Denmark will crack down on the immigration of Islamic preachers to try to stifle radicalism among its Muslims.
A parliamentary bill does not mention the Islamic faith, but Anders Fogh Rasmussen, the Danish prime minister, has made the target of the legislation clear in announcing restrictions on "foreign missionaries".
It had been "too easy" for them to get a residence permit, he said.
"That is why we are now putting forward new requirements for residing in the country, like the demand that imams and others have an education and that they be financially self-sufficient."
[. . . .] It adds that foreign missionaries must have formal training and a close relationship to Danish parishioners. Foreign imams will have to show that they have a good knowledge of Danish affairs and practices, a rudimentary knowledge of Danish and an understanding of the country's democratic traditions.
[. . . .] The bill calls for applications from imams unable to satisfy government officers as to their "dignity" to be rejected and for imams already in Denmark and who are found to have incited to racism or other forms of illegal acts to lose their permits.
The bill says those who make statements which are a threat to others, who attack other religious persuasions, incite to violence or make derogatory statements on the base of colour, religion, race, beliefs or sexual persuasion, will be extradited.
[. . . .] Denmark already has one of the strictest immigration and asylum policies in Europe and has slowed the number of foreigners seeking asylum and residence to a trickle.[. . . .]
Just nine weeks before the European Union admits 10 new members, the Government has been debating how Britain should deal with migrants from those countries. Until this week, it has apparently been content with its original decision to institute an "open-door" policy in which citizens of new member states would immediately be entitled to the same rights of habitation and employment as those of established members.
[. . . .] But it is being strongly hinted that the rules for benefit eligibility will be tightened so that only those migrants able and willing to work would be inclined to settle here. [I don't think this will have much effect on some migrants such as the gypsies, the fanatical rabble rousers, the crooks -- since it relies on their inclination and these characters have other reasons for coming. NJC] The current requirement of six months' residence before unemployment and housing benefit can be claimed could, for example, be extended to 18 months in order to prevent the more blatant forms of "benefit tourism".
[. . . .] But even without entitlement to welfare benefits, incoming migrants will put pressures on the health service, and the country's infrastructure. However much their skills might be needed while the economy is expanding, their presence will have a social impact on local communities, and could risk inflaming the resentment which people already feel in the face of what they see as uncontrolled migration.
[. . . .] M Le Pen's home is in the Paris suburb of St Cloud, but he has always garnered most votes in France's conservative south. Illegal immigration from North Africa is a persistent problem along the Mediterranean coast, making M Le Pen's anti-immigrant platform all the more attractive.
In order to stand for election in the region, M Le Pen rented offices in Nice. But local officials say he has not shown that he has paid the taxes which would make him a legal resident. M Le Pen has accused the political establishment of trying to derail his candidacy. His opponents say he is using the issue as a publicity tool.
[. . . .] M Le Pen must present proof of residency to a tribunal in Marseilles on Feb 27. It will rule within three days. If declared ineligible again, he will have no further right to appeal.
The latest opinion polls show M Le Pen behind M Muselier and the Socialist candidate. But polls have traditionally underestimated M Le Pen's tally and he has a real chance if he is allowed to run.
[. . . . ] The NASUWT, which said the ban applied to "any excursion outside the perimeter of the school", has seen three of its members blamed for causing pupils' deaths. [all drownings]
[. . . .] "When something goes wrong, the leader bears a legal responsibility so the finger of blame will almost certainly point at the teachers."
An accident was no longer treated as an accident, he said. Instead, it led to lengthy inquiries by the police, the local education authority and the Health and Safety Executive, the suspension of the teachers involved and extensive publicity.
Because of growing allegations of abuse, the union has also advised members not to give children a lift in their own vehicles, not to place themselves in a "one-to-one situation" with a child and not to drive a minibus on an educational visit.
