Latest news with #InteriorMinister
Asharq Al-Awsat
4 days ago
- Health
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Saudi Arabia: No Diseases or Security Incidents Reported at Hajj
Deputy Governor of the Makkah Region Prince Saud bin Mishaal bin Abdulaziz announced on Thursday that no diseases or security incidents have been reported during this year's Hajj. The pilgrims traveled from the holy city of Makkah to Mina and later to Arafat smoothly and in line with operational plans, he stressed. Their transport was held in record time, he revealed, while the pilgrims enjoyed integrated services provided by all concerned sectors. Prince Saud added: 'God Almighty honored the Saudi leadership, government and people with hosting the holy sites and serving its visitors.' 'This is a major responsibility that obligates us to fulfill with dedication' to meet the aspirations of the visitors, he added. He highlighted the system of services that the Saudi government has provided to the pilgrims that has ensured that they carried out their rituals smoothly and safely. He also highlighted the financial and human resources that have been dedicated to organizing the Hajj. They have been backed by massive projects and plans that are being overseen by Interior Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif so that the pilgrims can perform their rituals at ease. Prince Saud called on the pilgrims to respect regulations and instructions because 'your safety is our goal and serving you is our purpose.'
CTV News
31-05-2025
- General
- CTV News
Paris probes antisemitic vandalism targeting synagogues and a Holocaust memorial
Paris' Shoah Memorial is defaced with green paint after several Jewish sites across the capital were defaced with green paint. Saturday, May 31, 2025 in Paris. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard) PARIS — Authorities in Paris have launched an investigation after several Jewish sites across the capital were defaced with green paint. The vandalism, discovered early Saturday morning, targeted the Shoah Memorial, two synagogues and a Jewish restaurant in the city's historic Marais district, as well as a third synagogue in the 20th arrondissement (district). An open can of paint was reportedly found nearby, while French media said surveillance footage from the Holocaust Memorial showed an individual dressed in black spraying paint overnight. The Paris prosecutor's office confirmed it had opened a probe for 'damage committed on the grounds of religion,' citing attacks on 'three synagogues, a restaurant, and the Shoah Memorial' during the night of Friday to Saturday. Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau expressed his 'immense disgust' regarding the acts of vandalism targeting the Jewish community through a post on X, formerly Twitter. The acts come ahead of the Jewish holiday of Shavuot. France's interior ministry had already called for heightened security around Jewish sites this weekend due to heightened global tensions. No suspects have been arrested, and no group has claimed responsibility. The Associated Press
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Germany bans the largest 'Reich citizen' group and arrests 4 leaders
BERLIN (AP) — The German government has banned the largest 'Reich citizen' group, an extremist far-right organization that calls itself the 'Kingdom of Germany' and seeks to undermine the country's democratic order, and arrested four of its leaders. Since early Tuesday, 800 police officers in several states have been searching the association's properties and the homes of leading members. 'The members of this association have created a 'counter-state' in our country and built up economic criminal structures,' Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said, adding that the members of the group underpinned their supposed claim to power with antisemitic conspiracy narratives — a behavior that the country can't tolerate. 'We will take decisive action against those who attack our free democratic basic order,' Dobrindt added. The so-called Reich citizen, or Reichsbürger, movement doesn't recognize Germany as a state. Many of them claim that the historical German Reich still exists and ignore the country's democratic and constitutional structures such as parliament, laws or courts. They also refuse to pay taxes, social security contributions or fines. The 'Kingdom of Germany' was proclaimed by its leader Peter Fitzek — who was among those arrested on Tuesday — in the eastern town of Wittenberg in 2012 and says it has around 6,000 followers, though the interior ministry said that the group has about 1,000 members. It claims to be a 'counter-state' that seceded from the German federal government. 'This is not about harmless nostalgics, as the title of the association might suggest, but about criminal structures, criminal networks," the minister told reporters later in Berlin. "That's why it's being banned today.' The group's online platforms will be blocked and its assets will be confiscated to ensure that no further financial resources can be used for extremist purposes. It's not the first time that Germany has acted against the 'Reichsbürger' movement. In 2023, German police officers searched the homes of about 20 people in connection with investigations into the far-right Reich Citizens scene, whose adherents had similarities to followers of the QAnon movement in the United States. Last year, the alleged leaders of a suspected far-right plot to topple Germany's government went on trial on Tuesday, opening proceedings in a case that shocked the country in late 2022. Kirsten Grieshaber, The Associated Press
The Independent
13-05-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Germany bans the largest 'Reich citizen' group and raids leaders' homes
The German government has banned the largest 'Reich citizen' group, an extremist far-right organization that calls itself the 'Kingdom of Germany' and seeks to undermine the country's democratic order. Since early Tuesday morning, hundreds of security forces in several states have been searching the association's properties and the homes of leading members. 'The members of this association have created a 'counter-state' in our country and built up economic criminal structures,' Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said, adding that the members of the group underpinned their supposed claim to power with antisemitic conspiracy narratives — a behavior that the country cannot tolerate. 'We will take decisive action against those who attack our free democratic basic order,' Dobrindt added. The so-called ' Reich citizen, ' or Reichsbürger" movement does not recognize Germany as a state. Many of them claim that the historical German Reich still exists and ignore the country's democratic and constitutional structures such as parliament, laws or courts. They also refuse to pay taxes, social security contributions or fines. The so-called 'Kingdom of Germany' was proclaimed by its leader Peter Fitzek in the eastern town of Wittenberg in 2012 and says it has around 6,000 followers, the interior ministry said in a statement. It claims to be a 'counter-state' that seceded from the German federal government. The group's online platforms will be blocked and its assets will be confiscated to ensure that no further financial resources can be used for extremist purposes. It's not the first time that Germany acts against the 'Reichsbürger' movement. In 2023, German police officers searched the homes of about 20 people in connection with investigations into the far-right Reich Citizens scene, whose adherents had similarities to followers of the QAnon movement in the United States. Last year, the alleged leaders of a suspected far-right plot to topple Germany's government went on trial on Tuesday, opening proceedings in a case that shocked the country in late 2022.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Germany bans the largest 'Reich citizen' group and raids leaders' homes
BERLIN (AP) — The German government has banned the largest 'Reich citizen' group, an extremist far-right organization that calls itself the 'Kingdom of Germany' and seeks to undermine the country's democratic order. Since early Tuesday morning, hundreds of security forces in several states have been searching the association's properties and the homes of leading members. 'The members of this association have created a 'counter-state' in our country and built up economic criminal structures,' Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said, adding that the members of the group underpinned their supposed claim to power with antisemitic conspiracy narratives — a behavior that the country cannot tolerate. 'We will take decisive action against those who attack our free democratic basic order,' Dobrindt added. The so-called 'Reich citizen,' or Reichsbürger" movement does not recognize Germany as a state. Many of them claim that the historical German Reich still exists and ignore the country's democratic and constitutional structures such as parliament, laws or courts. They also refuse to pay taxes, social security contributions or fines.
