islam
French caricaturist on satire magazine petrol bombing
On 2 November the Paris HQ of Charlie Hebdo, a French weekly satire magazine, were completely burnt in a Molotov cocktail attack at the next day's planned release of the paper called 'Charia Hebdo', dedicated to Tunisia's moderate islamist election victory. One French cartoonist replies
islam, newspaper, controversy, techno-media, islamic terrorism, society, france
Tunisia’s Arab renaissance comes out of London exile
On 23 September the arab spring achieved its most significant achievement yet. It was a rebirth for the modern Arab world without spilt blood nor fiery rhetoric in the dust and the death; instead it used ink and consensus to rebuild a country. Moderate islamist party ennahda, coming out of exile in the UK, won 41% in the country's first democratic elections on 22 October
islam, london, religion and democracy, tunis, united kingdom, children, arab spring
Blogger Khelil Ben Osman on Tunisian elections
There's no official result in the Tunisian elections yet. Nonetheless the moderate islamist party ennahda is on the verge of victory. One of the pioneers of the digital awakening during the jasmine revolution gives his view of the first great moment of democracy in Tunisia
islam, democratisation, islamic revolution, tunisia, jasmine revolution, islamophobia, politics
Alcohol ban? Istanbul cafes versus Turkish authorities
This summer a new broom was sweeping clean the streets of Istanbul – as well as the country’s football and armed forces. Who’s wielding the broom? What ‘rubbish’ are they trying to get rid of? ‘Turkey eats dirt’ is cafebabel.com’s response to the summer ‘dust up’ by the Turkish authorities. The final in our three-part series: Turkey cracks down on those famously dangerous things, street cafes
islam, bar, alcohol, the streets of europe, turkey, society, politics
Libya after Gaddafi: Europe’s Iraq?
The post-Gaddafi era is taking shape around the national transition council, which is currently in control of Tripoli. Uncertainty about the future is already taking hold though, with fears that Libya could become a new Iraq. This time it falls to Europe to avoid repeating the post-Saddam disaster
islam, italy, war, united nations, libya upraising, saif al-islam gaddafi, europe
Istanbul 'sex bus': student beaten for defending couple speaks
On 17 April a young Turkish couple were asked to leave a city bus because the driver considered their kissing and hand-holding as too obscene. Events worsened: whilst arguing with the driver at the stop in Taksim Square stop in the couple's defence, fellow passenger and politics student Gökçe Koç, 28, was assaulted by a stranger getting on the bus. We meet via facebook where Koç started a protest group, Seks Otobüsü (‘Sex Bus Number…’): 34 TN 1992 25T
islam, best of cafebabel.com, mustafa kemal atatürk, turkey, taksim, society, sex
Confused, Cameron? Don’t abandon multiculturalism just yet
There's nothing particularly new in the British prime minister's 5 February claims that multiculturalism has failed. But there is something worrisome about his speech, and not only because other English-speaking countries are looking to Britain as they debate the merits of their own multiculturalism policies. View from Canada
islam, integration, opinion, canada, david cameron, united kingdom, society
Berlin: Eid al-Adha is our christmas
It's early in the morning. Kreuzberg lays silent in the drizzling rain under the grey sky of Berlin. It is a November day like every other - and special for the more than 4 million muslims in Germany
Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I: ‘Young people in Europe feel unsafe’
He speaks seven languages, he’s down with the green cause and he’s the leader of the global orthodox movement which in Europe exists in the east, north and the Mediterranean, but he resides in Istanbul. Interview with the spiritual leader of 300 million worldwide. cafebabel.com in Athens and Istanbul meet the man
Catch Istanbul if you can
We're not even sure what Europeans think and know about Istanbul. It seems like it should be capital of Turkey, but it hasn't been since 1923. Its rich past reveals how it was a kind of European Union even before this one - where formal membership negotiations began five years ago in October - even existed. From religious clothing to boom-box playing imams via politically-affiliated university food, a first time glance at a metropolis from two districts which seem to bleed European references. Istanbul for beginners
- Read the special edition Catch Istanbul if you can
- Getting to grips with Byzantium, Constantinople, Istanbul and Europe
- Modern myths: politically divided university canteens in Istanbul
- Sorry, we’re women: inside Istanbul’s modern-traditional Blue Mosque
- Gay culture in Istanbul: ‘We have the balls to say it out loud’
- Islam for beginners: first stop Istanbul
Building a mosque in Warsaw: is it all trouble and strife?
