Sweden: Refugees staying put in problem spots
A Swedish government project focused on enticing refugees to leave problem-ridden areas in Sweden's big cities has failed to achieve its goals. After two years, just 286 people have made use of the scheme, according to figures released by the Swedish Migration Board.
"While it seems to me that there are a lot more people who could probably benefit from moving, I realize it's very difficult when you've put down roots," Integration Minister Nyamko Sabuni told news agency TT.
The Migration Board received 6 million kronor ($830,000) over the course of 2008 and 2009 to stimulate outward movement from areas with heavy refugee populations, housing shortages, and high unemployment.
With new arrivals gravitating towards areas populated by family and friends, politicians in Malmö and Södertälje in particular have previously voiced concerns that their infrastructures cannot withstand a further influx of refugees.
But despite the relocation project's relatively low take-up level, Tomas Norberg from the Stockholm County Administrative Board's integration division urged observers to consider the lives behind the numbers.
"If you look at the Migration Board's figures, this appears to be a non-functioning operation. But in reality it is a very important operation that helps an awful lot of people improve their situation," he said.
Furthermore, a survey carried out jointly by the respective county boards and the migration board indicates that many more refugees have moved than suggested by the relocation project's figures.
(more)
Source: The Local (English)
BREAKING: Five arrested for death threats against DPP head (UPDATED)
BREAKING: Five arrested for death threats against DPP head
Update 2:
The arrests were made after the DPP parliamentary office received an anonymous tip that the five were planning something. The police deny they acted too rashly, given the high threat level against Kjærsgaard. (DA)
Update:
The Copenhagen Police say the threats are not concrete and are considering releasing the suspects. (DA)
------------
Five people of immigrant background were arrested for death threats against Pia Kjærsgaard, head of the Danish People's Party. The threats came from the Somali community.
In an arrest operation in Nørrebro in the early afternoon police arrested five people of immigrant background, suspected of death threats against Pia Kjærgaard. Ekstrabladet.dk learned that the some of the arrests were conducted in Mimersgade.
Ekstrabladet.dk learned that the threats presumably came from the Somali community.
Ekstrabladet.dk also learned that the case is rather serious, and that there was evidence of concrete attack plans against Pia Kjærsgaard. There were also concrete threats. The details of the attack plans aren't yet known.
"I can confirm we arrested five people, who are suspected per article 266 of the Penal Code of threats against Pia Kjærsgaard," says Jørgen Aabye of the Copenhagen police.
The police are now interrogating those arrested and will later decide if to ask to detain them further.
Ekstra Bladet spoke with the spokesperson of the Danish People's Party, Søren Søndergaard. He says that Pia Kjærsgaard is on vacation abroad with her husband and that she is doing well under the circumstances. The couple are returning home this afternoon.
The Copenhagen police says that more information will be given out later today.
(more)
Source: Ekstra Bladet (Danish)
Update 2:
The arrests were made after the DPP parliamentary office received an anonymous tip that the five were planning something. The police deny they acted too rashly, given the high threat level against Kjærsgaard. (DA)
Update:
The Copenhagen Police say the threats are not concrete and are considering releasing the suspects. (DA)
------------
Five people of immigrant background were arrested for death threats against Pia Kjærsgaard, head of the Danish People's Party. The threats came from the Somali community.
In an arrest operation in Nørrebro in the early afternoon police arrested five people of immigrant background, suspected of death threats against Pia Kjærgaard. Ekstrabladet.dk learned that the some of the arrests were conducted in Mimersgade.
Ekstrabladet.dk learned that the threats presumably came from the Somali community.
Ekstrabladet.dk also learned that the case is rather serious, and that there was evidence of concrete attack plans against Pia Kjærsgaard. There were also concrete threats. The details of the attack plans aren't yet known.
"I can confirm we arrested five people, who are suspected per article 266 of the Penal Code of threats against Pia Kjærsgaard," says Jørgen Aabye of the Copenhagen police.
The police are now interrogating those arrested and will later decide if to ask to detain them further.
Ekstra Bladet spoke with the spokesperson of the Danish People's Party, Søren Søndergaard. He says that Pia Kjærsgaard is on vacation abroad with her husband and that she is doing well under the circumstances. The couple are returning home this afternoon.
The Copenhagen police says that more information will be given out later today.
(more)
Source: Ekstra Bladet (Danish)
Labels:
Location: Denmark,
terrorism
Netherlands: Parents threatened with eviction if their children don't stop causing trouble
Netherlands: Parents threatened with eviction if their children don't stop causing trouble
The Moroccan community in Culemborg was upset about the 'yellow card' that the Kleurrijk Wonen company gave out to several Moroccan families in the neighborhood of Terweijde. The families were threatened with eviction because their children were causing trouble.
The company later retracted its letter, for the time being.
The letter was sent to a dozen Moroccan families. In response the Moroccan community decided to postpone any talks with the company as well as the municipality and the police, said F. Azarkan of the local Moroccan representative organization. "The letter must first be taken off the table," he said on Thursday morning. He said that the letter had gone out without any discussion with them and that that's not the way it should be.
