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New Greece 2021: Tsipras’s Constitutional revision with a Latin American twist

lun, 25/07/2016 - 22:15
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A public consultation process of the Constitutional Revision was launched by the Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, with a Latin American twist, paving the way for a “new political changeover” and “New Greece 2021”.

Tsipras aims to overcome “the narrow confines of Parliament” to limit the objections of “the conservative, old political system and the technocratic elite” that wants to limit the democratic influence of the people. The Greek Prime Minister proposed a constitutional review process “by the people for the people and not in absentia.”

This “democratic revolution” that leaves behind the specific terms of revision, provided already by the Constitution, so as to expand and ensure its popular legitimacy, “by a process that involves, organises, mobilises citizens. A process of active citizenship and not a restricted procedure, within the walls of the Parliament House.”

IIn September, the Constitutional Revision’s “steering committee” will be announced, in order “to conduct a broad, open debate nationwide,” in municipalities with the participation of scientific and social organisations, citizen movements, collectives and individual citizens.

The proposal that Tsipras presented on Monday at the Parliament’s terrace, consists of five pillars, interfering with the architecture of the political system, strengthening direct democracy tools, the rule of law, State – Church relations and social rights.

Tsipras even proposed a new referendum on the Constitutional Revision process, explaining later that Syriza and the “government of the left” do not aim to force citizens to take decisions that are beyond their knowledge but at the same time suggested that “important issues will not be judged by bureaucrats and specialists.”

Syriza government’s proposal put the President of Democracy under direct election of the citizens when a second vote within the Parliament House fails, in order to put an end to the automatic Parliament dissolution process that takes place automatically if such a vote fails for the third time in Plenary, causing acute fall of the government.

A change will also take place to the powers that the President of Democracy can exercise, by further expanding them to the level they used to be on 1975, before the Greek political system was reformed in order to ensure that most of the powers would be handed out to the Prime Minister.

On government issues, the proposal fully connects the government with Parliament, suggesting that the Prime Minister must be an active MP, putting an end to technocrat Prime Ministers with an exception of care-taking governments.

Further changes will be made in the use of referendums, expanding the option to popular initiatives of 500,000 signatures on national matters. The immunity of MPs will be abolished, but not if the MP acts in accordance with government policy.

Tsipras turned down the proposal on a Constitutional Court, proposing a rather intermediate solution of a judges advisory body, as “judges should not be allowed to legislate.”

On Church issues, Tsipras proposed a “neutrality of the State” but with preservation of recognition of Christian Orthodox religion as “prevailing religion, for historical and practical reasons.”

On independent authorities, Tsipras opposes the “technocratic ideology of deification of their operation and constant expansion of responsibilities and their powers,” asking for more parliamentary control on authorities that are already established with wide majorities of 4/5.

On social rights, Tsipras aims to pose a constitutional ban on public control of water goods and electricity waiver, while another issue that could bring friction to the second review negotiations of the third bailout programme such as collective bargaining, will become the only means to determine salary.

The post New Greece 2021: Tsipras’s Constitutional revision with a Latin American twist appeared first on New Europe.

Catégories: European Union

Cambodia blocks joint statement on South China Sea

lun, 25/07/2016 - 17:54
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Meeting for the first time since the UN-backed Permanent Court of Arbitration handed a legal victor to the Philippines in a dispute with China in the South China Sea, the foreign ministers from the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) failed to reach an agreement on July 24. Cambodia blocked any mention to an international court ruling against Beijing in their statement.

As reported by the Reuters news agency, the ruling by the court in The Hague denied China’s sweeping claims in the strategic seaway, through which more than $5 trillion in global trade passes each year.

China claims most of the sea, but Asean members the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei all have rival claims. Beijing says the ruling has no bearing on its rights in the sea, and described the case as a farce.

The Philippines and Vietnam both wanted the communique issued by Asean foreign ministers after their meeting to refer to the ruling and the need to respect international law, Asean diplomats said. Their foreign ministers both discussed the ruling with Asean counterparts in the Laotian capital.

