Bulgaria:
Focus: Monument of legendary VMRO leader Todor Alexandrov emerges in Skopje. ‘A monument of the legendary VMRO leader, Todor Alexandrov, riding a horse emerged in the Kisela Voda residential quarter in Skopje, Macedonian online media reported.’
Czech Republic:
Comment – Radio Prague: The black experience in the Czech Republic. ‘In the past 20 years, the number of foreigners living in the Czech Republic has increased dramatically as a consequence of the opening of the Iron Curtain. Still, the country is far from being as diverse as most other European nations, for example France or Germany, and the vast majority of the Czech population remains Caucasian.’ Greece:
Greek Reporter: Anti-Golden Dawn cleric gets death threats. ‘A Greek Orthodox Church leader said he has been receiving threatening phone calls after speaking out against the neo-Nazi Golden Dawn party that is on a rampage against immigrants, gays, Leftists, Capitalists and those it considers blasphemers.’
Washington Post: Anti-immigrant Golden Dawn rises in Greece. ‘At first glance, the shop on a nondescript street in this chaotic capital looks standard-issue military. Fatigues. Camouflage. Hunting gear. Deeper inside, the political message emerges. Black T-shirts emblazoned with modified swastikas — the symbol of the far-right Golden Dawn party — are on sale. A proudly displayed sticker carries a favourite [sic] party slogan: “Get the Stench out of Greece.” By “stench,” the Golden Dawn — which won its first-ever seats in the Greek Parliament this spring and whose popularity has soared ever since — means immigrants, broadly defined as anyone not of Greek ancestry.’
Financial Times: Darkness at Dawn. ‘One of the founding ideas of the EU was to banish once and for all the sort of destructive nationalism that had caused so many wars on the continent. Disorder in Greece is now putting this principle to its sternest test.’
Hungary:
Pictures – Alert Net: Supporters of the Hungarian far right Jobbik party march during a demonstration at the Avas apartment projects in Miskolc. ‘Supporters of the Hungarian far right Jobbik party march during a demonstration at the Avas apartment projects in Miskolc, 180 km (112 miles) east of Budapest, October 17, 2012.’
Slovakia:
The Slovak Spectator: When ‘decent’ is no longer decent. ‘Conforming to standards of morality, good taste, but also fairness, goodwill and kindness are all expressions that dictionaries use to define the word ‘decent’. However, the organisers of recent anti-Roma rallies in Slovakia, which turned instantly into popular forums for extremists, are now attaching a new, rather scary meaning to the word ‘decent’ with slogans such as ‘together for a decent and safe life’ or ‘marching for the rights of decent people’.’
Russia:
Reuters: Islam comes to the classroom in Russia’s Chechnya. ‘One of 420 teachers employed from madrasas to teach history of religion, Dzhabrailov is driving efforts by Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov to combat Islamist insurgency by implementing his own brand of Islam. In this Kadyrov has the backing of President Vladimir Putin, though some may harbor doubts about the man.’
On Islam: Hijab Row Shows Russia Muslim Grievances. ‘A recent row over the wearing of hijab in schools in southern Russia highlights long grievances by the Muslim minority about restrictions on their freedom to practice religion in their country. “We can talk about the need to protect the religious freedoms and sentiments of all Russians,” Abdullah Mukhametov, a Muslim political and religious analyst, told Reuters.’
Comment – The Guardian: The enigmatic world of Russia’s political opposition. ‘If Russia is, as Winston Churchill said, a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma, then it is time to add another layer. In the past year or so, a parallel universe has sprung up in the country, one catering to the tens of thousands of Russians who have banded together to oppose the continuing rule of Vladimir Putin.’
