International

SP Member of Parliament Sadet Karabulut describes as 'unacceptable' the fact that a number of mosques in the Netherlands continue to act in accordance with Sharia principles of justice. The practice was revealed on Tuesday in an edition of popular TV documentary series Netwerk. “Sharia law is in conflict with our system of justice under which women and men are treated equally and discrimination is forbidden," says Karabulut. "The government must act as quickly as possible to put an end to Sharia practices in the Netherlands."

This week I fulfilled a teenage dream - to visit Albania and at the same time to do so as an election observer. Back then I was fascinated by the country's isolation. The Communist autocrat Enver Hoxha succeeded in draping this small country in its own iron curtain for forty years after the Second World War. During the de-Stalinization of the Soviet Union under Khrushchev he even changed course, moving towards Mao. Looking at the map I don't really understand how that was possible, with holiday destinations like Yugoslavia, Greece and Italy a short walk or swim away.