Security and Counterterrorism
Mixed reactions after Muslim rapper booked to play at Bataclan
The controversial rapper Médine will perform two shows in October at the Bataclan. The 35-year French-Algerian Muslim, who describes himself as an “Islamo-racaille” (“Islamo-hooligan”), is known for his provocative songs about Islam and laïcité. The controversy stems from his 2005 album Jihad, the Greatest Battle Is Against Oneself, which includes calls to “crucify secularists like…
Far-right figurehead, Tommy Robinson, jailed after violating suspended sentence for videoing Muslims
The former leader of the far-right group the English Defence League (EDL), Tommy Robinson, has been jailed for thirteen months for breaking contempt of court laws with a Facebook Live video that could prejudice an ongoing trial. His supporters have protested his imprisonment, and Donald Trump Jr. has leant his support to their cause.
UN representative criticises Prevent duty for impacting racial equality in the UK
The UN special rapporteur on racism, Professor Tendayi Achiume, has criticised the Prevent duty for fuelling distrust among ethnic minority communities and for impacting racial equality in the UK. Her comments came as she observed that Brexit has contributed to an environment of increased “explicit racial, ethnic and religious intolerance” in the UK.
Director General of MI5 warns of “unprecedented” danger of Islamist terrorism
MI5 Director General, Andrew Parker, has told a symposium of his European counterparts in Berlin that Islamist terrorism represents an “unprecedented” danger to the EU, along with the threat of Russian aggression.
Manchester bomber came from strict Salafi family and was radicalised by family of al-Qaeda terrorist, according to his cousin
In an exclusive interview with The Sunday Times, a cousin of Salman Abedi, the bomber responsible for the 2017 Manchester terror attack, discusses Abedi’s radicalisation. He says Abedi came from a strict Salafi family and was radicalised by family of an al-Qaeda terrorist.