Boris Johnson apologises to Muslim community

Boris Johnson has apologised to the Muslim community for instances of Islamophobia within the Tory party.

Wednesday 27 November 2019 5:12 pm

Stefan Boscia

https://www.cityam.com/boris-johnson-apologises-to-muslim-community/


Boris Johnson has apologised for instances of Islamophobia in his party (via Getty Images)

Johnson has previously been criticised for comparing women wearing niqabs as looking like letter boxes and bank robbers, and the party has said it would soon launch an inquiry into discrimination of all kinds within the party.

Read more: Jeremy Corbyn refuses to apologise to chief rabbi

The Prime Minister was asked in Cornwall this morning if he would apologise for examples of anti-Muslim sentiment in his party.

“Of course, and for all the hurt and offence that has been caused – of course we do,” he said.

“And all that is intolerable and it’s so important as a country that we don’t allow that kind of thing and that’s why we’re going to have the independent inquiry.”

The statement is just one day after Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn refused to apologise for instances of antisemitism within his party.

On Monday, the UK’s chief rabbi said Corbyn was “complicit in prejudice” against Jews and unfit to be prime minister.

Corbyn once again refused to apologise to the Jewish community or the chief rabbi at a press conference this morning.

After being asked if he would like to apologise to the Jewish community, Corbyn said: “I’ve made clear antisemitism is a complete poison in our society.

“I acknowledge what the chief rabbi said yesterday, but I’ll also point out there’s very large amount of other people in the Jewish community who have made it very clear they do support Labour.

“That they do recognise my absolute commitment that every community in our country will be safe in a Labour government.”

The Equality and Human Rights Commission is currently investigating whether Labour is institutionally antisemitic.

A group of 11 Labour MPs also left the party earlier this year partly due to the party’s handling of antisemitism allegations.

UK chief rabbi Ephraim Mirvis said claims by the Labour leadership that they would “tackle the scourge of anti-Jewish racism” were a “mendacious fiction”.

Writing in the Times, he said: “How complicit in prejudice would a leader of Her Majesty’s opposition have to be in order to be considered unfit for high office?

Read more: Tom Watson and Sadiq Khan decry Labour ‘antisemitism’ after Panorama probe

“Would associations with those who have openly incited hatred against Jews be enough?

“Would support for a racist mural, depicting powerful hook-nosed Jews supposedly getting rich at the expense of the weak and downtrodden be enough?”

https://www.cityam.com/boris-johnson-apologises-to-muslim-community/

German president labels Islamic terror as threat and says democracy is 'UNDER ATTACK'

THE GERMAN president has said Islamic terror is one of the biggest threats to his country as he claimed liberal democracy was “under attack”.

By REBECCA FLOOD

PUBLISHED: 13:22, Thu, Jan 19, 2017 | UPDATED: 13:34, Thu, Jan 19, 2017

GETTY

He listed Islamic terror as one of the main threats to Germany

Joachim Gauck, who confirmed he will not be seeking a second term, used one his final speeches as president to warn of several threats to Germany. 

The 77-year-old, who is said to be taking it easier due to his age, listed Islamic terror as one of the main threats to Germany and Europe’s security, and warned that European cohesion has waned considerably. 

He said: “The liberal democracy and the political and normative project of the West are under attack.” 

Germany was rocked by numerous terror attacks throughout 2016, including a massacre at a Christmas market in Berlin, a shooting in Munich, an explosion in Ansbach and an axe attack on a train in Wuerzburg among others.

He called on the continent to do more to shore up it defences, after other European countries were also the victim of terror attacks. 

The majority, including massacres in Nice, Brussels, and the shocking murder of a priest in Normandy, are said to have been committed or inspired by the barbaric Islamic State (ISIS). 

Critics have claimed the migrant crisis which gripped the continent last year and in 2015 allowed jihadis to cross into Europe without a stringent vetting procedure in place. 

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He called on the continent to do more to shore up it defences

Germany saw close to a million migrants settle in the country after Chancellor Angela Merkel championed an 'open-door' policy, much to the anger of German politicians inside and outside her party, global leaders and the electorate. 

Addressing those concerns, Mr Guack said future crises would continually occur “without a regulated European immigration policy and ultimately without improving the life situation in countries of origin, crises will also be expected in the future."

But he maintained that “origin doesn’t count, attitude does”.

