Mother of Calgary ISIL fighter told police her family was devastated by her ‘not religious’ son’s actions
TORONTO – The mother of an ISIL fighter from Calgary told police her family was devastated by the actions of her son, whom she described as “not religious” until shortly before he left for Syria, according to a court document obtained by VICE News. Nura Jama said in statements to counter-terrorism investigators in Alberta that […]
Malia Bouattia Elected Head Of British Student Union
The first black Muslim woman president of a prominent British student union organization representing 7 million people was criticized this week for allegedly being anti-Semitic and declining to denounce the Islamic State group. Malia Bouattia, a former University of Birmingham student who identifies as left-wing, was elected Wednesday to the National Union of Students, prompting […]
U.N. Official Slams U.K. ‘Big Brother’ Prevent Strategy
A top U.N. official has slammed a British government counter-extremism programme, warning that the state is perceived by some as acting like “big brother.” U.N. Special Rapporteur on the Rights to Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and Of Association Maina Kiai said following an official visit to the U.K. that the Prevent strategy, a government plan […]
NUS Presidential Election Threatens Student Splits
Students from several universities are threatening to disaffiliate their institutions from the National Union of Students (NUS) after its controversial presidential election. On April 20, Malia Bouattia was elected to lead the union, making her the first black, Muslim woman to do so. But subsequent accusations that she holds anti-Semitic views have dampened her victory. […]
Amnesty accuses Nigerian army of mass murder
Human rights organisation Amnesty International has issued a report accusing the Nigerian army of the massacre of 350 people in the north of the country in December. The alleged massacre followed a raid against Islamic militants in Zaria, after which the Nigerian senate set up an inquiry which has yet to report. The Amnesty report, […]
Israel Arrests Three for Sacrifice Plot on Temple Mount
Israeli police detained seven people on Friday on suspicion of planning to sacrifice lambs on the Temple Mount compound, also known as the Haram al-Sharif to Muslims, as part of a religious Passover ritual. Police said in a statement that two youths were initially arrested while making their way to the Temple Mount site, the […]
Where ISIL came from (and where it’s going next)
In June, 2014, Barack Obama dismissed the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) as the terrorist equivalent of a junior varsity basketball team. He remarked that “If a j.v. team puts on Lakers uniforms, that doesn’t make them Kobe Bryant.” In other words, nothing there for Americans to worry about. A few weeks […]
Curt Schilling’s Dismissal from ESPN Was Long-Deserved
ESPN fired Curt Schilling on Wednesday after the longtime analyst posted an anti-transgender meme to his Facebook page. The image in question featured a slovenly man dressed as a woman along with the words, “Let him in! To the restroom with your daughter or else you’re a narrow minded, judgemental, unloving, racist bigot who needs […]
BOE member who posted Muslims should ‘(s)tay in your desserts’ resigns
ELMWOOD PARK — The borough Board of Education member who faced criticism and calls to step down over anti-Muslim posts she made on Facebook resigned Friday, a report said. Gladys Gryskiewicz cited safety concerns for her family in resigning, according The Record report. Gryskiewicz wrote on post on her Facebook account that told Muslims to […]
‘I have no disrespect for Muslims’ BOE member says after Facebook controversy
ELMWOOD PARK — The borough school board member who was widely criticized for making anti-Muslim posts on Facebook said her comments were being taken out of context. Gladys Gryskiewicz reportedly posted one comment that told Muslims to “(s)tay in your desserts [sic] and follow your religion in your own countries,” the New Jersey chapter of […]