London: Festival marks East London Mosque centenary

London: Festival marks East London Mosque centenary

(East London Mosque, Wikipedia)

Moscow: 55,000 gather for Eid ul-Fitr celebration

Moscow: 55,000 gather for Eid ul-Fitr celebration

(more pictures and videos at EnglishRussia, Bivouac-ID and RT)

Switzerland: Airline caterer to make most meals halal

Switzerland: Airline caterer to make most meals halal

(Gate Gourmet, Wikipedia)

Sweden: Sweden Democrats politician wants to ban practice of Islam

Sweden: Sweden Democrats politician wants to ban practice of Islam

Via The Local:

A local politician from the far-right Sweden Democrats argued during an election debate on Thursday that Muslims shouldn't be allowed to practice their faith in Strömsund in northwestern Sweden.

“I don’t think someone should be allowed to be a practicing Muslim in Strömsund,” Sweden Democrat Mikael Säbom said on Thursday during a live election debate broadcast on Sveriges Radio Jämtland.

Since 2006, the town of just over 4,000 residents has taken in scores of Muslims from Uzbekistan in the wake of a 2005 crackdown by Uzbek government troops in Andijan in which hundreds of protesters were killed, although the exact number of casualties remains in dispute.

At the time of the incident, known as the Andijan massacre, the Uzbek government claimed the demonstrations were organized by the Islamic radicals.

Strömsund has seen a rise in hate crimes, from racist graffiti to the burning down of a mosque in the city two years ago.

(more)

Paris: Ramadan Nights

Paris: Ramadan Nights



Via RFI:

As the Muslim holy month of Ramadan draws to a close, Paris has been burning the midnight oil by way of a festival that hopes to tighten the gap between Islam and the West. This year marks the fifth edition of Les Veillées du Ramadan, or Ramadan Nights festival. The theme "Muslims in Europe" is heartily explored through art, music, workshops, debates and, not least of all, food.

The aim is to promote exchanges between Europe’s 32 million Muslims and their non-Muslim neighbours. It’s about tolerance – and showing how Islam has continually fed European art, culture and philosophy throughout the ages.

It all kicked off 10 days ago at l'Institut des Cultures d'Islam (the ICI), an unassuming venue tucked away in the Goutte d'Or (drop of gold) neighbourhood in Paris's 18th arrondissement. Thanks to the area’s large numbers of African and Arab residents, it is also known as Little Africa.

(more)

Florence: Blueprints unveiled for new mosque

Florence: Blueprints unveiled for new mosque


Via AKI:

Muslim leaders in Florence have unveiled a blueprint for a mosque that aims to blend in with the city's renaissance architecture, with minarets that resemble the cathedral's bell tower designed by Giotto.

"Florence needs to have a mosque that rivals the city's historic beauty and cultural wealth," said the central Italian art city's imam, Elzir Izzedine.

"The project is almost complete and will soon be presented to the mayor of Florence, Matteo Renzi to plan its construction, Izzedine added.

(more)

Germany: New anti-Islam 'Freedom' party

Germany: New anti-Islam 'Freedom' party

René Stadtkewitz, a Berlin parliament member, founded a new party, Die Freiheit (Freedom). The party is anti-Islam and calls for more freedom and democracy.

Denmark: Police can't identify terror suspect (UPDATE: Jyllands-Posten not target)

Denmark: Police can't identify terror suspect

Kosovo: Violent clashes between Albanians, Serbs

Kosovo: Violent clashes between Albanians, Serbs

Radio Srbija reports seven people were injured, some by firearms.

Via RFE/RL:

Ethnic Serbs and Albanians clashed in the ethnically divided city of Mitrovica in northern Kosovo.

Trouble started when youth from the mainly ethnic Albanian south of the city celebrated Turkey's victory over Serbia at the World Basketball Championship.

Chanting "Turkey, Turkey," the youth tried to cross a bridge into the mainly ethnic Serbian northern part of the city. That sparked stone throwing and local and European Union police had to intervene to keep the two sides apart.

(more)

9/11 Roundup: Terror attacks, Ground Zero Mosque, Koran burning

9/11 Roundup: Terror attacks, Ground Zero Mosque, Koran burning

(Geert Wilders in NY)