"It would have been better if we had first spoken with the Moroccan community about that letter," according to Jaap van Dam, director of Kleurrijk Wonen.
"The Moroccan families who got the letter from KleurrijkWonen yesterday, will get a new letter tomorrow saying that the 'threat letter' could be put aside. that means that the yellow cans can for now be cancelled," according to Van Dam.
Van Dam does say, though, that they'll be put in force after discussions with the local Moroccan community, and that they'll be enforced. "Whoever says A, must also say B, no matter how painful it is."
The letter said that children from Moroccan families were involved in causing trouble. "You have received a yellow card, because your child is causing trouble in the neighborhood. As a renter you are responsible for the behavior of your co-renters, in this case your children. This letter is the last warning." The letter said that they would next get a red card which could lead to rental contract being terminated and to eviction.
"KleurrijkWonen is sending these cards in consultation with the police and the municipality. From now on we'll exchange information about neighborhood residents. If we than conclude that you or your family members are causing problems, you'll get a yellow card. Your child is then no longer known only to the police, but to all involved parties in Culemborg."
The letter also listed what "causing trouble" includes: spitting on people, cursing, throwing stones at windows, setting fire to cars, theft and intimidation.
The Mollucan families in the problem neighborhood did not receive a letter.
Mollucan and Moroccan youth in the Terweijde neighborhood have been at odds with each other for years. In January the unrest escalated and the police called in the riot police to restore the quiet. There's an emergency order and on assembly ban.
Van Dam confirms that the letters were sent with the knowledge of mayor R. van Schelven. "We forgot to consult the representatives of the Moroccan community beforehand. That's a shame." He added that they'll now invite them to discussions.
When asked about it Azarkan said that they won't have any talks until the yellow cards are retracted. He says the threats of eviction were very unsettling. "People are concerned. This letter feeds the distrust towards the government." He says that's painful because they were working together to deal the trouble-making.
Source: Reformatorisch Dagblad, Telegraaf (Dutch)
The Moroccan community in Culemborg was upset about the 'yellow card' that the Kleurrijk Wonen company gave out to several Moroccan families in the neighborhood of Terweijde. The families were threatened with eviction because their children were causing trouble.
The company later retracted its letter, for the time being.
The letter was sent to a dozen Moroccan families. In response the Moroccan community decided to postpone any talks with the company as well as the municipality and the police, said F. Azarkan of the local Moroccan representative organization. "The letter must first be taken off the table," he said on Thursday morning. He said that the letter had gone out without any discussion with them and that that's not the way it should be.
"It would have been better if we had first spoken with the Moroccan community about that letter," according to Jaap van Dam, director of Kleurrijk Wonen.
"The Moroccan families who got the letter from KleurrijkWonen yesterday, will get a new letter tomorrow saying that the 'threat letter' could be put aside. that means that the yellow cans can for now be cancelled," according to Van Dam.
Van Dam does say, though, that they'll be put in force after discussions with the local Moroccan community, and that they'll be enforced. "Whoever says A, must also say B, no matter how painful it is."
The letter said that children from Moroccan families were involved in causing trouble. "You have received a yellow card, because your child is causing trouble in the neighborhood. As a renter you are responsible for the behavior of your co-renters, in this case your children. This letter is the last warning." The letter said that they would next get a red card which could lead to rental contract being terminated and to eviction.
"KleurrijkWonen is sending these cards in consultation with the police and the municipality. From now on we'll exchange information about neighborhood residents. If we than conclude that you or your family members are causing problems, you'll get a yellow card. Your child is then no longer known only to the police, but to all involved parties in Culemborg."
The letter also listed what "causing trouble" includes: spitting on people, cursing, throwing stones at windows, setting fire to cars, theft and intimidation.
The Mollucan families in the problem neighborhood did not receive a letter.
Mollucan and Moroccan youth in the Terweijde neighborhood have been at odds with each other for years. In January the unrest escalated and the police called in the riot police to restore the quiet. There's an emergency order and on assembly ban.
Van Dam confirms that the letters were sent with the knowledge of mayor R. van Schelven. "We forgot to consult the representatives of the Moroccan community beforehand. That's a shame." He added that they'll now invite them to discussions.
When asked about it Azarkan said that they won't have any talks until the yellow cards are retracted. He says the threats of eviction were very unsettling. "People are concerned. This letter feeds the distrust towards the government." He says that's painful because they were working together to deal the trouble-making.
Source: Reformatorisch Dagblad, Telegraaf (Dutch)
Netherlands: Parties embarrassed by Turkish, Arabic campaign posters
Netherlands: Parties embarrassed by Turkish, Arabic campaign posters
A number of parties have been caused embarrassment by Turkish and Arabic-language election posters that have appeared at various places in the country.
Labour (PvdA), the Christian democrats (CDA), centre-left D66, the Socialist Party (SP) and the leftwing Greens have posters up on which Islamic candidates are seeking their ethnic group's voting support. In all cases, these appear to have been initiated by the candidates themselves, without the prior knowledge of the party executive.