“We are still working on it,” Indonesia’s Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi told Reuters after the meeting on July 24, adding that she hoped the Asean members would reach an agreement.

Cambodia’s Foreign Minister Prak Sokhon declined to comment on his country’s position on July 24.

One regional analyst, Malcolm Cook at the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies in Singapore, told the Associated Press that the disagreement was hurting Asean’s image.

“Certainly, Cambodia’s paralysis of Asean… hurts Asean’s unity, cohesion, relevance and reputation,” he said. “It makes Asean peripheral, not central, on this issue.”

Asean now has until July 26 to come to an agreement, an unnamed diplomat told Reuters news agency.

Meanwhile, China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi and US Secretary of State John Kerry are also expected to meet and discuss the maritime issues.

According to Reuters, the United States, allied with the Philippines and cultivating closer relations with Vietnam, has called on China to respect the court’s ruling. It has criticised China’s building of artificial islands and facilities in the sea and has sailed warships close to the disputed territory to assert freedom of navigation rights.

In September, Barack Obama is scheduled to become the first US president to visit Laos, attending an annual summit hosted by the country that holds the ASEAN chairmanship.

The post Cambodia blocks joint statement on South China Sea appeared first on New Europe.

Catégories: European Union

Pakistan-Gulen movement: Reactions to Turkey’s demands

lun, 25/07/2016 - 17:41
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ARY News reporting from Lahore said the chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on July 24 opposed the Turkish ambassador’s demand to close down educational institutions run under the administration of Gulen mouvement.

Imran Khan questioned why Pakistani school children should have to suffer for the Turkish coup attempt and how Turkey could possibly be affected by Pakistani school kids.

He expressed his support for the Turkish democracy and clarified that Pakistan already had low literacy rate and closing down a large network of schools could be disastrous for the country.

The PTI chairman posted on his Twitter account: “While we stand firmly behind Turkish democracy, closing Pak-Turk schools in Pakistan, which has a high illiteracy rate, could be disastrous.”

According to the report, Gulen is running a large network of schools in Pakistan, providing education to students with meagre resources.

The post Pakistan-Gulen movement: Reactions to Turkey’s demands appeared first on New Europe.

Catégories: European Union

Amnesty: imprisoned military and plotters in Turkey subjected to inhuman treatments

lun, 25/07/2016 - 11:17
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In Turkey, human rights are in grave danger following coup attempt and subsequent crackdown. President Erdogan’s announcement of the imposition of a state of emergency must not pave the way for a roll-back in human rights or be used as a pretext to further clamp down on freedom of expression and protections against arbitrary detention and torture, said Amnesty International in a report.

“In a situation where almost 10,000 people are currently in detention, amidst allegations of ill-treatment in custody, and when government ministries and media institutions are being purged, the enhanced powers afforded by the state of emergency could pave the way for a further roll back on human rights,” said Andrew Gardner, Amnesty International’s Turkey researcher.

Although exact figures are unclear, Turkish authorities report that 208 people were killed and more than 1,400 injured across Istanbul and Ankara on Friday night when a faction of the military attempted to seize power, raiding TV stations and firing on the parliament and presidential buildings. Those killed include 24 people described by authorities as ‘coup plotters’, some of whom were reportedly lynched while unarmed and trying to surrender. Civilians were also killed when they took to the streets following a call for protest from President Tayyip Erdogan, facing down tanks and helicopters.

In the days following the coup attempt the Turkish government has made sweeping purges within the army, judiciary and civilian branches of the ministry of interior: 7,543 ‘coup plotters’ have been detained, 318 of whom have been placed in pre-trial detention. 7,000 police have been suspended and 2700 judges and prosecutors have been removed from their posts, representing just under a fifth of the judiciary. 450 members of the judiciary have been detained.

Although military school cadets who were arrested following the failed coup in Turkey were unwitting participants because their commanders told them they would be attending a “surprise party” for the new head of the academy, many of those imprisoned are subjected to inhuman treatments.