Mr Gauck referred to the “internal” strife Germany faces, saying: "We need closer international cooperation and more effective internal security.

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Germany saw close to a million migrants settle in the country

“We need to do more to stabilise the European Union and to counter the internal and external attempts to divide it.”

And he called on the security of Europe’s borders to be upgraded, saying the bloc needed “efficient safeguarding of European external borders.”

He noted the rise of populist parties across the continent, from the Front National to the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, which has seen its popularity soar in recent years.

Founded in 2013, the AfD party stands on an anti-euro, anti-migrant and anti-Merkel platform. 

Their meteoric rise culminated in a stellar performance in last year’s regional elections, which also saw Mrs Merkel’s ruling Christian democratic Union (CDU) receive a drubbing in certain states. 

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AfD, led by Frauke Petry, is widely expected to do well in Germany’s national elections

AfD, led by Frauke Petry, is widely expected to do well in Germany’s national election, scheduled for September. 

Mr Gauck said: “The constitutional state loses itself when it proves too weak or even helpless in the fight against violence and terror.

"We have to do more to maintain order with others, to prevent conflicts, to defuse crises and deter opponents.” 

The president also listed wars in the Middle East, Russian aggression and occupation of Crimea, the challenges to NATO in the wake of Donald Trump’s election as some other key challenges facing Germany. 

http://www.express.co.uk/news/world/756282/Germany-president-Islamic-ISIS-terror-threat-liberal-democracy-Europe

EU crackdown on France’s right wing as Jean-Marie Le Pen attacked by MEPs

A RACISM storm is hanging over France's former Front National leader Jean-Marie Le Pen, who has been stripped of his parliamentary immunity over allegations of antisemitism and inciting racial hatred.

By PATRICK CHRISTYS

PUBLISHED: 08:12, Wed, Oct 26, 2016 | UPDATED: 08:26, Wed, Oct 26, 2016

Jean-Marie Le Pen has been stripped of parliamentary immunity amid racism claims

The 88-year-old far right figurehead is under investigation after a video of him emerged seemingly making reference to Jewish singer Patrick Bruel and "an oven".

The remark is deemed to have been a reference to the Holocaust, which saw the Nazis ruthlessly slaughter up to 11 million people, often using gas chambers and incinerators.

Mr Le Pen was recorded in 2014 defending his far-right views against verbal attacks from singers such as Bruel and Madonna as well as former tennis ace Yannick Noah.

In the video, he said: "Listen, we’ll just do an oven load next time.”

Mr Le Pen has staunchly defended his comments, saying his choice of words "obviously had no antisemitic connotations whatsoever, except for political enemies or imbeciles".

The anti-immigration politician, who was ousted from the Front National in 2011 by his own daughter, Marine Le Pen, who wanted the party to distance itself from its xenophobic past.

Now he has lost his parliamentary immunity, which protects politicians from prosecution, because his comments were deemed unrelated to his job.

The European Parliament legal team said parliamentary immunity "does not give him license to libel, defame, incite hatred or make remarks that discredit a person’s honour".

He was previously fined €30,000 for denying crimes against humanity by appearing to deny the Holocaust.

His daughter, Ms Le Pen, also faces a similar fate as European Parliamentary President Martin Schulz revealed he had forwarded a police request to suspend her immunity to the institution's lawyers.

The 48-year-old's investigation is alleged to relate to images of Islamic State beheadings posted online in 2015.

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 Who is Marine Le Pen? Meet France's National Front leader

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 ISIS plotted to BLOW UP burkini ban mayor from Marie Le Pen's Front...

http://www.express.co.uk/news/politics/725271/Jean-Marie-Le-Pen-Marine-France-Front-National-racism-European-Parliament-right-wing

Dutch politician Wilders will face trial on charges of inciting racial hatred

Anti-Islam politician Geert Wilders can be tried on charges of inciting racial hatred, a court in The Hague ruled on Friday, setting the stage for a politically charged test of freedom of speech laws in the Netherlands.

Fri Oct 14, 2016 | 10:24am BST


Dutch far-right Party for Freedom (PVV) leader Geert Wilders answers questions during a Reuters interview in Budapest, Hungary, June 24, 2016. REUTERS/Laszlo Balogh

By Toby Sterling | THE HAGUE

Judge Hendrik Steenhuis dismissed Wilders' lawyers arguments that he was being singled out, saying prosecutors have broad leeway in determining when they think someone has crossed the line from offensive speech to discriminatory speech.