Muslims in Poland go back several centuries, beginning with the arrival of tatar settlers in the eastern reaches of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. The muslim community in Poland has only recently begun attracting attention, with the building of a mosque financed by a Saudi sponsor in the Warsaw district of Ochota. Not everyone is happy
islam, religion, identity, racism, immigration, warsaw, catholicism
Lemon half moon cake for Danish far right party
In Denmark, the people’s 2010 revolution is lemon. The popular ‘citronhalvmåne’ cake is being sent in the tens to the offices of the far right Danish party, in protest of their immigration policies. Ironically, the crescent shape of the ‘lemon half-moon’ is also a muslim symbol – a perfect gift on the eve of Ramadan?
islam, food, immigration, yum nyam, junk food, gastronomy, right wing extremism
Heard about the niqab, mini short wearing ‘Niqabitch’ in France?
In September two twentysomething ‘crazy girls’ walked to the French ministry of immigration and national identity in Paris in somewhat alternative outfits; one has Maghreb origins. They're protesting over the internet against a law which bans the burqa in the public sphere - after all, 'this is a democracy’
islam, paris, religion and democracy, society, e-democracy, burqa, france
Three muslims in Brussels: (almost) ordinary citizens
Being Belgian and muslim poses no particular problem for Omar, Younes and Mourad. They don't wear the burqa, which is banned in Belgium, yet are often turned away from bars. In the EU capital, tolerance and rejection go hand-in-hand
islam, religion, belgium, integration, brussels, discrimination, youth
Islam and Europe: a five step waltz
The more widespread an idea, the more erroneous it is. Since the Middle Ages, each period imagines that the question of islam in Europe is a new phenomenon, too often forgetting history, which has not always been about the mode of conquest. A brief overview of a stormier past than one could have imagined
islam, discrimination, europe, culture, catholicism, society, history
Why the Swiss call Italian workers ‘baliaratt’
What’s the problem when three rats devour a Swiss cheese? Nothing, except when the rats represent the 45,000 Italian workers ‘stealing jobs’ in an Italian canton of Switzerland. That's according to 60 billboards splattered over the mainly Italian-speaking canton of Tessin or Ticino. Term of the week
islam, switzerland, italy, tower of babel, discrimination, society
German erasmus student on life in Istanbul
Who speaks English? Why don't men look me in the eye? Why do people still wear headscarves? A score of questions hit the European newcomer studying in the Turkish city
islam, university, students, mustafa kemal atatürk, turkey, religion and democracy, society
Bosnia-Herzegovina cinema: Jasmila Zbanic's 'On the Path'
Four years ago the Bosnian director unexpectedly won the golden bear at the Berlin international film festival with her debut film. Her new work 'Na Putu' also has controversial potential, handling themes of islamism and a couple's alienation in modern-day Sarajevo
islam, bosnia and herzegovina, film, culture, jasmila žbanič, film review, culture calendar
Berlin launch: Anti-islam book by German bank exec Thilo Sarrazin
The former politician launched his book 'Deutschland schafft sich ab' ('Germany abolishes itself' on 30 August in Berlin. Criticism of Germany's immigration policy is legitimate, writes the Italian, German and Austrian press, but don't attack muslims. Translated European press review selection
islam, integration, integration, germany, thilo sarrazin, immigration, euweek
Becoming an atheist? Renounce your religion online
The internet transformed our relationship with organised religion; it could now become its downfall. In 2009, Irish website Countmeout.ie caused an international stir by offering a quick, simple way to leave the catholic church. Panorama on how Europe's muslims, christians and jews exchange faith for freedom of speech
islam, religion, jews, germany, best of cafebabel.com, ex-jew, europe
by
by
by
by
by
