Issues in Politics
French Council of the Muslim Faith Vice President Anouar Kbibech responds to Valls comments on Salafism
French Council of the Muslim Faith (CFCM) vice president Anouar Kbibech responded to recent comments made by Manuel Valls, who suggested outlawing Salafism. For Kbibech, such a prohibition “is like banning unemployment, it’s not so simple.” “It’s at once unrealistic and impractical,” he stated. “Mr. Valls, who was prime minister when this idea was put…
Politicians react to Valls suggestion to ban Salafism
In a recent interview following the Carcassonne and Trèbes attacks, Manuel Valls stated: “I think we must take a strong, political, symbolic act, a ban on Salafism.” His statements prompted swift reactions from other politicians. “I am astonished that Manuel Valls, who had had the opportunity, in his previous functions, to say that a certain…
Germany’s new Interior Minister reopens old debates on Islam, catering to the far-right
Germany’s new Interior Minister has entered his office with a bang. Speaking to Germany’s leading tabloid, Bild, Horst Seehofer from the Christian Social Union (CSU) party triumphantly announced that Islam was “not part of Germany” or “did not belong to Germany” (Der Islam gehört nicht zu Deutschland), depending on the translation chosen.1 This quote made…
Lawsuits brought against NYC for forcing arrested Muslim women remove hijabs spark debates about religious freedom
Lawsuits brought against New York City by several Muslim women in the last few months, which claim their constitutional rights were violated when they were forced to remove their hijabs while in police custody, have raised debates about measures to protect religious freedom in public and private institutions.
New German cabinet criticised for its lack of diversity
After months of arduous negotiations following September 2017’s federal elections, the new German government was sworn in on March 14. Complex personnel choices After the cornerstones of the coalition deal had been agreed upon in early February, the three participating parties – Angela Merkel’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU), its conservative Bavarian sister party CSU, and…