Turkish troops imprisoned after the failed military coup are being raped, starved and left without water for days, says Amnesty.

Many of the 10,000 detainees are locked up in horses’ stables and sports halls – some hogtied in horrific stress positions, according to human rights campaigners.

More than 200 died in the uprising which aimed to topple dictatorial President Recep Erdogan – and 1,500 were injured.

Amnesty says it has ‘credible evidence’ Turkish police are holding detainees in stress positions for up to 48 hours, denying them food, water and medical treatment and in the worst cases some have been subjected to severe beatings and torture, including rape.

John Dalhuisen, Amnesty International’s Europe director, said: “Reports of abuse including beatings and rape in detention are extremely alarming, especially given the scale of detentions that we have seen in the past week.

“Despite chilling images and videos of torture that have been widely broadcast across the country, the government has remained conspicuously silent on the abuse. “

The post Amnesty: imprisoned military and plotters in Turkey subjected to inhuman treatments appeared first on New Europe.

Catégories: European Union

Denmark to deport three Ugandan lesbians

lun, 25/07/2016 - 11:09
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Gay rights groups in Denmark have criticised a decision to deport three Ugandans who claim they are lesbians. The women have one final chance to appeal the court’s decision, but if unsuccessful they will be deported on August 2.

As reported by Pink News online, authorities said they found inconsistencies in the women’s accounts.

But, according to LGBT Asylum, the women should be released, given the issues faced by LGBT people in Uganda.

“Homosexuals risk persecution from other civilians, their families and clan members as well as blackmail and assault. Homosexuals cannot expect police protection if they are attacked, threatened or killed,” said spokeswoman Hanne Gyberg.

“We believe that the decisions in their asylum cases were made based upon an incorrect foundation. Their sexuality was not considered in the rejections [and] we believe the Danish authorities should look at the cases again,” Gyberg added.

The post Denmark to deport three Ugandan lesbians appeared first on New Europe.

Catégories: European Union

Half-dozen mass shootings prevented in Finland each year

lun, 25/07/2016 - 10:52
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Police in Finland are constantly on high alert for potential gun violence. Up to six mass shootings are prevented each year, according to police inspector Timo Kilpeläinen.

As reported by the online news site Yle, anticipating potential mass shooting threats is a skill that has been developed for years in Finland with authorities pooling their national resources.

“The authorities monitor dozens of people’s daily lives and internet activity through various levels of surveillance,” says Kilpeläinen.

These individuals are monitored because they behave in a threatening way toward others or frequent online forums that glorify violence.

“A system of pre-emptive measures has been built since Finland’s most recent school shootings [Kauhajoki in 2008 and Jokela in 2007].  If police receive information on a person’s intent to stage an attack, they are able to intervene,” says Kilpeläinen.

The post Half-dozen mass shootings prevented in Finland each year appeared first on New Europe.

Catégories: European Union

The Nice attack: growing rift between the government and local police

lun, 25/07/2016 - 10:43
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France’s interior minister is protesting accusations the government tried to cover up security failings the night of the Bastille Day attack in Nice that killed 84.

France’s Socialist government has come under fire for not doing enough to prevent a delivery man from ploughing a refrigerator truck into a crowd of revelers leaving a July 14 fireworks display on the Riviera city’s beachfront promenade.

The woman in charge of video surveillance in Nice on July 14, Sandra Bertin, told the Journal du Dimanche newspaper that government officials told her what to write in her report and that she should mention the presence of police she hadn’t seen.

Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said in a statement Sunday that he is suing for alleged defamation and said he is committed to uncovering the truth about what happened.

Many French are angry that the government couldn’t prevent the Nice attack despite a state of emergency in place.

Cazeneuve acknowledged that no national police were protecting the beachfront promenade targeted in the attack.

Led by regional government president Christian Estrosi, conservative politicians from Nice have aggressively questioned whether officers from the national police were present in sufficient numbers on the night of the attack.

Nice, a city of nearly 350,000 people, is France’s most heavily policed city with nearly 600 officers municipal police officers and other security agents – more than much larger cities – and an extensive network of surveillance cameras.

