Netherlands: No 'honour killing' protection for 17-week foetus

Netherlands: No 'honour killing' protection for 17-week foetus

Via RNW:

A juvenile court judge has refused to honour a request by the Child Protection Council to place a 17-week-old foetus under supervision, Dutch daily AD reports. The council was seeking protection for an 18-year-old unwed mother against a potential honour killing by her family.

Only unborn children older than 24 weeks are granted legal rights like protection under Dutch law , the court ruled. The mother’s identity has not been revealed.

While she was still a minor, Youth Welfare had her stay at a secret location. On turning 18, however, she moved close to her parents, saying she had nothing to fear.

The Council, however, insists she is at risk: “The family will do anything to stop the pregnancy. If she refuses to abort the baby, the family will not shrink from kicking her in the belly, mistreating her or even stabbing her.”

(source)

Italy: Higher Judicial Council OKs right to wear veil in court

Italy: Higher Judicial Council OKs right to wear veil in court

Via AGI:

The Higher Judicial Council (CSM) has ruled that the veil may be worn on religious grounds in Italian courts. In their plenary session this morning, the majority approved a resolution establishing that "full respect must be assured to to those behaviours which, without causing disturbance to the regular and correct court proceedings, constitute a legitimate exercise of the right to profess one's own religion, including those precepts that relate to clothing and other outward signs."

(source)

Germany: Anti-Islamization float in carnival

Germany: Anti-Islamization float in carnival

A papier-mache frog with the text on its tongue 'Islamization' and a butterfly with 'Arab Spring' on a float is pictured during the traditional Rose Monday carnival parade in the western German city of Duesseldorf on Feb. 20, 2012. (Via International Business times h/t Islamophobia Watch)

France: Politician angered by attack on Zaman office

France: Politician angered by attack on Zaman office

Zaman's offices in Paris

Germany: Muslims question Merkel's choice of president

Germany: Muslims question Merkel's choice of president

Sweden: Protesters throw eggs at Muhammad cartoonist

Sweden: Protesters throw eggs at Muhammad cartoonist

A Swedish artist who angered Muslims by depicting the Prophet Muhammad as a dog was pelted with eggs during a university lecture when he presented another drawing of Islam's revered prophet, police and the artist said Wednesday.

After Vilks was whisked away by security, the attackers started shouting Allah Akbar (video)

France: Sarkozy attacks Le Pen for 'artificial controversy' over halal row

France: Sarkozy attacks Le Pen for 'artificial controversy' over halal row

Via the Telegraph:

President Nicolas Sarkozy has accused his far-Right election rival Marine Le Pen of creating an artificial controversy over her claim all meat in the Paris region is prepared using Islamic halal traditions.

(...)

Campaigning on Tuesday in Rungis, home of the main wholesale food market serving the Paris metropolitan area, Sarkozy accused National Front leader Miss Le Pen of getting her facts wrong and creating an artificial controversy.

"There is no controversy here. Every year we consume 200,000 tons of meat in the Paris region and 2.5 per cent of it is kosher or halal," Mr Sarkozy said.

(source)

Switzerland: Sharp increase in crime due to Tunisian refugees

Switzerland: Sharp increase in crime due to Tunisian refugees

Via 20min (French):

Olivier Guéniat, head of the Jura cantonal police, told newspaper Le Matin of the link between the massive increase in Tunisian asylum seekers in 2011 (up by 619% compared with 2010) and the sharp increase in crimes. The number of car burglaries doubled in May and June 2011, compared with the average until then, then increased to 6 times that amount from July to January 2012. Meanwhile, the number of Tunisians who arrived after the Arab Spring and were identified by DNA tests for these offenses, increased by 200% from November 2011 to January 2012.

Guéniat, who is considered close to the Socialists, said the problem was specific and economical, though at the same time unacceptable. The refugees have a hopeless future at home, and their daily allowance do not even allow them three cups of coffee. He refused to stigmatize a community of immigrants.

UK: Ministers pledge end of multiculturalism

UK: Ministers pledge end of multiculturalism

Eric Pickles, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government

Dagestan: Religious extremism a form of youth rebellion

Dagestan: Religious extremism a form of youth rebellion

Via the Boston Globe:

Alisa Ganieva, 26, wrote about her native Dagestan, a mountainous region rocked by Islamist insurgency. She told me that religious extremism has become a form of rebellion among the youth, as fashionable as a trendy nightclub.

“In the 1990s, religion became popular in Russia,’’ she said. After the fall of communism, “people finally got an opportunity to pray. Young people went to Egypt to study Islam. When they returned to the motherland, they started teaching their parents. Now girls my age want to wear the hijab and their mothers don’t allow it, so they hide their hijab in their bags.’’

(source)