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Radical preacher Anjem Choudary’s public speaking ban lifted
July 17, 2021 By Faith Matters

Radical preacher Anjem Choudary’s public speaking ban lifted

A ban on radical preacher Anjem Choudary speaking in public is being lifted as licence conditions which were imposed after his release from prison come to an end. The extremist was jailed five years ago after being convicted of inviting support for the Islamic State terror group, and he left Belmarsh high-security jail on licence […]

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Police facing ‘toxic mix’ of mental health issues and online extremism
July 7, 2021 By Faith Matters

Police facing ‘toxic mix’ of mental health issues and online extremism

Counter-terrorism police are facing “a toxic mix” of mental health issues and online radicalisation as the country comes out of lockdown, a senior officer has warned. Commander Richard Smith, head of the Metropolitan Police Counter-Terrorism Command, said young people in particular had been left at greater risk of online radicalisation during lockdown. Giving evidence to […]

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Bosnian genocide survivor recalls joy of birdsong after fleeing conflict for UK
July 6, 2021 By Faith Matters

Bosnian genocide survivor recalls joy of birdsong after fleeing conflict for UK

An architect has recalled spending his first “beautiful” days in Newcastle after fleeing his war-torn Bosnian town as a schoolboy to escape the genocide. Smajo Beso, now 36, said he heard birdsong for the first time in years after arriving in the north-east of England on July 19 1994, after Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic […]

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Islamist extremist motive considered by investigators probing Germany attack
June 30, 2021 By Faith Matters

Islamist extremist motive considered by investigators probing Germany attack

German investigators said that an Islamist extremist motivation for last week’s fatal knife attack in Wuerzburg appears likely, but they have not so far found any propaganda or other extremist material. They also plan more checks on the suspect’s mental health. Friday’s assault in and outside a store in the centre of the Bavarian city […]

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Man facing terror charges diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome, court told
June 24, 2021 By Faith Matters

Man facing terror charges diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome, court told

A man accused of preparing acts of terrorism and claiming “all Muslims must die” has been diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome, a court has heard. Richard Smith, 28, is charged with engaging in preparations “with the intention of committing acts of terrorism” between August 2018 and November 2019 at addresses in Aberdeen and elsewhere in Scotland. […]

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Israeli foreign minister to visit UAE
June 21, 2021 By Faith Matters

Israeli foreign minister to visit UAE

Israel’s new foreign minister will head to the United Arab Emirates next week for the first-ever visit by a top Israeli diplomat to the Gulf country, the Foreign Ministry said. Foreign minister Yair Lapid’s visit comes after the two countries normalised relations last year in an agreement brokered by the Trump administration, the first of […]

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Timeline: Usman Khan’s path to murder
June 7, 2021 By Faith Matters

Timeline: Usman Khan’s path to murder

Usman Khan’s path to his death on London Bridge at the hands of police marksmen followed a long history of involvement in extremism. He killed his two victims at Fishmongers’ Hall at an event which had been intended to celebrate prisoners who had taken steps on the path to reform. Here is a timeline of […]

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Uighur exiles describe forced abortions and torture in China
June 5, 2021 By Faith Matters

Uighur exiles describe forced abortions and torture in China

Three Uighurs who fled from China to Turkey have described forced abortions and torture by Chinese authorities in the far western Xinjiang region. They were speaking ahead of giving evidence to a people’s tribunal in London that is investigating if Beijing’s actions against ethnic Uighurs amount to genocide. One woman said she was forced to […]

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A message of care, empathy and respect during the crisis – Rabbi Jonathan Wittenberg
May 16, 2021 By Faith Matters

A message of care, empathy and respect during the crisis – Rabbi Jonathan Wittenberg

We stand before Shavuot, the festival of the giving of the Torah. This Torah is always understood as Torat chaim, the teaching of life. In these terrible times across Israel and Gaza, we pray for the teaching of life. We pray for the safety of everyone, an end to the violence, a restoration of calm […]

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Unite leadership candidate suspended by Labour over Patel tweet
May 14, 2021 By Faith Matters

Unite leadership candidate suspended by Labour over Patel tweet

A senior trade unionist has been suspended by Labour after suggesting Home Secretary Priti Patel was “disgusting” and should be deported. Unite’s assistant general secretary Howard Beckett – who is standing for the leadership of the major union – apologised for the social media message. Mr Beckett sits on Labour’s ruling national executive committee but […]

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