Presseurop |

France | Where Islam and the Republic get on (Le Monde, Paris)

Fri, 23 Sep 2011 16:01:08 +0100

On 31 March, the Indian Ocean island of Mayotte became the 101st department of France. For most of the local population, which is 90% Muslim, there is no conflict of interest between their religion and the principle of secularity much cherished by the French state. Le Monde reports. (Article)

THE 10 DAYS OF EUROPE | 2 | Saddle those horses (Presseurop, )

Sat, 25 Dec 2010 10:30:27 +0100

Given the political, social and religious confusion that plagues Europe, Spanish philosopher Fernando Savater pleads for a new spirit of openness to talents, ideas and creeds. (Article)

Secularism | For the free movement of gods (Die Zeit, Hamburg)

Fri, 13 Aug 2010 17:07:18 +0100

Confronted by a multiplicity of religions and their symbols, most states choose to forbid them. But in doing so, they are heading toward an impasse, claims Die Zeit while pleading for tolerance and pluralism. (Article)

Poland | Warsaw's cross row

Tue, 10 Aug 2010 13:13:54 +0100

“Bring down the palace, it obscures the view of the cross!” and “Move the cross to church, Poland is a secular country!”, these slogans could be seen during a happening against the cross in front of the presidential palace in Warsaw last night, Gazeta Wyborcza reports on the front page. The cross was placed before the palace after the air crash near Smoleńsk on April 10, in which 96 top Polish officials were killed, including president Lech Kaczyński. On 3 August a group of defenders of the cross blocked its transfer to a nearby church in violation of earlier arrangements with the Church hierarchy. This prompted Dominik Taras, a cook at the Warsaw Fine Arts Academy, to organize a protest on Facebook that brought several thousand people before the palace last night to appeal for the cross’s removal. “Yielding to the defenders of the cross, the State approved what is happening here. We also want to have our share in making fun of the situation”, he told the daily.

(News in brief)

Religion | Is Islam good for Europe? (El Mundo, Madrid)

Wed, 02 Dec 2009 18:06:17 +0100

The Swiss referendum on minarets has re-ignited the debate about Islam in Europe. While Muslim philosopher Tariq Ramadan stresses Muslims’ cultural contributions to Europe, journalist Arcadi Espada argues that religion is not a desirable calling card in Europe. (Article)

Italy | Muslims not getting Christian treatment (La Repubblica, Rome)

Tue, 25 Aug 2009 17:41:36 +0100

With moves to ban kebab shops, burkinis, and public prayers, town councils throughout Italy are increasingly resorting to measures that are perceived as discriminatory by Muslims, who are now beginning to respond with court actions. (Article)

Integration | Battle of the burka (Presseurop, )

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 19:16:14 +0100

Whether it's the burka in France, or the niqab or headscarf in Belgium, the debate about whether to ban certain Islamic forms of dress is back on the European agenda. The European press has been weighing up the issue at a national level about the need to legislate or not. (Article)