July 21, 2011 The European Union’s human rights watchdog has criticized laws banning the wearing of Muslim veil, warning that the legislation fuels anti-Muslim sentiments across the continent. “[These laws] would further stigmatize these women and lead to their alienation from the majority society,” Thomas Hammarberg, Human Rights Commissioner of the Council of Europe,…
Plans to allow Muslim schools to conduct their own inspections have been scrapped by Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, Ed Balls MP. Although the proposals were designed to ensure that an independent watchdog would be more ‘sensitive’ about Islamic education, Ofsted has raised concerns that this would lead to ‘increased fragmentation’. Chief…
A European human rights watchdog says that Islamophobia is gaining ground in the Netherlands, with Muslims and minorities facing increasing discrimination and violence. The report, which was released by the European Commission Against Racism and Intolerance, also decries the tone of debate about ethnic minorities in Dutch politics and media. Positive findings concede that progress…
