Issues in Politics
German charity excludes ‘foreigners’ from food distribution, sparking accusations of racism
A German charity organisation distributing food to the poor has been accused of racist bias after one of its branches excluded “foreigners” from its distribution activities. The organisation in question, named Tafel, essentially functions as a food bank, giving away groceries for free to the needy. Founded in 1993, the organisation has steadily grown, along…
- Discrimination and Xenophobia
- Education and Schooling
- Gender Issues and the Hijab/Burqa
- Immigration and Integration
- Interfaith and Multicultural Engagement
- Islamic Practice
- Issues in Politics
- Muslim Advocacy and Organizations
- Public Opinion and Islam in the Media
- Radicalization
- United Kingdom
- Youth and Pop Culture
‘The Silence of the Liberals’ criticises the British left-wing for damaging the voices of progressive Muslims, but this criticism lacks a nuance
Nick Cohen discusses how the British left-wing fail to support, and sometimes undermine, liberal progressive Muslims who are fighting inequalities endorsed by culture and religion in their community. But his argument fails to appreciate the nuances of the current debates surrounding British Muslim communities.
French law against religious symbols in parliament sparks criticism
France’s parliament has banned lawmakers from wearing any religious symbols under a new “neutral” dress code. Members of the National Assembly must avoid “the wearing of conspicuous religious symbols, uniforms, logos or commercial messages or political slogans.” Any expression made in the chamber must be spoken, said François de Rugy, the president of the National Assembly. In the…
New Statesman criticised for “fanning the flames of sectarianism” with its latest cover, ‘Sunni vs. Shia’
The cover, which is the fourth of the British magazine to feature the title since 2014, has been criticised by experts and social media users for “flattening” the geo-political complexities of the Middle East through promoting the sectarian narrative.
Spectator article criticises reaction to ban on primary school girls wearing headscarves
A January article from the Spectator discusses the emergence of two distinct Muslim cultures in Britain. Cohen writes of the reaction to St Stephen’s primary school in Newham banning the wearing of the headscarf for girls under the age of eight, drawing links to issues of Muslim engagement with public life and counter-extremism efforts in the UK.