The post The Nice attack: growing rift between the government and local police appeared first on New Europe.

Catégories: European Union

Germany’s Green party warns against Turkish nationalists

lun, 25/07/2016 - 09:52
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Germany’s Green party has warned against radical Turkish nationalists in the country and suggested sanctions against Turkey in order to curb “Erdogan’s long arm”.

As reported by Deutsche Welle (DW), Germany’s international broadcaster, the party’s co-head, Cem Özdemir, said German politicians need to treat radical Turkish nationalist groups with the same caution as radical right-wing groups.

“There is, unfortunately, a form of Turkish PEGIDA in Germany that we must treat the same way as the group we already know of,” Cem Özdemir told the German newspaper Bild am Sonntag.

Özdemir told the newspaper that, in Germany, there was a consensus that German right-wing populists existed “on the margins of society and are not normal interlocutors”.

If PEGIDA leader Lutz Bachmann were invited to an event, no “self-respecting democrat” would attend, said the Green party chief, urging this kind of political attitude to be applied to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan‘s government representatives who are based in Germany.

Özdemir also said the EU should consider sanctions against Turkey if democracy and human rights “continue to be suspended”.

The EU has expressed concern over the imposition of a state of emergency in the wake of an attempted military coup.

The post Germany’s Green party warns against Turkish nationalists appeared first on New Europe.

Catégories: European Union

UK keen to strike free trade deal with China

lun, 25/07/2016 - 09:44
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An ambitious free trade deal between the United Kingdom and China is on the cards. Britain’s new finance minister has started discussions with China that could ease access for major Chinese banks and businesses to the UK economy.

In an interview with the BBC, Chancellor Philip Hammond said it was time to explore “new opportunities” across the world, including with China, one of the UK’s biggest inward investors. China invested over $5bn (£3.8bn) in the UK in 2014.

“What we now need to do is get on with it in a way that minimises the economic impact on the UK economy in the short term and maximises the benefit in the long-term,” Hammond said, admitting that there had been “global disappointment” about the Brexit vote.

Earlier this month, the Chinese state media reported that the Chinese ministry of commerce wants to do a UK free trade deal. Hammond has now revealed that Britain is also keen.

And in return for greater access to the UK for its manufactured products and investment, China would reduce barriers to Britain’s service industries like banking and insurance as well as UK goods, reported the BBC.

“The mood music that I have heard here is very much that this will mean more opportunity for countries like China that are outside the European Union to do business with Britain,” Hammond said at the end of a G20 summit in China. “And as Britain leaves the European Union and is not bound by the rules of the European Union perhaps it will be easier to do deals with Britain in the future.”

In a separate report, the Telegraph noted Hammond’s warning to European leaders. He said they must respond “positively” to Brexit negotiations or they will risk years of damaging economic uncertainty.

“I think what will start to reduce uncertainty is when we will set out more clearly the kind of arrangement we envisage going forward with the EU,” explained Hammond. “If our EU partners respond to such a vision positively, obviously it will be subject to negotiation, but positively, so that there is a sense later this year that we’re all on the same page where we expect to be going. I think that will send a reassuring signal to the business community and to markets.”

The post UK keen to strike free trade deal with China appeared first on New Europe.

Catégories: European Union

Gulen group banned in north Cyprus

lun, 25/07/2016 - 09:35
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Hüseyin Özgürgün, the leader of the Turkish-Cypriots is scheduled to visit Ankara to meet with Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım.

As reported by Famagusta Gazette, Turkey’s top envoy in the unrecognised Turkish-occupied state in northern part of Cyprus, Derya Kanbay, said that the break-away areas are not affected by the State of Emergency in Turkey, but media reports suggest a trustee will take over at three universities and two colleges “as a precaution”.

The FETO organisation, which is linked to cleric Fethullah Gulen, has been added to a list of terror organisations in the occupied territories of north Cyprus, he said. A special task force has also reportedly arrived in the north from Turkey to determine if the military in Cyprus have any links to the failed coup.

