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SearchToday in Islamophobia: In Australia, one of the country’s largest mosques is facing what it says is the most “alarming situation” since the Cronulla race riots, with security bolstered for Ramadan celebrations, meanwhile in the United Kingdom, London celebrates the arrival of Ramadan with it’s annual Coventry Street light display, which will run from now until March 18, and lastly in Spain, the far-right Vox Party has reignited controversy after pushing legislation to criminalise the wearing of the niqab and burqa in public. Our recommended read of the day is by Annie Karni for The New York Times on how Florida Representative Randy Fine is facing a barrage of calls for his resignation from Democrats, after making an Islamophobic statement suggesting he prefers dogs to Muslims. This and more below:
United States
House Republican Faces Backlash to Islamophobic Post | Recommended Read
Representative Randy Fine, Republican of Florida, on Tuesday faced a barrage of calls for his resignation from Democrats — and silence from Republican leaders — after making an Islamophobic statement suggesting he prefers dogs to Muslims. Mr. Fine, a Jewish first-term congressman who was known in the Florida Legislature as “The Hebrew Hammer” and often makes Islamophobic remarks on social media, made the statement in question on Sunday in response to a post from a Palestinian activist based in New York City. Representative Hakeem Jeffries, Democrat of New York and the minority leader, said that Mr. Fine “is a disgrace to the United States Congress. He is an Islamophobic, disgusting and unrepentant bigot.” Mr. Jeffries added that it was “unacceptable that Mike Johnson and House Republicans continue to remain silent,” referring to the speaker. Gov. Gavin Newsom of California, the reigning Democratic king of trolling Republicans online, wrote bluntly, “Resign now, you racist slob.” Many House Democrats called for Mr. Fine to be stripped of his committee assignments. But Mr. Johnson remained silent, and Mr. Fine doubled down in response to the backlash. read the complete article
International
Swiss TV host calls out Israeli Olympic bobsleigh team over Gaza genocide support
Swiss public broadcaster Radio Television Suisse (RTS) has removed from its website a segment in which one of its commentators sharply criticised the participation of an Israeli athlete at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics over his public support for Israel's genocide in Gaza. The remarks were delivered by commentator Stefan Reina during Monday’s two-man bobsleigh run featuring Israeli athletes Adam Edelman and Chen Menachem. As the Israeli sledge appeared on screen, Reina described Edelman as "a Zionist to the core" and drew attention to the athlete’s social media posts backing Israel's brutal onslaught on Gaza, which the UN Commission of Inquiry and a growing number of legal experts have characterised as genocidal. Reina highlighted that Edelman had described Israel's genocide in Gaza as "the most just and moral war in history" and questioned whether such statements were compatible with Olympic rules governing political speech and support for war. read the complete article
Independent UN body condemns 'vicious attacks' on UN expert on Palestinian rights
An independent United Nations body on Tuesday condemned what it described as vicious attacks based on disinformation by several European ministers against the organisation's special rapporteur for Palestine, Francesca Albanese. In the past week several European countries, including Germany, France and Italy, called for Albanese’s resignation over her alleged criticism of Israel. Albanese, an Italian lawyer, denies making the remarks. On Friday, the Czech Republic's Foreign Minister Petr Macinka quoted Albanese on X as having called Israel a "common enemy of humanity", and he also called for her resignation. A transcript of Albanese's remarks made in Doha on February 7 seen by Reuters did not characterise Israel in this way, although she has consistently criticised the country in the past over the Gaza conflict. read the complete article
'In Israel's eyes, we are terrorists' | In search of Palestine: episode 1 – video
More than two years after Israel’s devastating war in Gaza began, the West Bank has become an increasingly volatile front in the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. While international recognition of a Palestinian state has gathered momentum, the situation on the ground is moving in the opposite direction. Israel’s government has advanced new annexation legislation, settlement growth is accelerating, and daily life for Palestinians is becoming more restricted and precarious. In a new series, reporter Matthew Cassel travels through the West Bank to document what daily life looks like under deepening occupation. Starting in Hebron and moving north to Ramallah, villages outside the city, and finally Nablus, he meets people across generations to ask: what does the idea of a ‘Palestinian state’ mean today? read the complete article
Australia
Lakemba mosque facing most alarming situation since Cronulla riots as Ramadan begins, Muslim leader says
