Parliament
Australian’s Parliament speech on ‘final solution’ condemned
CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Fraser Anning called for a complete ban on Muslim immigration and linked Muslim communities to terrorism and being on welfare programs.

Chief inspector: English schools need to address extremist elements
(RNS) — Some head teachers who run inner-city schools with predominantly Muslim student bodies have taken issue with conservative Muslim parents who want their children to express their religiosity in school, and in turn accuse the teachers of thwarting religious expression.
Iceland could become first country to ban male circumcision
(USA Today) — The legislation being debated by Iceland’s Parliament would impose a six-year jail term on anyone who ‘removes part or all of (a child’s) sexual organs’ for nonmedical reasons.

Parliament’s action imperils Polish-Jewish relations
WARSAW, Poland (RNS) — The ultimate cause of the current crisis is that Poland has not sufficiently confronted its past.

Anti-Muslim Australian senator wears burqa in Parliament
(AP) — ‘To ridicule that community, to drive it into a corner, to mock its religious garments is an appalling thing to do and I would ask you to reflect on what you have done,’ said Attorney General George Brandis to the senator who donned the burqa.

A baroness in the British Parliament is suspended for anti-Semitism
(RNS) Baroness Jenny Tonge has been criticized before for making or tolerating remarks about Israel that demonize the country and cross the line to anti-Semitism.

Parliament committee: Labour Party not doing enough on anti-Semitism
A multi-party committee of lawmakers concludes that Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn helped create a safe space within Labour ranks “for those with vile attitudes towards Jewish people.”

Brits call Donald Trump ‘divisive, stupid and wrong.’ But will he be banned?
Parliament made plenty of noise about shutting the door on The Donald but only the home secretary could actually do it.

Anniversary of France’s niqab ban passes almost unnoticed
PARIS (RNS) The gradual transformation of the niqab issue from a national debate to little more than a footnote speaks volumes about French politics.

What Americans can learn from the British about setting a religious vision for change (COMMENTARY)
(RNS) It’s time for our religious leaders to step forward and set a vision, agenda and values; to hope that we, our politicians and our political parties can find our way to help America live up to its promise.

Austrian bill would ban foreign funding for mosques, imams
VIENNA (RNS) The government argues that the legislation, which Parliament will vote on this month, will help combat Islamic radicalism. Muslim groups and civic activists say it flouts the principle of equality.

German Catholics petition Schleswig-Holstein state to reinstate God in constitution
BERLIN (RNS) The Schleswig-Holstein parliament voted with a two-thirds majority to exclude mention of God from the new constitution, becoming the seventh of 16 German states to do so.

Atheist politicians may run the UK, but they remain closeted in the US
(RNS) The U.K.’s All Party Parliamentary Humanist Group has more than 100 members. The number of openly atheist members of U.S. Congress stands at zero. In the land of church-state separation, what’s keeping vocal nonbelievers out of office?
Gender-based abortions spark outrage in England
(RNS) Disclosures that women were being granted abortions based on the gender of their fetuses followed an undercover investigation by the Daily Telegraph. Now some want the doctors prosecuted and the laws changed.

British clergy condemn ‘Go home or face arrest’ campaign
CANTERBURY, England (RNS) Anglican and Roman Catholic clergy have condemned anti-immigrant bus and van ads with the slogan: “Go home or face arrest.” The ads were paid for by the Ministry of Home Affairs.