Islam

French judge steps up Le Pen investigation over Islamic State tweets
March 3, 2018 By Faith Matters

French judge steps up Le Pen investigation over Islamic State tweets

A judge placed France’s far-right leader Marine Le Pen under formal investigation on Thursday on suspicion of disseminating violent images over tweets she posted of Islamic State executions, a move she indicated was politically motivated. The investigation relates to three graphic images of Islamic State executions she posted on Twitter in December 2015, including the […]

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Closure of the Holy Sepulchre is a Dark Day for All
February 25, 2018 By Faith Matters

Closure of the Holy Sepulchre is a Dark Day for All

The Holy Sepulchre holds a sacred meaning for Muslims as well as Christians. Many Jerusalemite Muslims light candles and revere both Mary and Jesus, in part hoping that they maybe blessed in some way by these holy figures. This is highlighted through this tweet from Ghanem Nuseibeh, whose family members were entrusted with the keys […]

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“France first”, far right’s Marechal-Le Pen says in comeback speech
February 24, 2018 By Faith Matters

“France first”, far right’s Marechal-Le Pen says in comeback speech

France should follow U.S. President Donald Trump’s lead and fight for “France first”, Marion Marechal-Le Pen, seen as a potential leader of France’s far right, told U.S conservatives on Thursday in her first public appearance in months. The 28-year-old former lawmaker, granddaughter of National Front founder Jean-Marie Le Pen and niece of party leader Marine […]

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French PM vows to combat ‘slow-burn’ threat of radical Islam
February 24, 2018 By Faith Matters

French PM vows to combat ‘slow-burn’ threat of radical Islam

France’s prime minister on Friday announced steps including prison isolation zones and more stringent licensing rules for faith-based schools to combat what he called a slow-burning threat from Islamist radicalisation. In a traditionally Catholic country that is home to Europe’s largest Muslim community, President Emmanuel Macron has already imposed tougher legislation after attacks by Islamist […]

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Driver who targeted London mosque was angered by Islamist attacks, TV show-prosecutor
January 22, 2018 By Faith Matters

Driver who targeted London mosque was angered by Islamist attacks, TV show-prosecutor

A man who drove a van into Muslim worshippers outside a mosque last June was motivated by deadly Islamist attacks in Britain and an obsession with a television account of Muslim men who targeted white girls, a London court heard on Monday. Darren Osborne, 48, also lambasted politicians, calling London Mayor Sadiq Khan a disgrace […]

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Extremism is Consolidated Without Due Diligence by UK Groups and Individuals
January 18, 2018 By Faith Matters

Extremism is Consolidated Without Due Diligence by UK Groups and Individuals

We are increasingly concerned about the lack of due diligence by some faith leaders in the UK in meeting with preachers coming from Pakistan. In particular, there is a growing Islamist movement in Pakistan which supports violent extremism against ‘blasphemers’, Ahmadi Muslims, Shias, Christians and other minorities. These groups are not just the ones involved […]

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Leader of Britain’s UKIP faces calls to quit over girlfriend’s remarks
January 14, 2018 By Faith Matters

Leader of Britain’s UKIP faces calls to quit over girlfriend’s remarks

The leader of Britain’s eurosceptic UK Independence Party faced calls on Sunday to stand down after a newspaper published racist messages sent by his girlfriend about Prince Harry’s fiancee Meghan Markle. Last year, Henry Bolton was the fourth leader in a year to be appointed to the helm of UKIP, a party which helped bring […]

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Online videos show Tehran street protests
December 31, 2017 By Faith Matters

Online videos show Tehran street protests

 Anti-government protests broke out in Iran for the third day running on Saturday (December 30) as separate state-sponsored rallies were staged to mark the end of unrest that shook the country in 2009, according to Iranian news agencies and state media. Social media postings showed protests in the capital’s streets, including crowds gathered outside Tehran […]

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German groups mobilise against rise of anti-Muslim Far Right party
November 20, 2017 By Faith Matters

German groups mobilise against rise of anti-Muslim Far Right party

German civil rights groups are mobilising against the newly elected far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party and other more hardline groups, vowing to avert the even stronger rightward lurch seen in neighbouring countries. Thousands of protesters are expected in the eastern city of Dresden on Saturday when the anti-Islam PEGIDA movement  celebrates its third anniversary. […]

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How A Boarding School in Indonesia Generated a Global Jihad
November 12, 2017 By Faith Matters

How A Boarding School in Indonesia Generated a Global Jihad

We know that specific institutions have on many occasions been the generator for producing radicalised individuals who go onto commit terrorists attacks. Another such institution based in Indonesia which has generated militants from Indonesia to Syria, has been the Ibnu Mas’ud boarding school where Muslim students are provided with boarding facilities, food and religious education.  […]

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