Turkey maintains more than 35,000 troops in the northern part of Cyprus.

The post Gulen group banned in north Cyprus appeared first on New Europe.

Catégories: European Union

Al Qaeda chief calls on militants to kidnap Westerners

lun, 25/07/2016 - 09:25
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In an audio recording posted online, Al Qaeda chief Ayman al-Zawahiri has called on the global militant network to take Western hostages and exchange them for jailed jihadists.

The monitoring service SITE Intelligence Group quoted Zawahiri as saying that Westerners should be kidnapped “until they liberate the last Muslim male prisoner and last Muslim female prisoner in the prisons of the Crusaders, apostates, and enemies of Islam”.

As reported by the Reuters news agency, the authenticity of the recording cannot be verified. Zawahiri is believed to be seeking refuge in the Afghanistan-Pakistan border area that is the Taliban’s base.

The post Al Qaeda chief calls on militants to kidnap Westerners appeared first on New Europe.

Catégories: European Union

Sanders begins policy negotiations with Clinton

mer, 15/06/2016 - 15:25
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Hillary Clinton won the District of Columbia primary on Tuesday with a resounding 79%, in what was the end of open primaries.

On Tuesday evening Hillary Clinton and Senator Sanders had a 90-minute private meeting with Bernie Sanders, Reuters reports. Sanders has yet to concede let alone endorse Clinton, but both campaigns described the meeting as “positive.” The meeting was joined by Sanders’ wife, Jane, Clinton’s campaign managers, John Podesta and Robby Mook, and the Vermont Senators campaign chief, Jeff Weaver.

The two candidates said they would jointly address issues such as minimum wage, campaign financing, access to College education and healthcare in a clear sign that Hillary Clinton is willing to heed Sanders’ policy agenda.

Michael Briggs from the Sanders’ campaign said they two candidates also discussed “the dangerous threat that Donald Trump poses to our nation.”

Meanwhile, following President Obama, left wing liberal Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts endorsed Hillary Clinton, in what is a clear signal the party is forming a common front against Trump.

However, Sanders is still demanding changes in the party, leaving little scope for compromise. Among other things he is demanding changes in the Democratic National Committee leadership, eliminating unelected superdelegates, and opening primaries to so-called “independents” (non-members).

In doing so, he remains true to his initial commitment to lead a “political revolution” in a system of nominations within the Democratic Party he has time and again called “rigged.”

Meanwhile, Sanders has begun deploying some of his crowdfunded money and national attention to boost the chances of progressive liberals campaigning to gain the nomination for a Democratic ticket to contest Senate seats. He is starting with $2,4 million.

Sanders earned nearly 10 million votes and 22 states during the nominating process. Several polls, including an Ipsos/Reuters one in May, suggest that 59% of Sanders’ followers are unwilling to “convert” to Clinton.

(Reuters, CNN, NBC)

The post Sanders begins policy negotiations with Clinton appeared first on New Europe.

Catégories: European Union

Orthodox Synod to take place despite new pullout, by Russia

mer, 15/06/2016 - 15:01
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The spiritual leader of the world’s Orthodox Christians says a historic meeting of church leaders — the first in more than a millennium — is to take place despite a pullout by Russia, the fourth Orthodox church to say it won’t attend the June gathering in Crete.

Istanbul-based Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, who ranks as “the first among equals,” said on Wednesday that he hopes the Russian church and three others who have chosen not to come will change their minds.

The week-long Holy and Great Council, which is to begin on Sunday, was meant to bring together leaders of 14 independent Orthodox churches to promote unity among the world’s 300 million Orthodox Christians.

The gathering on the island of Crete has been 55 years in preparation and planning.

The post Orthodox Synod to take place despite new pullout, by Russia appeared first on New Europe.

Catégories: European Union

A new Dalit movement unfolds in India

mer, 15/06/2016 - 14:49
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Caste atrocities remain an everyday reality for millions of people in India. The Dalits, who are condemned at the bottom of the heap, feel that a new “sophisticated architecture” of inequality is also in place.