The PvdA in Rotterdam has removed election posters solely in Turkish promoting a candidate named Fikri Demirtas. "Posters with slogans in a foreign language are against the internal party line," said PvdA front-runner Dominic Schrijer. "It is an incident, I regret it. It will never happen again."
But similar PvdA campaign material is appearing in all kinds of places. For example, a Turkish flyer is circulating in Amsterdam showing a picture of the local PvdA leader Lodweijk Asscher. There is not a word of Dutch on it.
Most other parties are unable to criticise these posters because they themselves also have Turkish and Moroccan candidates with posters they made themselves. CDA, D66 and GroenLinks all have to deal with this.
The conservatives (VVD) expressed anger about the posters. "An election poster in Turkish really cannot be allowed," fumed VVD's front-runner in Rotterdam, Jeannette Baljeu. "Statements in public places should be in Dutch." The VVD did put up a potser in Chinese itself during the previous elections.
(more)
Source: NIS News (English), h/t Turkish Digest
A number of parties have been caused embarrassment by Turkish and Arabic-language election posters that have appeared at various places in the country.
Labour (PvdA), the Christian democrats (CDA), centre-left D66, the Socialist Party (SP) and the leftwing Greens have posters up on which Islamic candidates are seeking their ethnic group's voting support. In all cases, these appear to have been initiated by the candidates themselves, without the prior knowledge of the party executive.
The PvdA in Rotterdam has removed election posters solely in Turkish promoting a candidate named Fikri Demirtas. "Posters with slogans in a foreign language are against the internal party line," said PvdA front-runner Dominic Schrijer. "It is an incident, I regret it. It will never happen again."
But similar PvdA campaign material is appearing in all kinds of places. For example, a Turkish flyer is circulating in Amsterdam showing a picture of the local PvdA leader Lodweijk Asscher. There is not a word of Dutch on it.
Most other parties are unable to criticise these posters because they themselves also have Turkish and Moroccan candidates with posters they made themselves. CDA, D66 and GroenLinks all have to deal with this.
The conservatives (VVD) expressed anger about the posters. "An election poster in Turkish really cannot be allowed," fumed VVD's front-runner in Rotterdam, Jeannette Baljeu. "Statements in public places should be in Dutch." The VVD did put up a potser in Chinese itself during the previous elections.
(more)
Source: NIS News (English), h/t Turkish Digest
Norway: Sharia student continues to threaten
Norway: Sharia student continues to threaten
Mohyeldeen Mohammad (24), the Norwegian-Iranian who threatened Norway with its own 9/11 during the anti-Dagbladet demonstration last week, remained in the news this week.
On Tuesday Mohammad was interviewed in Communist newspaper Klassekampen and said gays deserved to be stoned. Then Dagbladet lodged a complaint against him for threatening to kill two of their journalists, after which the police detained and interrogated him today.
Mohammad has been studying Sharia law in Saudi Arabia since last fall. He was supposed to return to Saudi Arabia this week, but apparently decided to stay.
See also:
* Norway: 61.5% of Muslims think demonstrations are unreasonable, 44% see signs of radicalization
* Norway: Allah will decide if it's peaceful
--------------------
The Klassekampen interview:
Q: Why did you use PST's threat-estimate in your speech? Wasn't this a demonstration against Dagbladet's printing of the pig illustration?
A: I demonstrate against the authorities, Dagbladet, the media and all those who lead this crusade against Islam. The media is also part of this.
Q: You also said on Friday that Muslims should participate in 'your democracy'. But isn't that exactly what you're doing when you participate in a demonstration?
A: No, since the demonstration was a way to respond to the attack which is legal. In other countries we would have used other methods. Democracy has no place in Islam, because Islam forbids man-made laws. The only one who can come with laws is Allah.
Q: You prefer a dictatorship?
A: No, Sharia isn't a dictatorship. Those are the best and just lows. But today nobody governs by God's laws. Those who claim that they govern by Sharia, don't do that.
Q: Many Muslims disagree with you that Islam is incompatible with democracy?
A: Then they said that despite what it says in the Koran. They're either hypocrites or apostates.
Q: I saw on Facebook that you gave support to Jihadists in Afghanistan and Somalia, among others. Does that mean that you, for example, support al-Shabaab? (Al-Shaabab is considered a Somali terrorist organization by Western intelligence organizations, including PST)
A: Yes, if they are Muslims. If they do wrong, it's between Allah and them.
Q: They've stoned a person to death, among other things.
A: As far as I know that person was gay, and that is the punishment he deserves.
Q: That's an extreme standpoint?
A: That is the standpoint every Muslim has to follow by his religion
Q: Muslims in Somalia are now fleeing because of al-Shaabab?
A: We should look at the real reason that they're fleeing. It's not because of al-Shaabab, but because America supported the invasion of Somalia which ruined [it] for those who want to have Islamic rule. Then came groups like al-Shaabab to defend Islam.
