Priest shot at Orthodox church in Lyon, France

A priest was shot at an Orthodox church in Lyon, France, at about 4 p.m. local time Saturday.

The priest is in critical condition and is being treated at the site, a spokesperson for the national police said.

The assailant is on the run, the spokesperson said.

MORE: France on highest security alert after terror attack

"An event is underway near the Jean-Macé sector, in the 7th arrondissement in Lyon," the French Interior Ministry wrote on Twitter. "Security and rescue forces are there. A security perimeter has been installed."

The ministry added that people should avoid the area.

This attack comes as the nation is on high-alert after a terror attack at the Basilica of Notre-Dame in Nice this week.

Source: ABC

Italy wants no more illegal migrants, minister tells Tunisia

[Handout photo/EPA/EFE]

Italy has no more room for illegal migrants, its foreign minister Luigi Di Maio said Monday (17 August) on a visit to Tunisia, from where many of them cross the Mediterranean Sea.

After a meeting with the Tunisian President Kais Saied, Italy’s top diplomat said Rome “is ready to present all the necessary aid to Tunisia” to combat illegal immigration.

But he stressed that “there is no question of leaving in Italy those who arrive illegally,” according to a statement by the Tunisian presidency.

Italy has been struggling in recent months to deal with daily arrivals of hundreds of migrants to its southern shores, a task complicated by security measures imposed by the ongoing coronavirus crisis.

Tunisia meanwhile is battling high unemployment and political instability, pushing more so-called economic migrants to cross to Italy.

Migrant arrivals to Italy rose by nearly 150% over the past year, with the majority coming by boat from Tunisia, Italy’s interior ministry said on Saturday.

Italy’s Interior Minister Luciana Lamorgese joined Di Maio along with the European Commissioner for Enlargement Oliver Varhelyi and European Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson.

Negotiations between Italy and Tunisia will continue “to find formulas for bilateral cooperation,” the Italian foreign minister said, according to the Tunisian presidency.

The Italian delegation had expressed its “political and economic support” to strengthen Tunisia’s efforts … to encourage investment and job creation, especially in the interior regions,” the statement added.

Tunisia’s Saied said that “security solutions alone do not make it possible to fight against irregular immigration”.

From 1 August 2019 to 31 July 2020, 21,618 migrants arrived at Italy’s shores, 148.7% more than the 8,691 landings the year before, according to data presented by Lamorgese on Saturday.

Despite the sharp rise, the number of migrant arrivals is still far below numbers recorded in recent years.

From 2016 to 2017, Italy recorded 182,877 migrant arrivals.

After Italy signed a deal with Libya for its coast guard to prevent migrant departures, the number fell to 42,700 in the 2017 to 2018 period.

Source: Euractive

Labour found guilty of 'unlawful acts' in damning EHRC antisemitism report - Corybn suspended

Investigation identifies 'serious' failings in the Labour Party leadership in addressing antisemitism

The Labour Party has been served with an unlawful act notice after the investigation into antisemitism by the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC)  found it responsible for unlawful acts of harassment and discrimination.

The investigation identified "serious" failings in the Labour Party leadership in addressing antisemitism and an inadequate process for handling antisemitism complaints.

The party was found responsible for three breaches of the Equality Act (2010) relating to political interference in antisemitism complaints; failure to provide adequate training to those handling antisemitism complaints; and harassment.

Damningly the EHRC confirmed it found “political interference from within the Leaders Office” was present in one third of the 70 cases it looked into during the investigation.

It also found Labour to be “responsible” for a series of comments made about antisemitism by Ken Livingstone.

The EHRC concluded that the Leaders Office “directly interfered” in a complaint about Jeremy Corbyn’s comments on the antisemitic mural in Tower Hamlets.

The complaint was dismissed as not meeting the threshold for investigation.

An EHRC spokesperson said it was not for the watchdog to decide on how Mr Corbyn would respond to claims about failures under his leadership signalled out in the report.

The equalities watchdog found evidence of political interference in the complaints process, with 23 instances of inappropriate involvement by the leader of the opposition’s office (LOTO) and others in the 70 files looked at.

It said this included LOTO staff influencing decisions on complaints, especially decisions on suspensions or to investigate a claim. Some decisions were made because of likely press interest rather than any formal criteria.

The EHRC said: "The Labour party adopted a practice of political interference in certain complaints and the evidence indicates that it occurred more regularly in antisemitism cases.

“The EHRC has found this to be indirectly discriminatory and unlawful, adding that the practice puts the person making a complaint of antisemitism at a disadvantage as they could face different and detrimental treatment and a risk that their complaint would not be handled fairly.

“A transparent and independent antisemitism complaints process, where all cases of alleged discrimination, harassment or victimisation are investigated promptly, rigorously and without interference is an essential part of the reforms needed to rebuild trust.”

An EHRC spokesperson added their “investigation focused on the Labour Party” and that “blame for antisemitism cannot be put on one person.

But they said “some blame” could be attached to Jeremy Corbyn over failures to deal with the crisis.

The report also contrasted the way sexual harassment complaints had been treated with the failings over antisemtism cases.

The equality body said its analysis points to a culture within the party which, "at best, did not do enough to prevent antisemitism and, at worst, could be seen to accept it.

"This is in direct contrast to the comprehensive guidance and training in place to handle sexual harassment complaints that demonstrates the party’s ability to act decisively when it needs to, indicating that antisemitism could have been tackled more effectively," the EHRC said. 

The investigation also stated that the party needed to instil a culture that encouraged members to challenge inappropriate behaviour and to report antisemitism complaints.

The EHRC has warned that, despite some recent improvements, the party must do more if it is going to regain the trust of the Jewish community, the public and many of its members. 

It set out "clear, fair and achievable recommendations" to help the party make "positive" changes to its policies, processes and culture. 

The new leadership’s commitment to implement the EHRC recommendations was said to be welcome.

The Labour Party has until 10 December to draft an action plan to implement the recommendations, which is legally enforceable by the court if not fulfilled.  

Caroline Waters, Interim Chair of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, said: “The Labour Party made a commitment to zero tolerance for antisemitism. Our investigation has highlighted multiple areas where its approach and leadership to tackling antisemitism was insufficient. This is inexcusable and appeared to be a result of a lack of willingness to tackle antisemitism rather than an inability to do so.

“It is encouraging to see the party’s new leadership has committed to implementing our recommendations in full. If the party truly wants to rebuild trust with its members and the Jewish community, it must acknowledge the impact that numerous investigations and years of failure to tackle antisemitism has had on Jewish people, and take swift, sincere action to improve.

“Politicians on all sides have a responsibility to set standards for our public life and to lead the way in challenging racism in all its forms. There have been recent examples of behaviour from politicians of various parties that fall well below the standards we would expect.

"While freedom of expression is essential to proper political debate, politicians must recognise the power of their language to sow division. Our recommendations provide a foundation for leaders to make sure that they adhere to equality law and demonstrate their commitment to diversity and inclusion through their words and actions.”

The probe was launched after complaints from the Campaign Against Antisemitism and a further submission from the Jewish Labour Movement.

The EHRC launched its investigation in May 2019.

Source: The Jewish Chronicle