EFD EVENTS 2010

In 2010, EFD fellows participated in over 80 events throughout Europe.

January

• Briefing on the threat of radical Islam in Europe with the Vice President of the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution Dr. Alexander Eisvogel, Cologne (Alexander Ritzmann)
• Speech by EFD Senior Fellow Dr. Wahied Wahdat-Hagh during a Conference, entitled “Patriotism, national pride and racism” organised by the State Capital Munich Social Services Department and Project Feierwerk, 28^th and 29^th  October, Munich (Wahied Wahdat-Hagh)
• Briefing on the threat of radicalisation in Europe with the President of the Office for the Protection of the Constitution Claudia Schmid, Berlin (Alexander Ritzmann)
• Briefing on the threat of radicalisation with the Islamist Terrorism Desk in the Office for the Protection of the Constitution Manfred Meier, State of Baden-Württemberg (Alexander Ritzmann)
• Briefing on the threat of radicalisation with the Islamist Terrorism Desk in the Office for the Protection of the Constitution Wilhelm Müller, State of Bremen (Alexander Ritzmann)
• Briefing on the threat of radicalisation in Europe with the Legal Adviser to the US Embassy Dr. Jacqueline Dadswell and the First Secretary of the Economics/Global Affairs Unit of the US Embassy David Fisher, Berlin (Alexander Ritzmann)

February

• Briefing on the threat of radicalisation in Europe with the Special Adviser to the Senator of the Interior Sawsan Chebli, Berlin, (Alexander Ritzmann)
• Briefing on the threat of radicalisation in Europe with the Deputy Chief Council US-House of Representatives Committee on Homeland Security Dr. Michael Stroud, Jr., Berlin, (Alexander Ritzmann)
• Roundtable Discussion at the Friedrich Naumann Foundation, “New Administration - New Policies? The Status Quo of Civil Liberties and the Struggle against Islamist Extremism in Germany”, 5^th February, Berlin (Alexander Ritzmann)
• Briefing on the threat of radicalisation in Europe with the Professional Staff member of the US-Senate Committee on Homeland Security Seamus Hughes, Berlin, (Alexander Ritzmann)
• Speech by EFD Senior Fellow Valentina Colombo in a Seminar hosted by the University of Catania entitled “Islam and the West: dangers and perspectives”, 12^th February, Catania (Valentina Colombo)
• Briefing on the threat of radicalisation in Europe with the Liaison Officer US-Department of Homeland Security, Andrea Detjen, Berlin (Alexander Ritzmann)
• Briefing on the threat of radicalisation in Europe  with the Adviser on Homeland Security Office of US-Senator Thomas Carper Brad Belzak, Berlin (Alexander Ritzmann)
• Lecture by EFD Senior Fellow Dr. Wahied Wahdat-Hagh in a Conference, entitled “Human rights in Iran: How Europe could help the civil society” organised by Amnesty International and the Sufi community from Netherlands, France and Germany held at the House of Democracy, 19^th February, Berlin (Wahied Wahdat-Hagh)
• Briefing on the threat of radicalisation in Europe with the Professional Staff member US-Senate Committee on Homeland Security Christan Beckner, Berlin, (Alexander Ritzmann)

March

• Participation of EFD Senior Fellow Valentina Colombo in a Seminar on Intercultural Politics in the Mediterranean at the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 2^nd March, Milan (Valentina Colombo)
• Participation of EFD Senior Fellow Valentina Colombo in a Seminar, entitled “Women, religion or belief. The case of Islam” at the United Nations, 12^th March, Geneva (Valentina Colombo)
• Lecture and weekly Seminar moderation by EFD Senior Fellow Dr. Wahied Wahdat-Hagh entitled, “Iran: Influence in the Middle East and a Challenge for International Politics?“ hosted by Molinaristiftung and Vollmarakademie,  Kochel am See, 28^th March to 1^st April (Wahied Wahdat-Hagh)

April

• Lecture by EFD Senior Fellow Dr. Wahied Wahdat-Hagh “Quo vadis Iran?” held at the University of Rostock Faculty of Social Sciences and hosted by the Heinrich-Boell Foundation, 13^th April, Berlin (Wahied Wahdat-Hagh)
• Lecture by EFD Senior Fellow Dr. Wahied Wahdat-Hagh in a Conference organised by Amnesty International and the Sufi community from Netherlands, France and Germany held at the House of Democracy, 19^th April, Berlin (Wahied Wahdat-Hagh)
• Lecture by EFD Senior Fellow Dr. Wahied Wahdat-Hagh about the persecution of Bahai in an event organised by Stop the Bomb, 27^th April, Vienna (Wahied Wahdat-Hagh)