As reported by The Hindustan Times, they remain under-represented in public positions. But it is not just a tale of victimhood. Dalits today are more organised and connected. They see themselves as a part of an assertive movement of social justice. They have sympathy for Dalit parties, but criticise the failures. They worry caste is getting reinforced, rather than annihilated.

From a village in Unnao, Rawat has come a long way. He recently finished his PhD on contemporary Dalit movement. In an interview with The Hindustan Times, he said: “Twenty years ago, my teacher – a Tiwari – in the village used to mock us and say even if three generations of your family come together, you will not be able to study… I credit the state for this hostel room, for a fellowship, for creating a public university which enabled me to finish a PhD.”

Rawat is quick to underscore that that does little to compensate for the persistent discrimination. The National Crime Records Bureau data shows that the number of incidents of atrocities against Scheduled Castes increased from 39,408 in 2013 to over 47,000 in 2014. In UP, there were 5,784 incidents in 2012, 6,617 incidents in 2013, and 7,577 incidents in 2014.

“I did my fieldwork and across villages in MP’s Ratlam found persistent untouchability,” said Mhow.

The statistics do not capture the more insidious forms of prejudice – separate plates at a wedding, the decision not to rent out a house as soon as the tenant is found to be a Dalit, the quiet whispers in offices that someone has come from “quota” and the insistence that one’s son or daughter cannot marry ‘below’ caste.

But it is the new forms of inequality – for instance, in access to quality education – which worry younger Dalits more.

One well-known Dalit activist in Lucknow, Ram Kumar, said: “Since children of decision-makers don’t use public education, they do little to improve it. You are depriving Dalits of skills and education to compete at this stage itself.” He argued that in the old days, upper castes used the stick and law to prevent others from getting educated. “Now it is a more sophisticated architecture.”

According to Chandrabhan Prasad, a key Dalit thinker, the English language, urbanisation and capitalism will decrease the salience of caste. A new generation of Dalit entrepreneurs has risen. Others in the movement see it as positive, but then question the exclusionary and unrepresentative nature of the private sector. They also believe that this cannot be a substitute for state welfare and social reform, reported The Hindustan Times.

The post A new Dalit movement unfolds in India appeared first on New Europe.

Catégories: European Union

Romania reopens probe on the killing of 1989 demonstrators

mer, 15/06/2016 - 14:46
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Romania will reopen the investigation of 1,104 killings of demonstrators during the 1989 uprising that led to the overthrow of the Communist dictator Nicolae Ceausescu, AP reports.

Romania has failed to investigate the circumstances of the shooting with live ammunition against demonstrators on Dec. 17-30, 1989. Until October 2015 the investigation was regarded as classified. However, the interim prosecutor general Bogdan Licu moved to call the classification “unfounded and illegal.”

On Monday, June 13, the High Court of Causation and Justice ruled the investigation can formally reopen. The case made by the Prosecutor General also reflected the pressure by the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, which ruled in April that Romania must pay restitution to families of the victims.

Military prosecutors have habitually attributed many of the deaths as caused by “friendly-fire” or soldiers affected by “fatigue and stress,” Romania-Insider reports.

(AP, Romania Insider)

The post Romania reopens probe on the killing of 1989 demonstrators appeared first on New Europe.

Catégories: European Union

Germany gets tough on religious polygamy

mer, 15/06/2016 - 14:24
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Germany’s Justice Minister Heiko Maas says he wants to clamp down on polygamy, which many say is unofficially tolerated by local councils. But the minister has yet to propose any actual measures.

As reported by Germany’s international broadcaster, Deutsche Welle (DW), Maas has promised to prevent Muslims in Germany from maintaining multiple marriages.

“No one who comes to us has the right to put their cultural roots, or their religious beliefs, above our laws,” Maas told Germany’s Bild newspaper in an interview published on June 14. “For that reason multiple marriages cannot be recognised in Germany.”

Though polygamy is already outlawed in Germany, the newspaper alleged that German authorities “often look the other way” if a Muslim migrant brings several wives into the country.