Wilders is accused of discrimination and inciting racism for remarks in 2014, televised live, in which he led a roomful of followers in chanting that they wanted "fewer" Moroccans in the Netherlands.

Steenhuis set the start date for the three-week trial on Oct. 31, meaning a verdict would be likely in December - well ahead of national elections in March.

Wilders' far-right Freedom Party is neck-and-neck with Prime Minister Mark Rutte's ruling conservative VVD Party in popularity polls.

Wilders response to the ruling was that he was being "prosecuted for what millions (of Dutch people) think."

Via Twitter he also indicated he thinks the process against him is politically motivated.

In 2011, he was acquitted of inciting racial hatred charges for calling for the Koran to be banned and for the deportation of "criminal" Moroccans. Judges said that his remarks, while offensive to some, were within the bounds of legitimate political discourse.

Many observers felt the trial helped increase his popularity as he was able to showcase himself as a champion of free speech.

http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-netherlands-wilders-discrimination-idUKKBN12E0M5

BRINK OF NEXIT: Soaraway leader in Dutch polls is demanding his nation QUITS EU

DUTCH leadership hopeful Geert Wilders is calling for a quick exit from the European Union because of Angela Merkel’s 'stupidity'.

By SIMON OSBORNE

PUBLISHED: 13:29, Tue, Oct 11, 2016 | UPDATED: 15:00, Tue, Oct 11, 2016

Geert Wilders/Angela Merkel/migants

The controversial anti-immigration MP, who is leading all the polls to be the country’s next leader, has attacked the German chancellor’s open-door asylum policy and vowed to cut ties with Brussels if he takes power after next spring's parliamentary elections.

Mr Wilders said in a recent interview: "We have a political elite at the top not listening to them and that is why parties like mine all over Europe are getting votes.

"We should not have to pay for the stupidity of Angela Merkel.

"She can invite anyone she wants but we did not invite them so they shouldn't be able to come here.

"We will decide ourselves who is welcome here." 

Last week saw the revelation Mr Wilders and his party are ahead in most opinion polls in the run-up to parliamentary elections in March next year.

The PVV is forecast to take 35 seats in the 150-seat Dutch Parliament - 10 more than the ruling Liberal party which is led by prime minister Mark Rutte.

His Dutch Freedom Party (PVV) manifesto, published online, also includes a call for the complete de-Islamification of the Netherlands.

Mr Wilders said he wants to stop Muslim asylum-seekers from entering the Netherlands, shut down all Islamic schools and refugee centres and ban women from wearing headscarfs in public.

GETTY

Anti-immigration MP Geert Wilders is ahead in the opinion polls

He said: "Today in Holland we have thousands coming every week.

"There are villages in the Netherlands that have only 600 inhabitants and they have to accept many more asylum-seekers than their own inhabitants.

"People are angry. People are afraid. People want a different policy.”

Despite public support, opponents have poured scorn on Mr Wilders's proposals with Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA) party leader Sybrand van Haersma Buma describing them as 'utterly bizarre and unbelievable'.

WHO IS GEERT WILDERS?

But Mr Wilders is refusing to back down and said: "I don't have a problem with people from Slovakia and Lithuania but I do have a problem with immigration from Islamic countries.

"The EU leaves us no freedom to determine our own immigration and asylum laws. That’s why leaving the EU is necessary."

Mr Wilders has promised voters the chance to vote in an EU referendum if he becomes Prime Minister next spring.

Related articles

 Netherlands MUST call EU referendum to 'regain control' of borders

 Would-be Dutch PM vows to BAN the Koran and CLOSE all mosques

 UN chief compares Farage and Trump to ISIS for 'peddling fear’

http://www.express.co.uk/news/world/719907/Geert-Wilders-anti-islamic-Netherlands-Angela-Merkel-immigration-policy

Three police cars set ablaze in Dresden ahead of German Unity Day

Sun Oct 2, 2016 | 11:44am BST

Unknown perpetrators set fire to three police cars on Saturday night in the eastern city of Dresden, where security has been tightened for three days of events to mark 26 years since German reunification, police said on Sunday.

Two improvised bombs exploded in the city last week, one at a mosque and one at an international conference centre, and around 2,600 police officers are on duty to safeguard events.

