Ramadan in times of Covid-19 in Germany: new social initiatives, old political fault-lines

Like Christian Easter and Jewish Passover celebrations a few weeks ago, in Germany the Muslim holy month of Ramadan is taking place this year in the shadow of Covid-19. This means that much of the regular festive programme is falling flat: mosques have been closed since mid-March, meaning that believers cannot pray or socialise at…

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“Pray at home”: French Muslims facing corona-virus pandemic

As Europe is now the epicentre of the coronavirus, France is amongst top three European countries struck by the global pandemic. Monday 16th of March in the evening, French President Emmanuel Macron made a public allocution on TV in which he repeated six times: “we are at war” (with the virus). He then listed several public…

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In the midst of corona 19, the decision to close mosques is proving difficult for some.

In the midst of changing government policy as it deals with Covid 19, the United Kingdom has found itself in the midst of confusion as instructions has changed and ranged from continuing as normal, social distancing, keeping schools open, then closing them and the enforcement of the ban on bars and restaurants. While a number…

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Connecting with believers in testing times: German religious communities in the face of Covid-19

Germany has one of the highest numbers of confirmed cases of the novel Corona virus (Covid-19) in Europe. Emergency measures designed to slow the spread of the disease mean that ordinary public life has ground to a halt. In a raft of sweeping steps announced on March 16, the German federal and regional governments prohibited…

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Regent’s Park Mosque attack prompts questions on the security of mosques

An attack in London Central Mosque, one of the United Kingdom’s most prominent mosques based near Regent’s Park in the capital, has prompted further concerns around the safety of mosques. Daniel Horton, a 29 year old homeless man, has appeared in court on Saturday charged with previous bodily harm and possession of a bladed article,…

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