According to DW, polygamy is not only illegal in Germany, it is a criminal offense, and authorities cannot register more than one woman as a wife to the same man, migrant or not. But some say Germany has offered de facto legitimacy to polygamy in the past.

Nevertheless, a migrant coming to Germany with more than one wife cannot legally have all of them legitimately recognised by the state. However, in cases where the husband dies, local authorities often simply divide his pension among several wives, even though he officially only had one.

Though Maas did not bring up such examples – and the Justice Ministry declined DW’s invitation to elaborate on the Bild report, his statement could be read as a warning to local authorities to stop such practices.

In a separate report, the Agence France-Presse (AFP) noted that Maas also wants to outlaw marriages involving a minor for fear that the underage individual has been forced into marrying.

According to Unicef, child marriages (where at least one spouse is under 18) account for 40% of all marriages in Afghanistan, from where one of the biggest groups of recent refugees to Germany come.

A justice ministry spokeswoman said on June 13 she did not have nationwide data, but stressed that “child marriages are not accepted in Germany, and they will not be recognised”.

The post Germany gets tough on religious polygamy appeared first on New Europe.

Catégories: European Union

Homophobic British Islamic Scholar forced to leave Australia

mer, 15/06/2016 - 14:18
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A British Islamic Scholar visiting Australia has left the country on Tuesday evening following an outcry over his homophobic views.

Prime Minister Turnbull requested a review of his visa of Sheikh Farrokh Sekaleshfar as it was revealed the man had a record of homophobic hate preaching, inciting to violenece.

The Shiekh insists he was leaving Australia after consultations with the Muslim community rather than fear of being deported. Minister for Immigration Peter Dutton confirmed on Wednesday that the case had not been reviewed. However, Dutton welcomed his decision and said it would be impossible for him to return and that his visa has been cancelled.

Sheikh Farrokh Sekaleshfar was visiting Sydney in his capacity as a scholar, to address and audience at the Imam Husain Islamic Centre.

He is accused of making anti-homosexual comments at the University of Michigan in 2013, where he said that “Death is the sentence” for gay sex acts in public.

The Sheikh said his comments were made in an academic setting and were taken out of context, ABC reports. He regrets that they were filmed and published online. He also said he regrets the Orlando shooting and called Omar Marteen an “animal.”

If reelected, Turnbull vowed to keep people convicted of terrorism in jail even after their sentence has been served if a court rules that they continue to pose a threat. Opposition leader Bill Shorten was asking how a cleric holding such “despicable, abhorrent views of gay hate” was granted a visa.

(AP, ABC, Aljazeera, DW,  Reuters)

The post Homophobic British Islamic Scholar forced to leave Australia appeared first on New Europe.

Catégories: European Union

Brexit won’t lead to Dexit, says Denmark’s former PM

mer, 15/06/2016 - 14:14
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In response to growing speculation that Denmark would be the first to leave the European Union in a domino effect triggered by Brexit – shorthand for the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the EU, Denmark’s former Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt says it isn’t so.

When asked, at Fortune’s Most Powerful Women event in London, whether Denmark would leave the EU if Britain did, Thorning-Schmidt poured cold water on the suggestion, reported The Spectator.

The former Social Democrat politician, who is the current chief executive of Save the Children, said the majority of Danes want to remain in the EU – even though they voted against closer ties in a referendum in December.

“The Danish discussion is quite different from the British discussion. If you asked the Danes if they want to leave the EU or stay, you’ll get a majority that want to stay,” he said.

Although Thorning-Schmidt, concedes that a lot of Danes don’t like the EU, she argues that they understand deep down that the pros outweigh the cons. “Everyone knows that the EU is not perfect, but deep down I think a lot of Danish know how much we gain economically, culturally in terms of our freedom by being part of the EU.”

The post Brexit won’t lead to Dexit, says Denmark’s former PM appeared first on New Europe.

