Social Issues

A west German town has barred refugee men from a public swimming pool after sexual harassment complaints from local women. The local authorities introduced the temporary ban and acted on their own, according to German magazine Spiegel. Sputnik reports: The measure was introduced temporary, before local social workers would be able to tell that the refugees understood the message. Refugees residing in a Bornheim center had access to the local pool as a part of benefits, provided by the local authorities.

Leaders of the Anglican communion in Canterbury, England, have barred a liberal US branch from voting and decision-making for three years, for supporting gay marriage. The decision came this week after years of deliberation. The US Episcopal Church supports same-sex marriage and ordained an openly gay bishop in 2003.

A Helsinki tabloid claims that refugee boys in their teens are being approached by Finnish women looking to pay for sex. Inta-Sanomat wrote that lone refugee boys desperate for money are being preyed upon by older Finnish women offering them $20 for sex. This is happening at the same time as immigration officers are rolling out programs to educate migrants about sexuality and social norms in Finland.

The traditionally inert, neutral and quite homogeneous nation of Switzerland is not used to having cultural integration issues, which is why it has been watching recent events across the German border (and elsewhere in Europe) with sheer terror. And in order to preempt any possible outbreaks of refugee violence against women, or in general, ahead of the Lucerne carnival starting on February 4, Switzerland is getting ready.

Submitted by Judith Bergman via The Gatestone Institute,

• Europe has voluntarily begun the process of giving up its liberal and hard-fought-for freedoms. Free speech no longer exists, only -- straight out of totalitarian ideologies -- "responsible" free speech: "free" only if it does not "offend" anyone.