News and Analysis on Islam in Europe and North America
Reports about the possible establishment of first-ever Sharia courts in Scotland are sparking debate among proponents and critics of a paralegal legal system. “Those using Sharia law are fully entitled to religious freedom as long as it doesn’t conflict with criminal law,” said Aamer Anwar, a civil rights lawyer in Glasgow. The Church of Scotland
The city of Naples is hosting a film festival featuring short films, documentaries, cartoons, and women’s films from Morocco. The festival is also organizing debates, book readings, talks, musical events, food sampling, and other exhibitions related to Morocco and Moroccan culture. Four main sections divide the festival – women’s cinema, documentaries, fiction, and Berber cinema.
In two recent legal decisions, head-to-toe burqas have been banned from state-sponsored French language classes. Louis Schweitzer, the head of France’s anti-discrimination agency told La Croix daily that “Religious freedom is not absolute” and they authorities have sought “the most reasonable compromise.” His agency known as Halde ruled last month to ban burqa and niqab
Two doctors charged with trying to bomb a Glasgow airport and London’s West End will be portrayed by prosecutors as terrorists in thrall to a fundamental form of Islam, a jury in London heard Wednesday. Justice Colin Mackay also instructed jurors to set aside their prejudices and prepare for “an interesting case.” Bilal Abdulla, 29,
Muslims in the city of Sassuolo in northern Italy protested against what they claim is the town council’s refusal to allow the local Muslim community to build a mosque. “Tomorrow we will perform Friday prayers in the street, to protest against the municipality for not allowing us to have a mosque,” said spokesperson Hisham Abu