Germany’s Bundestag Could See a First Syrian Refugee Member

Tareq Alaows is a Syrian politician, activist and legal advisor living in Germany, and is making his mark as the first Syrian refugee candidate for the German parliament, the Bundestag. Representing the Green Party, he plans to stand as representative of the electoral district of Oberhausen, come the state elections of North-Rhine Westphalia in the…

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French Law on “Republican Values” and Global Security Law: How they converge toward a criminalization of Islam

One bill and one law are currently garnering critique : the bill to Strengthen Republican Values and the Global Security Law. The Global Security Law aims at reorganizing the French security services made of three main components: the police, the military and the private security agencies[1]. Debates have rapidly focused on the 24th controversial article…

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Imams in Lyon reject Macron’s Charter of Republican Values: Local Resistances to the “French State Islam”

Emmanuel Macron initiatives aiming at better control French Islam face significant resistance. This article focuses on one local case in Lyon, and gives an overview of the ongoing critiques of the project.  Two Imams and associative leaders from Rhône-Alpes – Lyon’s region – have published a joined press release, on Monday January the 25th, to…

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French Law on “ Republican Values” and the challenge of Muslim political representation

The first political announcements surrounding the French project of President Emmanuel Macron towards French Islam have already been largely covered. The bill on “ Reinforcing Republican values ”, has been under examination by a [arliamentary “Special commission” since January the 6th[1]. The commission began its work by interviewing several religious actors . The present article…

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Supreme Court allows 3 Muslims put on no-fly list to seek damages against federal officials

The Supreme Court of the United Sates allowed three Muslims who had been placed on no-fly lists, to sue for financial damages against FBI officials under a federal law meant to protect religious liberty. Writing for an 8-0 court, Justice Clarence Thomas said that the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, passed in 1993 to prohibit the federal…

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