---------------
The interview received many negative responses from Muslims.
Abid Raja: "Radical Islamists like Mohammad aren't just against gays, they're also against the liberal Muslims forces which recognize the human value of gays. The same punishment he wants to give gays, he would also apply to Muslims like me - those he calls apostates. It's our task as Muslims to confront Mohammad and his like-minded people."
Raja says he thinks Wahabbists have a double moral. They say they're against democracy, but enjoy all the rights democracy gives. On Friday they participated in a demonstration, and enjoy the right to express themselves freely. They wouldn't have that possibility in Saudi Arabia.
Raja says he would like to see Mohammad try his 'Muslim' work in Saudi Arabia instead. He would either be lynched or imprisoned, because they don't have the same rights as we have here in Norway. Mohammad knows that and threfore he continues to live here so he can use the same democratic rights he's fighting against. And that's the big paradox.
Raja says Mohammad is not representative. It's just a few dozen of Norway's 120,000 Muslims. They can be compared to Norwegian Neo-Nazis. Most White Norwegians aren't Neo-Nazis, and most Norwegian Muslims have nothing to do with Mohammad and this type of statements.
Tina Shagufta Kornmo of the Equality, Integration, Diversity network (LIM), says Mohammad's statements are shocking.
"It's unbelievable that people can grow up in a democracy like Norway and think something like that. It seems like he's talking on behalf of many Muslims, something is also very problematic. The signal he sends to the Norwegian population are distressing, and many think Muslims think the same as he does."
General Secretary of the Islamic Council, Shoaib Sultan, rejects the idea that Mohammad is representative, either of the Islamic Council's member organizations or regular Muslims.
Basim Ghozlan, head of the Islamic Union says those are very serious and provocative statements, and that he knows he was angry to read them. "There are certainly some who adopted such views, but I feel very confident that the great, grat majority of Norwegian Muslims reject such viewpoints."
Ghozlan says that Mohammad is not mature and needs schooling in Islam. He should get better acquainted with Islamic customs and traditions, have contact with society around him and learn how society functions. Education, also in Sharia, can be good for him, says Ghozlan. "This is general advice for most of those have mistaken attitudes. Education helps put them on the right track.
Ghozlan says he's had contact with Mohammad and that they've had discussions about society-related questions, about view, principles and moral values.
Muslim convert Youssef Assidiq, who also spoke at the demonstration, rejects the idea that Mohammad represent the 3,000 Muslims who demonstrated in any way. "He's shooting both himself and 3,000 others in the foot with his statements. We live in Norway and then we follow Norwegian law." If he can't accept that, Assidiq says, he can always get on a plane.
Assidiq says the demonstrators gasped during Mohammad's speech, and that Mohammad had ruined the entire demonstration.
"There are crazies everywhere, and I can't rule out that he represents some Muslims. But if there's somebody who shares his view, they should come out and stand for them. I don't think there are many declarations of support, and I know no other Muslims, who stand for this type of thoughts."
--------------------
On Tuesday, Dagbladet journalists wanted to speak to Mohammad. Since he wasn't home they waited outside. When he showed up, he started threatening them, telling them that if they don't go, they'll be shot. When they repeated that they wanted to speak to him, he said "there are people on the way here to shoot you now."
On Wednesday afternoon he was detained by the Larvik police. Mohammad was detained when he came to the police station to complain that he himself was subjected to threats, both by phone and SMS, according to Magnar Pedersen of the Vestfold police. According to the police Mohammad was threatened that he would be killed and his house would be stoned.
He was interrogated and then released. Mohammed admits he made the threats, but claims he didn't realize they were journalists and was reacting to the threats he was getting.
--------------------
In other Muhammad-cartoon related news, Shuaib Hasna of the British Islamic Shariah Council told Iranian TV channel al-Alem that the 57 Muslim countries should pressure Norway and Denmark to stop such stupidity and degrading illustrations. He wants Europeans to protests against the printing of cartoons.
SMS messages circulating in the Muslim community in Norway claim that over 400 shops now refuse to sell Dagbladet. Politician Abid Q.Raja, who got those messages, says he's read of many shops in Oslo and Akershus that removed the paper from their newsstands. According to Abid Q. Raja, this includes also Norwegian shopkeepers who are responding to the printing of the cartoon.
Around 150 participated in the Dagbladet 'dialog-meeting' this evening.
Lars Helle, Dagbladet editor, said there was no intention to provoke and that it was part of a big misunderstanding and therefore important to continue with dialog.
Per Yousef Assadiq, a Muslim convert who was involved in organizing the Friday demonstration, was upset that nobody noticed the calm demonstrators, and that the media only focused on Mohyeldeen Mohammad. "I didn't become a Muslim in order to be persecuted,' he said.
Everybody on the panel agreed that freedom of speech was important in Norway, but the question was posed whether Dagbladet was aware of the attention this would get.