No-one was hurt in Saturday night's blaze, which investigators believe was a politically-motivated act linked to the police operation for the anniversary celebrations.

Dresden was the cradle of the anti-Islam PEGIDA grassroots movement, whose weekly rallies attracted around 20,000 supporters at their height at the start of 2015.

The influx of almost a million migrants last year, mainly Muslims from the Middle East, Africa and Asia, has increased social tensions.

Far-right violence and attacks on migrants have risen dramatically, with riots and arson attacks on refugee shelters in the towns of Heidenau and Freital in the state of Saxony, of which Dresden is the capital.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who grew up in Communist East Germany criticised the "shamefully high number" of xenophobic attacks in eastern Germany in an interview published on Saturday.

In her weekly podcast, Merkel also condemned misuse by far-right extremists of the phrase "Wir sind das Volk" (We are the people), a slogan originally used by East Germans in protests leading up to the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989.

Merkel is due to visit Dresden on Monday along with German President Joachim Gauck, a former pastor in East Germany.

http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-germany-security-idUKKCN1220D8

MERKEL'S MIGRANT FALLOUT: More than HALF of Germans fear 'Islamisation' of their country

MORE than half of Germans fear the rise of Islam in their country, a shock survey has revealed.

By REBECCA PERRING

PUBLISHED: 04:29, Thu, Sep 22, 2016 | UPDATED: 14:58, Thu, Sep 22, 2016

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Germans fear the rise of Islam

The results hint at a dramatic changing attitude of the nation’s population towards the religion over the past year, which has seen the arrival of more than one million migrants. 

A new poll published by a leading Christian organisation reveals 57 per cent of Germans fear the Islamisation of their country - with more women (61 per cent), fearing it than men (51 per cent). 

Churchgoers and non-religious people were equally afraid. 

While the young were the least fearful, with just a third of 18 to 24-year-old’s scared of Germany becoming more Islamic.

GETTY

AfD has made strides in the German elections

The results hint at a dramatic changing attitude of the nation’s population towards the religion over the past year

But nearly two-thirds of those aged over 45 were concerned about the rise of the religion. 

The shocking results also revealed nearly six out of ten Germans feared migrants could bring crime and terrorism Germany. Jewish voters were particularly worried about this, with more than nine out of ten of saying they scared.

The results come amid an increasingly fractious debate over radical Islamism in Germany, sparked by Angela Merkel’s ill-fated open door refugee policy. 

This has pushed voters into the embrace of right-wingers like the anti-immigrant AfD party which scored big in this month’s regional elections and which now threatens Mrs Merkel's CDU conservatives at the General Election. 

Germans appear to be punishing the Chancellor's accommodating refugee policy.

Shocking opinion polls delivered a crushing blow to Mrs Merkel after she took a battering in her home state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania when her party was pushed into third place by the anti-immigrant AfD.

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More than half of Germans fear Islamisation

More than 1.1m migrants entered Germany last year, with most coming from Middle Eastern and North African countries. 

But Mrs Merkel's grip on power is growing ever weaker, with rebellion across the country against her controversial immigration policies.

Recently the German leader admitted she regrets opening her country's doors to a stream of refugees. 

Following a devastating defeat in the Berlin state elections earlier this week, she said: ”If I could, I would turn back the time by many, many years.

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Angela Merkel has seen her popularity crash over her ill-fated refugee policy

Horrific axe attack on German train

Tue, July 19, 2016

Three passengers have been seriously injured after a teenage refugee ran amok on a busy commuter train with an axe and a knife.

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Blood stains are seen on the regional train on which a man allegedly wielding an axe attacked passengers in Wuerzburg

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Meanwhile, another shock survey shows xenophobia is rising in the ex-communist east of Germany, while far-right violence and attacks against migrants rose dramatically last year.

Germany recorded 1,408 violent acts carried out by far-right supporters last year, a rise of more than 42 per cent from 2014, and 75 arson attacks on refugee shelters, up from five a year earlier. 

Iris Gleicke, the federal government's commissioner for eastern German affairs, added: "Right-wing extremism in all its forms poses a very serious threat for the social and economic development of the new states.” 

http://www.express.co.uk/news/world/713126/Germany-Islamisation-Islam-fear-migrant-crisis-Angela-Merkel