Balkans:
Voice of Russia: Why does US support Balkan Islamists? ‘Experts from Gateston Institute of World Policy are concerned that more and more preachers of radical Islamism penetrate to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia.’
Bulgaria:
Novinite: Bulgarian nationalists rise against ‘unconstitutional’ ethnic Turkish Party. ‘Nationalists from Bulgaria’s VMRO party have staged a protest in Sofia, demanding that the ethnic Turkish Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS) party be declared unconstitutional.’
Greece:
Chicago Tribune: Racist attacks in Greece hit “alarming” levels-UNHCR. ‘Racially motivated attacks have risen to alarming levels in Greece and authorities are doing little to tackle the problem, the U.N. refugee agency said in a report on Tuesday.’
NBC News: Hate crimes increase, extreme right strengthens as Greece economy sinks. ‘Ali Rahimi was enjoying a warm Greek evening, chatting away with two friends, when a mob of 15 people approached and asked where they were from. “I told them that I am from Afghanistan and they said that it is time for me to go back to my country,” the 28-year-old asylum-seeker told NBC News. Rahimi attempted to run away but was cornered, beaten, hit over the head with a bottle and stabbed in the chest and back by three assailants in the entryway of his Athens apartment building.’
Hungary:
Reuters: Opposition turns up heat at Hungary ’56 rallies. ‘Right-wing Prime Minister Viktor Orban, speaking to a crowd outside parliament estimated by state news agency MTI at 150,000, rallied support for his maverick economic strategy that has frequently put him at loggerheads with the European Union.’
Russia:
The Moscow Times: Headscarf debate highlights Muslims’ grievances. ‘A ban on girls wearing the Islamic headscarf to a school in southern Russia has angered Muslims and forced President Vladimir Putin, who has robustly defended the Orthodox Church, to affirm that the country is secular.’
The Foundry: Anti-Terrorism operation in North Caucasus exposes Russia’s vulnerabilities. ‘The Kremlin’s control over the North Caucasus region has come under scrutiny as a massive counterterrorism operation in the area got underway. The latest counterterrorism operation took place in the republic of Kabardino-Balkaria and in some parts of Dagestan, Russian media reported Sunday.’