Sources: Aftenposten; VG 1, 2, 3; NRK; Klassekampen 1, 2 (Norwegian)
Mohyeldeen Mohammad (24), the Norwegian-Iranian who threatened Norway with its own 9/11 during the anti-Dagbladet demonstration last week, remained in the news this week.
On Tuesday Mohammad was interviewed in Communist newspaper Klassekampen and said gays deserved to be stoned. Then Dagbladet lodged a complaint against him for threatening to kill two of their journalists, after which the police detained and interrogated him today.
Mohammad has been studying Sharia law in Saudi Arabia since last fall. He was supposed to return to Saudi Arabia this week, but apparently decided to stay.
See also:
* Norway: 61.5% of Muslims think demonstrations are unreasonable, 44% see signs of radicalization
* Norway: Allah will decide if it's peaceful
--------------------
The Klassekampen interview:
Q: Why did you use PST's threat-estimate in your speech? Wasn't this a demonstration against Dagbladet's printing of the pig illustration?
A: I demonstrate against the authorities, Dagbladet, the media and all those who lead this crusade against Islam. The media is also part of this.
Q: You also said on Friday that Muslims should participate in 'your democracy'. But isn't that exactly what you're doing when you participate in a demonstration?
A: No, since the demonstration was a way to respond to the attack which is legal. In other countries we would have used other methods. Democracy has no place in Islam, because Islam forbids man-made laws. The only one who can come with laws is Allah.
Q: You prefer a dictatorship?
A: No, Sharia isn't a dictatorship. Those are the best and just lows. But today nobody governs by God's laws. Those who claim that they govern by Sharia, don't do that.
Q: Many Muslims disagree with you that Islam is incompatible with democracy?
A: Then they said that despite what it says in the Koran. They're either hypocrites or apostates.
Q: I saw on Facebook that you gave support to Jihadists in Afghanistan and Somalia, among others. Does that mean that you, for example, support al-Shabaab? (Al-Shaabab is considered a Somali terrorist organization by Western intelligence organizations, including PST)
A: Yes, if they are Muslims. If they do wrong, it's between Allah and them.
Q: They've stoned a person to death, among other things.
A: As far as I know that person was gay, and that is the punishment he deserves.
Q: That's an extreme standpoint?
A: That is the standpoint every Muslim has to follow by his religion
Q: Muslims in Somalia are now fleeing because of al-Shaabab?
A: We should look at the real reason that they're fleeing. It's not because of al-Shaabab, but because America supported the invasion of Somalia which ruined [it] for those who want to have Islamic rule. Then came groups like al-Shaabab to defend Islam.
---------------
The interview received many negative responses from Muslims.
Abid Raja: "Radical Islamists like Mohammad aren't just against gays, they're also against the liberal Muslims forces which recognize the human value of gays. The same punishment he wants to give gays, he would also apply to Muslims like me - those he calls apostates. It's our task as Muslims to confront Mohammad and his like-minded people."
Raja says he thinks Wahabbists have a double moral. They say they're against democracy, but enjoy all the rights democracy gives. On Friday they participated in a demonstration, and enjoy the right to express themselves freely. They wouldn't have that possibility in Saudi Arabia.
Raja says he would like to see Mohammad try his 'Muslim' work in Saudi Arabia instead. He would either be lynched or imprisoned, because they don't have the same rights as we have here in Norway. Mohammad knows that and threfore he continues to live here so he can use the same democratic rights he's fighting against. And that's the big paradox.
Raja says Mohammad is not representative. It's just a few dozen of Norway's 120,000 Muslims. They can be compared to Norwegian Neo-Nazis. Most White Norwegians aren't Neo-Nazis, and most Norwegian Muslims have nothing to do with Mohammad and this type of statements.
Tina Shagufta Kornmo of the Equality, Integration, Diversity network (LIM), says Mohammad's statements are shocking.
"It's unbelievable that people can grow up in a democracy like Norway and think something like that. It seems like he's talking on behalf of many Muslims, something is also very problematic. The signal he sends to the Norwegian population are distressing, and many think Muslims think the same as he does."
General Secretary of the Islamic Council, Shoaib Sultan, rejects the idea that Mohammad is representative, either of the Islamic Council's member organizations or regular Muslims.
Basim Ghozlan, head of the Islamic Union says those are very serious and provocative statements, and that he knows he was angry to read them. "There are certainly some who adopted such views, but I feel very confident that the great, grat majority of Norwegian Muslims reject such viewpoints."
Ghozlan says that Mohammad is not mature and needs schooling in Islam. He should get better acquainted with Islamic customs and traditions, have contact with society around him and learn how society functions. Education, also in Sharia, can be good for him, says Ghozlan. "This is general advice for most of those have mistaken attitudes. Education helps put them on the right track.
Ghozlan says he's had contact with Mohammad and that they've had discussions about society-related questions, about view, principles and moral values.
Muslim convert Youssef Assidiq, who also spoke at the demonstration, rejects the idea that Mohammad represent the 3,000 Muslims who demonstrated in any way. "He's shooting both himself and 3,000 others in the foot with his statements. We live in Norway and then we follow Norwegian law." If he can't accept that, Assidiq says, he can always get on a plane.