One of Australia’s largest mosques is facing what it says is the most “alarming situation” since the Cronulla race riots, with security bolstered for Ramadan celebrations. New South Wales police are investigating after Sydney’s Lakemba mosque on Wednesday received its third threatening letter in a matter of weeks, ahead of the first night of prayers in Islam’s holiest month. Gamel Kheir, the secretary of the Lebanese Muslim Association (LMA) which operates Lakemba mosque, says the mosque is increasing security during Ramadan and has been assured police will have a visible presence at the site. For some Muslims, the rise in Islamophobia after the Bondi beach antisemitic terror attack in December when 15 people attending a Hanukah celebration were murdered, the political aftermath and increasing political rhetoric about immigration loom large. read the complete article
Pauline Hanson issues partial apology for suggesting there are no 'good' Muslims
One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has issued a partial apology for her suggestion that there are no "good" Muslims while attacking the government for "bending over backwards" for migrants and claiming without evidence that there are Australian suburbs Westerners cannot enter. On Monday, in a late night discussion about the possible return of the wives and children of Islamic State militants, Senator Hanson told Sky News: "I've got no time for radical Islam. Their religion concerns me because of what it says in the Koran. They hate Westerners. That's what it's all about." "You say, 'Well, there's good Muslims out there.' How can you tell me there are good Muslims?" she said. The comments were rejected by politicians across the political spectrum, including Nationals senator Matt Canavan who labelled them "divisive, inflammatory [and] un-Australian". They were also condemned as hateful by Islamic leaders. Senator Hanson told the ABC on Wednesday that she did not believe there are no "good" Muslims and referenced a non-practising Muslim woman who stood for One Nation. She apologised if she "offended anyone out there that doesn't believe in sharia law, or multiple marriages, or wants to bring ISIS brides in, or people from Gaza that believe in a caliphate". read the complete article
United Kingdom
‘London is an antidote to hatred’ says mayor as he illuminates West End with Ramadan lights
Muslims across Britain are preparing to enter a month of reflection, self-restraint and community, as Ramadan returns. London celebrated its arrival with the switching on of Ramadan lights in Coventry Street near Leicester Square on Friday. The installation of more than 30,000 LED bulbs runs throughout Ramadan from 5pm to 5am until 18 March. It will then switch to lights for Eid, which will remain on until 24 March. The design is inspired by Islamic geometric art, including motifs of both sunrise and sunset to symbolise Suhoor — the meal eaten before dawn, when the fast starts — and Iftar, the meal eaten after sunset, when it ends. For Muslims it is more than simply a marker of the holy month; it is also an opportunity to celebrate identity, belonging and pride. Sir Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London, who is Muslim, emphasised that message with a speech before the switch-on. “Let’s show the best of London, the best of Britain, the best of Islam,” he told the crowd of hundreds as they braved the cold and rain. After a year of record-high levels of Islamophobia, the ceremony was a chance to demonstrate the resilience, the joy and the community of Muslims. “One of our tasks during this Ramadan, both Muslims and non-Muslims, is to show that London is an antidote to hatred,” he said. “We are the antithesis of everything they believe in.” read the complete article
Canada
Muslim leaders warn of rising Islamophobia, boost security for Ramadan events
The Toronto Islamic Centre is increasing security for its Ramadan events this year after receiving “deeply disturbing” voicemails threatening violence toward worshippers and staff, the centre said in a news release Friday. Toronto police say they are investigating the incident. read the complete article
Spain
Spain's far-right Vox pushes bill to criminalise niqab, burqa
Spain's far-right Vox Party has reignited controversy after pushing legislation to criminalise the wearing of the niqab and burqa in public, in what rights groups and Muslim organisations say is a discriminatory attack on religious freedom. The proposal, titled "Law for the Protection of Women’s Dignity and Public Safety in Public Spaces", seeks to ban full-face Islamic coverings nationwide and impose fines of up to 600 euros on women who wear them. Repeat offences could carry penalties of up to 30,000 euros. The draft bill would also introduce prison sentences of up to three years for anyone found guilty of coercing a woman into wearing the garments. Critics argue that the legislation targets a tiny minority of Muslim women while fuelling anti-Muslim sentiment ahead of Spain's 2027 general election. Vox has framed the niqab and burqa as symbols of "subjugation" and claimed they pose a security threat, a rhetoric that civil rights advocates say echoes long-standing Islamophobic narratives in Europe. read the complete article