose group was at the centre of an anti-terror raid on a Cardiff community hall has come under fire for calling on Welsh muslims to “physically” support the fight for sharia law abroad.

Abu Hajar, of Grangetown, Cardiff, is one of the leaders of the Islamic group Supporters of Tawheed, which on its website says its core belief is the “domination of the world by Islam”.

(...)

In a video posted last month on YouTube called “Support the Muslims of Syria”, Mr Hajar said muslims should: snub western help abroad; demand an “Islamic solution” to problems in the Middle East; and impose sharia law there.

In the 14-minute video he addresses the people of Syria, saying: “Our money is with you and, if need be and if we are able to, our muslims will come and respond to your call physically as well.

(source)

READ MORE - Wales: Islamic teacher under fire for calling on Muslims to support fight for sharia law abroad

Germany: Salafists dominate Islam Conference agenda

Germany: Salafists dominate Islam Conference agenda

(video report)

Via Deutsche Welle:

Although the official topic of Germany's annual Islam Conference was about domestic violence and forced marriage, a recent campaign by Salafist Muslims to distribute free Korans was a key topic of discussion.

Senior German officials gathered in Berlin on Thursday for their annual conference with the Muslim leaders from around the country. One of the main talking points of the conference was a recent drive by fundamentalist Salafist Muslims to hand out free copies of the Koran, although it was not officially on the agenda.

"We all agree that Salafist extremism is not acceptable and does not work in a free society, as we have in Germany," said German Interior Minister Hans-Peter Friedrich, adding that the Salafists did not have the support of the majority of Germany's Muslims.

(source)

READ MORE - Germany: Salafists dominate Islam Conference agenda

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

Germany: Threats against journalists critical of Koran distribution project

Germany: Threats against journalists critical of Koran distribution project

Via Spiegel (h/t NRP):

And on Thursday, daily Die Welt reports that a video made a brief appearance on YouTube this week apparently targeting journalists that reported critically on the Koran distribution project. "We now have detailed information on the monkeys and pigs who published false reports about the (Frankfurt Salafist group) DawaFFM and many other brothers and sisters," the video, which has since been taken down, intoned, according to Die Welt.

"We possess a lot of information, for example, we know where you live, we know what football team you root for, we have your mobile phone numbers," it continues. The video names reporters from the dailies Frankfurter Rundschau and Tagesspiegel. Die Welt reports that the producer of the video has worked for Nagie in the past.

(source)

READ MORE - Germany: Threats against journalists critical of Koran distribution project

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

Germany: A Koran in every household

Germany: A Koran in every household

Via Welt Online, Trouw:

Salafists in Germany launched a project aimed at distributing 25 million free Korans.

Project "Lies!" (Read!) was started in October 2011 by Ibrahim Abou Nagie, who says he wants a Koran in every German household. Other Salafist groups like DawaFFM from Frankfut and the Ibrahim Millatu movement from Solingen are also involved. So far the Salafists set up more than 100 stands in cities across North Rhine-Westphalia, Lower Saxony, Hesse and Hamburg.

According to Abou Nagie they already distributed 300,000 copies of the German language Koran. He had already ordered tens of thousands of additional copies. On Easter the Koran project entered a new phase. On Saturday the Salafists set up distribution stands in 35 cities including Hamburg, Cologne, Konstanz, Frankfurt, Dresden, Osnabrück, Hanover and Berlin.

The project is financed by donations. Abou Nagie says most donations come from Muslim women and Turkish Muslims. German Muslims are being encouraged to buy a copy of the Koran (red-cover) in order to finance the blue-cover free Korans.

The German security services are concerned as the goal is not only to convert people to Islam, but to the radical preachings of Salafism. Last year the prosecution started investigating Abou Nagie for inciting to violence on the Internet against people of other faiths.

READ MORE - Germany: A Koran in every household

France: Gov't takes new look at radicalization in prisons

France: Gov't takes new look at radicalization in prisons

Via AP:

President Nicolas Sarkozy ordered a study on the evolving threat in prisons after last month's killings, and the justice minister called for greater intelligence gathering in prisons and more Muslim prison chaplains.

Tracking such "lone wolf" radicals presents prison authorities with a new challenge: detecting the Muslim inmate who is not just turning to religion but turning the corner to danger. Some worry that even tighter surveillance may carry the risk of a double-edged sword, stigmatizing a Muslim population already deprived of the means to properly practice their faith behind bars.

(source)

READ MORE - France: Gov't takes new look at radicalization in prisons

France: Muslim organizations plan march against religious radicalism

France: Muslim organizations plan march against religious radicalism

Via Le Figaro:

Several Muslim associations are calling for a national march April 15th in April to 'say no to religious radicalism'. Among the organizers: the Conference of Imams and the association of French Muslim war veterans.

The Muslim associations say they refuse equating the Muslims of France with the acts of terror committed in their name. They have the families of the victims of the crimes committed in Montauban and Toulouse in their thoughts and offer them support and solidarity. They invite all the French to unite around shared values and around a secular France, one and indivisible.

READ MORE - France: Muslim organizations plan march against religious radicalism

France: Gov't orders deportation of five Islamist radicals

France: Gov't orders deportation of five Islamist radicals

Via AFP:

France has expelled two Islamic radicals and is planning to deport three more as part of a crackdown announced after a gunman killed seven people, officials said Monday.

An Algerian radical and a Malian imam were sent back to their home countries on Monday, while a Saudi imam, a Turkish imam and a Tunisian radical were also subject to expulsion orders, the interior ministry said in a statement.

The statement said that the imams had made anti-Semitic statements in their sermons, called for Muslims to reject Western values, and said women should wear the full-face veil.

(source)

READ MORE - France: Gov't orders deportation of five Islamist radicals