Assidiq says the demonstrators gasped during Mohammad's speech, and that Mohammad had ruined the entire demonstration.
"There are crazies everywhere, and I can't rule out that he represents some Muslims. But if there's somebody who shares his view, they should come out and stand for them. I don't think there are many declarations of support, and I know no other Muslims, who stand for this type of thoughts."
--------------------
On Tuesday, Dagbladet journalists wanted to speak to Mohammad. Since he wasn't home they waited outside. When he showed up, he started threatening them, telling them that if they don't go, they'll be shot. When they repeated that they wanted to speak to him, he said "there are people on the way here to shoot you now."
On Wednesday afternoon he was detained by the Larvik police. Mohammad was detained when he came to the police station to complain that he himself was subjected to threats, both by phone and SMS, according to Magnar Pedersen of the Vestfold police. According to the police Mohammad was threatened that he would be killed and his house would be stoned.
He was interrogated and then released. Mohammed admits he made the threats, but claims he didn't realize they were journalists and was reacting to the threats he was getting.
--------------------
In other Muhammad-cartoon related news, Shuaib Hasna of the British Islamic Shariah Council told Iranian TV channel al-Alem that the 57 Muslim countries should pressure Norway and Denmark to stop such stupidity and degrading illustrations. He wants Europeans to protests against the printing of cartoons.
SMS messages circulating in the Muslim community in Norway claim that over 400 shops now refuse to sell Dagbladet. Politician Abid Q.Raja, who got those messages, says he's read of many shops in Oslo and Akershus that removed the paper from their newsstands. According to Abid Q. Raja, this includes also Norwegian shopkeepers who are responding to the printing of the cartoon.
Around 150 participated in the Dagbladet 'dialog-meeting' this evening.
Lars Helle, Dagbladet editor, said there was no intention to provoke and that it was part of a big misunderstanding and therefore important to continue with dialog.
Per Yousef Assadiq, a Muslim convert who was involved in organizing the Friday demonstration, was upset that nobody noticed the calm demonstrators, and that the media only focused on Mohyeldeen Mohammad. "I didn't become a Muslim in order to be persecuted,' he said.
Everybody on the panel agreed that freedom of speech was important in Norway, but the question was posed whether Dagbladet was aware of the attention this would get.
Sources: Aftenposten; VG 1, 2, 3; NRK; Klassekampen 1, 2 (Norwegian)
Gouda: Municipality 'bought off' criminals
Gouda: Municipality 'bought off' criminals
Young Moroccan criminals who were involved in the snow ball incidents in Gouda, the Netherlands, were 'bought off' by the municipality in order to keep them off the streets around New Year's.
They got all together 2,250 Euro in an envelop pushed at them to organize a party of their own, says the municipal VVD faction on the basis of statement by the youth from the Gouda neighborhood of Oosterwei. Several dozen Moroccans ambushed people with snowballs, raised barriers and committed robberies.
In order to keep the youth quiet, they were offered cash by the municpality. The VVD in Gouda is furious because the municipality money was paid without any procedures. "Above all it's not sensible. You are, after all, rewarding criminal behavior," says the VVD faction.
Gouda confirms that money was given. "We wanted to just prevent the issue from escalating," was the response by the municipality. "The youth themselves presented a budget for the party. They had to say how much money they needed for hiring a DJ, and something to eat and drink. For us it was important that it would remain calm in the neighborhood around New Year's time."
According to the municipality, they had to act quickly. A spokesperson said that the money was well spent and that everybody was happy afterward. They had given five Moroccans a book token as thanks.
Source: Telegraaf (Dutch)
Young Moroccan criminals who were involved in the snow ball incidents in Gouda, the Netherlands, were 'bought off' by the municipality in order to keep them off the streets around New Year's.
They got all together 2,250 Euro in an envelop pushed at them to organize a party of their own, says the municipal VVD faction on the basis of statement by the youth from the Gouda neighborhood of Oosterwei. Several dozen Moroccans ambushed people with snowballs, raised barriers and committed robberies.
In order to keep the youth quiet, they were offered cash by the municpality. The VVD in Gouda is furious because the municipality money was paid without any procedures. "Above all it's not sensible. You are, after all, rewarding criminal behavior," says the VVD faction.
Gouda confirms that money was given. "We wanted to just prevent the issue from escalating," was the response by the municipality. "The youth themselves presented a budget for the party. They had to say how much money they needed for hiring a DJ, and something to eat and drink. For us it was important that it would remain calm in the neighborhood around New Year's time."
According to the municipality, they had to act quickly. A spokesperson said that the money was well spent and that everybody was happy afterward. They had given five Moroccans a book token as thanks.
Source: Telegraaf (Dutch)
Labels:
Crime,
Location: Netherlands
Netherlands: VVD party against transportation to religious schools
Netherlands: VVD party against transportation to religious schools
Municipalities shouldn't be the ones paying for the transportation of students to Reformed or Islamic schools outside the region, says the VDD party. The party wants to end travel allowances for parents who chose to send their children to schools further away for religious reasons.
