Kosovo: Iranians and IS
Last Wednesday, as reported by the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network (BIRN), a foreign-funded news agency, the government of Kosovo sent police to raid the offices of five Iranian-controlled non-governmental organisations in the Balkan country. Kosovo authorities said the five entities are suspected of money-laundering and financing terrorism and that action against them conforms to a state anti-extremist strategy. ‘The raids are tied to a case that is being investigated, with the goal of preventing and fighting terrorism in the Republic of Kosovo,’ an official representative said. Two targets of the police sweep were identified – Bregu i Diellit (Sunny Hill) in Pristina, the Kosovan capital, and the Koran Foundation in Prizren, the country’s main southern city and a centre of Muslim and Christian religious life. Express, which takes a strong line against all forms of radical Islam, was the main media source in the latest incidents. Duriqi, following threats to him and allegations that he is an apostate from Islam, now lives in Germany.
Italy: Ticino threatens to close Italy border to refugees
The head of the cantonal government of Ticino is warning that the border with Italy will have to be closed to refugees to stem the tide of asylum seekers entering Switzerland. ‘If the influx of refugees from Italy continues, we will have to close the border temporarily.’ Norman Gobbi, the Ticino government's president said. ‘It’s the only way for Switzerland to put pressure on other countries that do not respect their obligations.’ The number of asylum seekers and illegal immigrants crossing the border from Italy has doubled since last year and Switzerland is particularly critical of Italy for not honouring the Dublin Regulation, which requires that the first country in the EU where an asylum seeker arrives is responsible for dealing with his or her claim. Since the beginning of the year more than 50,000 refugees have arrived in Italy after crossing the Mediterranean in boats. Over the summer, the level of monthly requests for asylum is expected to surpass 3,000.
Ireland: Concerns about ‘lone wolf’ terrorist attacks
A Draft White Paper on defence policy outlines main security threats over the next 10 years. Authorities in Ireland are concerned about the threat of ‘lone wolf’ terrorists. This is repeated further down the article.The document details security concerns to which the country is or could be exposed, including cyber-attacks, the emergence of domestic terrorism and the risks of organised crime. The paper which went before Cabinet on Tuesday says the emergence of extremist groups in Syria, Iraq and Libya are playing a major part in the evolution of terrorist threats. There is also concern regarding the process of radicalisation through a range of influences, including the internet. In addition, Ireland has a responsibility to seek to prevent transnational terrorist groups from using the State as a refuge or as a base from which to direct their activities against targets in other countries.
Iceland: YWAM working in the most peaceful country in the world
IceNews this week reported that Iceland has been named the world’s most peaceful country according to the Institute for Economics and Peace. The non-profit group, which released its latest Global Peace Index for 2015 earlier in the week, ranked 162 countries around the world based on factors such as conflict, violence and militarisation. YWAM is very active in Iceland with a vision to be a community of missional disciples growing in intimacy with God and who are surrendered to his Son. Their goal is to partner with other believers whenever they can, connecting across church boundaries to transform every area of Icelandic society to make all things new. They believe that everything is spiritual. How we treat others, stand up for the oppressed and care for the environment go hand in hand with prayer, worship and reading scripture. See also: http://www.ywamiceland.org/ourvision/
