Germany to punish forced marriages, common among Muslims, with 5 years jail

The German government is to make forced marriages, especially common among Turkish and Arab Muslims,¹ a crime punishable by up to five years in prison. Currently it is treated as a form of coercion.² Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere said culture should not be used to excuse something which is wrong.² Once parliament approves the proposal, it will become law.

Source: 1. The Canadian Press, 2. Reuters

Multiculturalism utterly failed in Germany, say German Chancellor Merkel

 German chancellor Angela Merkel said in a speech to younger members of her Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party that the "approach [to build] a multicultural [society] and to live side-by-side and to enjoy each other... has failed, utterly failed." and that immigrants should do more to integrate instead. There has been a heated debate recently on this issue since August when Thilo Sarrazin said "no immigrant group other than Muslims is so strongly connected with claims on the welfare state and crime".

Source: BBC