Catégories: European Union

Live streaming terrorism: social media on the spotlight after incident in France

mer, 15/06/2016 - 13:37
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Larossi Abballa streamed the murder of a police officer on Monday evening on a 12-minute Facebook video. He also posted 15 photographs.

The murder of the 42 Jean-Baptiste Salvaing was uploaded along with Abballa’s commentary, mostly justifications for what he had done.

Aballa first killed the man on the spot, then went inside and took his wife and son as hostages. When he went inside, Aballa apparently posted on Facebook the murder of police captain, as well as threats towards his 36-year partner and police secretary, Jessica, challenging the police to raid.

The 12 minute video also has the man contemplating on what to do with the toddler as well as incitement to murder of journalists, lawyers, police and prison officers. Abballa also told police negotiators he was responding to a call by (IS) group chief Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi “to kill infidels at home with their families.” According to Paris prosecutor François Molins.

As negotiations were apparently leading nowhere, the house was raided by the BRI police commando units. Aballa was killed. It is still unclear whether the police or Aballa or the police killed the Jessica S.

Facebook said on Tuesday they were cooperating with the French police, saying their policy is to remove terrorist content reported “as quickly as possible” and process law enforcement quires with “utmost urgency.”

Facebook has just made available a Live feature that allows for livestreaming of events in real time. Twitter and YouTube are following the trend. While uploaded content is monitored within 24 hours, livestreaming cannot be monitored for violence or other offending material in real time. A Facebook spokeswoman on Tuesday recognized “the unique challenges” and expressed commitment to improving monitoring standards. For the moment the company strives to keep the 24-hour limit for the millions of reports it receives, while paying particular attention to trending stories.

In April an 18-yar old livestreamed on Twitter’s Periscope her friend’s rape; in May, a woman in France used the same application to record her suicide.

The 25-year old Abballa was born near Paris, in Mantes-la-Jolie. He was first convicted for petty crime in 2011, at the age of 19. Later on, he was convicted to 3-years in prison in 2013 for “criminal association with the aim of preparing terrorist acts”; he had worked as a recruiter of Jihadi fighters that were sent to Afghanistan. Many of the attackers in Paris and later on in France also had a similar criminal track record.

(AFP, Reuters, France 24, Mirror)

The post Live streaming terrorism: social media on the spotlight after incident in France appeared first on New Europe.

Catégories: European Union

Orlando shooters’ motives still unclear

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Authorities are trying to understand the motives of the man who killed 49 people and wounded 53 more on Saturday evening in Orlando, Florida. Four men remain in critical conditions and 28 are still in hospital from the deadliest mass shooting attack in US history.

The motives of the 29-year old shooter Omar Mir Seddique Mateen are not straightforward.

President Barack Obama said on Tuesday that Mateen was “an angry, disturbed, unstable young man who became radicalized.” However, investigators have said that there is no evidence Mateen had been in contact with groups such as IS.

Moreover, it appears Saturday evening was not the first time Mateen was visiting Pulse. He had been several times before and witnesses suggest he was flirting with other men. Sources speak of other nightclubs as well. And there are more witnesses yet who say the man was visiting gay chat-rooms online. Investigators also place him in a number of venues associated with Gay Days 2016, a city-wide celebration, which may suggest surveillance.

The question now being asked was whether this was a planning routine or something else.

Matten’s former colleague Dan Gilroy told CNN that he constantly made homophobic, sexist and racist remarks. While his father said on Tuesday he did not think his son was gay. His ex-wife Sitora Yusufiy, with whom he had a 3-year old son, says she does not know whether Mateen was gay, but would not be surprised if he wa since he was “in such deep conflict within himself.”

Mateen has been twice investigated in 2014 when he suggested he have links to terrorist at work. Mateen has worked as a security officer.

His second Noor Zahi Salman told the FBI she was with him when he bought ammunition and that she once drove him to Pulse. Authorities are whether to prosecute Noor as it is believed she may have had prior knowledge of the attack.

Born in New York, Mateen had a degree in criminal justice technology.

(BBC, CNN, NBC)

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Catégories: European Union

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