VVD-parliamentarian Ineke Dezentjé fears that the allowance is at the expense of transporting handicapped students to a school appropriate for them. "It should be spent on children who really need it." She knows of municipalities where handicapped children as young as 9 have to go to school by bicycle or bus, since there's not enough money to transport everybody.
Source: Telegraaf (Dutch)
Municipalities shouldn't be the ones paying for the transportation of students to Reformed or Islamic schools outside the region, says the VDD party. The party wants to end travel allowances for parents who chose to send their children to schools further away for religious reasons.
VVD-parliamentarian Ineke Dezentjé fears that the allowance is at the expense of transporting handicapped students to a school appropriate for them. "It should be spent on children who really need it." She knows of municipalities where handicapped children as young as 9 have to go to school by bicycle or bus, since there's not enough money to transport everybody.
Source: Telegraaf (Dutch)
Brussels: Vlaams Belang wants action against illegal sheep slaughter
Brussels: Vlaams Belang wants action against illegal sheep slaughter
Close to 13 ton of slaughter refuse from illegally slaughtered ship were cleared out by the Brussels municipal cleaning department Net Brussel after Id ul-Adha last year. This was the response of the Brussels State Secretary Emir Kir to a written question by Brussels Vlaams Belang fraction chairperson Dominiek Lootens.
Net Brussel removed 5.68 ton slaughter waste and 6.76 ton of hides from the public roads in Brussels at the end of 2009.
An estimated 20,000 sheep were slaughtered in the Brussels Region during Id ul-Adha. 1,993 of those were in various recognized slaughterhouses. Most of the sacrificial animals were therefore ritually slaughtered illegally at home, according to the party.
Vlaams Belang wants that the various responsible authorities would act urgently against these illegal practices. Those who violate the law should be located and punished, according to the party.
Source: HLN (Dutch)
Close to 13 ton of slaughter refuse from illegally slaughtered ship were cleared out by the Brussels municipal cleaning department Net Brussel after Id ul-Adha last year. This was the response of the Brussels State Secretary Emir Kir to a written question by Brussels Vlaams Belang fraction chairperson Dominiek Lootens.
Net Brussel removed 5.68 ton slaughter waste and 6.76 ton of hides from the public roads in Brussels at the end of 2009.
An estimated 20,000 sheep were slaughtered in the Brussels Region during Id ul-Adha. 1,993 of those were in various recognized slaughterhouses. Most of the sacrificial animals were therefore ritually slaughtered illegally at home, according to the party.
Vlaams Belang wants that the various responsible authorities would act urgently against these illegal practices. Those who violate the law should be located and punished, according to the party.
Source: HLN (Dutch)
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Location: Belgium
Brussels/London: British Council debates on European Muslims
Brussels/London: British Council debates on European Muslims
Europe is Failing its Muslims
Tuesday, 23rd February 2010, 6:45 PM - 8:30 PM
Cadogan Hall, London
The British Council in conjunction with Intelligence Squared organise a free debate:
We hear endlessly in the media that European Muslims are failing to integrate; that they should stop wearing the burka and building mosques with minarets; that like the rest of us, they must learn to tolerate insults to their religion however painful that may be. But isn’t the boot really on the other foot? By constantly criticising their traditions and beliefs and insisting they be more like the rest of us, aren’t we breaching our own hallowed principle of live and let live? Far from Muslims failing to be good Europeans, isn’t it Europe that is acting illiberally and giving a raw deal to its Muslim citizens?
(more)
Europe's Muslim Women: under cover and under pressure?
British Council debate organised in partnership with the European Policy Centre and the European Muslim Network.
Tuesday, 16th March 2010, 10-12 hrs, Brussels, Hotel Stanhope
The integration of European Muslims is the subject of intense debate across the European Union and within Europe's Muslim community. Discussions get especially intense - and often acrimonious - when it comes to the integration of Europe's Muslim women, with many policymakers and politicians denouncing the decision by some women to wear the head scarf or burqa and the prevailing perception of Muslim women as victims of a repressive religion.
Europe's Muslim women are undoubtedly pulled in many directions: by traditions which often dictate conservative dress codes and conduct, strong familial and cultural obligations, but also pressure from the larger community to be seen as visibly liberated, modern and empowered.
The debate – and the stereotypes – ignore, however, the more complex economic, social and cultural challenges facing millions of European Muslim women as they struggle to become active citizens of the countries they live in. Could it be that, despite the clichés and the hype, Muslim women often share the same aspirations and face the same struggle for better education, jobs and social recognition as their non-Muslim counterparts?
To address these relevant issues as part of the Our Shared Europe project, we will hear from a panel of guest speakers. The debate will be chaired by Shada Islam, Senior Programme Executive at the European Policy Centre (EPC).
