Issues in Politics
New law against online hate speech causes stir in Germany as AfD politician’s twitter is suspended
On January 1, 2018, a new law went into effect in Germany with the aim of curbing ‘fake news’ and hate speech online. The Act for the Improvement of Law Enforcement on Social Networks – thankfully shortened in common parlance to the Network Enforcement Law (Netzdurchsetzungsgesetz) targets social media such as Twitter and Facebook, seen…
Observers express disappointment with annulment of Christine Boutin sentence
In April 2014 former politician Christine Boutin remarked during an interview that “homosexuality is an abomination.” In December 2015 Boutin was ordered to pay 5,000 euros in fines for her remarks. This Tuesday, the Appeals Court annulled its original sentence for “provocation of hate or of violence,” stating that, “the incriminating remarks, even if offensive, do…
Jerusalem: CFCM and RMF call for prayer and restraint
Following President Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel there was a heightened risk of tension, or even clashes, between the “Jewish and Muslim communities” in France. The CFCM issued a statement calling for calm and addressing Muslim leaders: “During the Friday prayer, the French Council of the Muslim Faith encourages Muslims…
Edwy Plenel and Marwan Muhammad, among others, react to Rokhaya Diallo’s dismissal
In a recent open letter in Libération, prominent public figures reacted to the dismissal of Rokhaya Diallo from the National Digital Council (Conseil national du numérique, or CNNum). Notable signatories included Mediapart founder Edwy Plenel, former Collective Against Islamophobia in France director Marwan Muhammad, Danièle Obono and Céline Sciamma. Plenel reacted to the decision on Twitter, decrying the “witch…
Op-ed: Where is our égalité?
In recent days France has been rocked by controversy. First came the government’s decision to create a 30-member commission called CNNum, the national digital council. The task of this commission is to advise French president Emmanuel Macron on new, more inclusive digital policy. Then an open letter surfaced, written by an MP from a major rightwing political…