(more)
Europe is Failing its Muslims
Tuesday, 23rd February 2010, 6:45 PM - 8:30 PM
Cadogan Hall, London
The British Council in conjunction with Intelligence Squared organise a free debate:
We hear endlessly in the media that European Muslims are failing to integrate; that they should stop wearing the burka and building mosques with minarets; that like the rest of us, they must learn to tolerate insults to their religion however painful that may be. But isn’t the boot really on the other foot? By constantly criticising their traditions and beliefs and insisting they be more like the rest of us, aren’t we breaching our own hallowed principle of live and let live? Far from Muslims failing to be good Europeans, isn’t it Europe that is acting illiberally and giving a raw deal to its Muslim citizens?
(more)
Europe's Muslim Women: under cover and under pressure?
British Council debate organised in partnership with the European Policy Centre and the European Muslim Network.
Tuesday, 16th March 2010, 10-12 hrs, Brussels, Hotel Stanhope
The integration of European Muslims is the subject of intense debate across the European Union and within Europe's Muslim community. Discussions get especially intense - and often acrimonious - when it comes to the integration of Europe's Muslim women, with many policymakers and politicians denouncing the decision by some women to wear the head scarf or burqa and the prevailing perception of Muslim women as victims of a repressive religion.
Europe's Muslim women are undoubtedly pulled in many directions: by traditions which often dictate conservative dress codes and conduct, strong familial and cultural obligations, but also pressure from the larger community to be seen as visibly liberated, modern and empowered.
The debate – and the stereotypes – ignore, however, the more complex economic, social and cultural challenges facing millions of European Muslim women as they struggle to become active citizens of the countries they live in. Could it be that, despite the clichés and the hype, Muslim women often share the same aspirations and face the same struggle for better education, jobs and social recognition as their non-Muslim counterparts?
To address these relevant issues as part of the Our Shared Europe project, we will hear from a panel of guest speakers. The debate will be chaired by Shada Islam, Senior Programme Executive at the European Policy Centre (EPC).
(more)
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Denmark: Catholics upset at being ignored
Denmark: Catholics upset at being ignored
An interesting point here is the claim that 75% of all new Danish citizens are Christian.
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When Islam and integration fill the news again and again on DR, it's both noteworthy and objectionable, that major Christian festival are often not mentioned at all. That according to several Catholics in Denmark, who today (Ash Wednesday) attack DR's way of prioritizing religious issues.
"DR informs about Islam and ignores Christianity completely," says Catholic priest Stephen Holm.
Last August he urged DR to use this year's Ash Wednesday to tell Danes about the Christian fast in the evening's TV newscast. His call is backed by the Catholics' spokesperson, Niels Messerschmidt.
"We live in a secular society. Therefore I think it would be informative to be informed about what the biggest faith society in the world is actually celebrating."
But DR rejects the request in a written answer, which say that "Christian festivals are not news for very many Danes."
"On the contrary, there are many of the TV news viewers who don't know that the Muslims' fasting month starts," adds Henrik Faurby Birch, editor for DR media, and points out that DR, via it's public service contract, is bound to 'promote integration in Denmark."
Karsten Fledelius, lecturer at Copenhagen University, doesn't buy that argument.
"DR should point out that there is fasting in Christianity, and it doesn't only belong to Muslims," says Karsten Fledelius.
Hans Henrik Lund, headed of the Churches integration service is also surprised at DR.
"A study we've done shows that up to 75% of all New-Danes have a Christian background, but that it looks as if they think it's more important to mention special Muslim traditions."
(more)
Source: Kristeligt Dagblad (Danish)
An interesting point here is the claim that 75% of all new Danish citizens are Christian.
-------------
When Islam and integration fill the news again and again on DR, it's both noteworthy and objectionable, that major Christian festival are often not mentioned at all. That according to several Catholics in Denmark, who today (Ash Wednesday) attack DR's way of prioritizing religious issues.
"DR informs about Islam and ignores Christianity completely," says Catholic priest Stephen Holm.
Last August he urged DR to use this year's Ash Wednesday to tell Danes about the Christian fast in the evening's TV newscast. His call is backed by the Catholics' spokesperson, Niels Messerschmidt.
"We live in a secular society. Therefore I think it would be informative to be informed about what the biggest faith society in the world is actually celebrating."
But DR rejects the request in a written answer, which say that "Christian festivals are not news for very many Danes."
"On the contrary, there are many of the TV news viewers who don't know that the Muslims' fasting month starts," adds Henrik Faurby Birch, editor for DR media, and points out that DR, via it's public service contract, is bound to 'promote integration in Denmark."
Karsten Fledelius, lecturer at Copenhagen University, doesn't buy that argument.
"DR should point out that there is fasting in Christianity, and it doesn't only belong to Muslims," says Karsten Fledelius.
Hans Henrik Lund, headed of the Churches integration service is also surprised at DR.
"A study we've done shows that up to 75% of all New-Danes have a Christian background, but that it looks as if they think it's more important to mention special Muslim traditions."
(more)
Source: Kristeligt Dagblad (Danish)
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