 May

• Briefing on the threat of radicalisation in Europe with the Coordinator of German-American Cooperation in the German Federal Foreign Office Hans-Ulrich Klose, Berlin (Alexander Ritzmann)
• Hearing at the European Parliament, entitled “Human Rights Defenders and Political Prisoners in Syria’s Jails – What can Europe do?”, organised by the European Foundation for Democracy in cooperation with Leonidas Donskis MEP, European Parliament, 12^th May, Brussels (Roberta Bonazzi)
• Briefing on the threat of radicalisation in Europe with  the Commissioner for Human Rights Policy and Humanitarian Aid in the German Federal Foreign Office Markus Löning, Berlin (Alexander Ritzmann)
• Speech by EFD Senior Fellow Dr. Bakary Sambe at a Conference on the issue of African students trained in the Islamic universities in the Middle East, 14^th-15^th May, Cairo (Bakary Sambe)
• Briefing on the threat of radicalisation in Europe with the Minister of State of the German Federal Foreign Office Dr. Werner Hoyer, Berlin (Alexander Ritzmann)
• Speech by EFD Senior Fellow Dr. Bakary Sambe at Conference on Sufi Muslims Tidjaniya in France and Europe, 22^nd May, Montpellier (Bakary Sambe)
• Briefing on the threat of radicalisation in Europe with the Editor of Bavarian Broadcasting Dr. Stefan Meining, Berlin (Alexander Ritzmann)
• Lecture by EFD Senior Fellow Dr. Wahied Wahdat-Hagh, entitled “Why the new totalitarianism doesn‘t allow a democratic transition” held at the Europa-Universität Viadrina Frankfurt, 27^th May, Oder (Wahied Wahdat-Hagh)
• Briefing on the threat of radicalisation in Europe with the Editor of Der Spiegel Ulrike Demmer, Berlin (Alexander Ritzmann)
• Briefing on the threat of radicalisation in Europe with  the Editor of NDR- Broadcasting Nils Naber, Berlin (Alexander Ritzmann)

June

• Empowerment Workshop with  18 grassroots activists from six EU countries who work with Muslim communities in Europe, European Parliament, 21^st-23^rd June, Brussels (Roberta Bonazzi, John Duhig, Valentina Colombo, Bakary Sambe)
• 19 briefings by activists, EFD Team and Senior Fellows with several Members of the European Parliament, 22^nd-23^rd June, Brussels (Roberta Bonazzi, John Duhig, Bakary Sambe, Valentina Colombo)

July

• Briefing on the threat of radicalisation in Europe with the Chief of Staff Potsdam Police Department Mathias Tänzer, Potsdam (Alexander Ritzmann)
• Briefing on the threat of radicalisation in Europe with the Member of the German Parliament Serkan Tören, FDP, Berlin (Alexander Ritzmann)
• Briefing on the threat of radicalisation in Europe with the Counter Terrorism Unit of the German Federal Ministry of the Interior Thomas Nötges, Berlin (Alexander Ritzmann)
• Briefing on the threat of radicalisation in Europe with the Head of division of the Counter Terrorism Unit of the German Federal Ministry of the Interior Jürgen Merz, Berlin, (Alexander Ritzmann)
• Briefing on the threat of radicalisation in Europe with the Office of Counter-terrorism of the US State Department Jane Mosbacher, Washington DC (Alexander Ritzmann)
• Briefing on the threat of radicalisation in Europe with the Office of Analysis of Terrorism of the US State Department Heidi Panetta, Washington DC (Alexander Ritzmann)

August

• Presentation by EFD Senior Fellow Dr. Wahied Wahdat-Hagh at the International Association for the Study of Anti-Semitism (IASA) Inaugural Conference at Yale University, 23^rd August, New Haven (Wahied Wahdat-Hagh)
• Speech by EFD Senior Fellow Dr. Wahied Wahdat-Hagh on "The Terrorist Group Fedayine Islam and Its Relevance for the Islamists and Antisemitism in Iran" at a Conference, entitled "Global Antisemitism: A Crisis of Modernity" held at Yale University, 24^th August, New Haven (Wahied Wahdat-Hagh)
• Speech by EFD Senior Fellow Dr. Wahied Wahdat-Hagh on the persecution of Bahai in the Congress of Constitutionalists, 28^th August, Berlin (Wahied Wahdat-Hagh)

September

• Briefing on the negative impact of al Aqsa TV and al Manar TV on Muslim youth in Germany and Europe with the President of the Federal College for Security Studies Kersten Lahl, Berlin (Alexander Ritzmann)
• Lecture by EFD Senior Fellow Dr. Wahied Wahdat-Hagh on Islamist ideology and Al-Quds-day, 2^nd September held at AJC,  Berlin (Wahied Wahdat-Hagh)
• Briefing on the negative impact of al Aqsa TV and al Manar TV on Muslim youth in Germany and Europe with the Third Secretary of the Turkish Embassy in Berlin Yeser Zübeyde Tokat, Berlin (Alexander Ritzmann)
• Simultaneous interpretation by EFD Senior Fellow Dr. Wahied Wahdat-Hagh during a Conference hosted by Verein Iranischer Flüchtlinge (Organisation of Iranian Refugees), 11^th September, Berlin (Wahied Wahdat-Hagh)
• Briefing on the negative impact of al Aqsa TV and al Manar TV on Muslim youth in Germany and Europe with Member of the German Parliament and ranking member for Homeland Security Wolfgang Wieland, Green Party, Berlin (Alexander Ritzmann)
• Briefing on the negative impact of al Aqsa TV and al Manar TV on Muslim youth in Germany and Europe with Member of the German Parliament and ranking Member for Homeland Security Hartfried Wolff, FDP, Berlin (Alexander Ritzmann)
• Briefing on the negative impact of al Aqsa TV and al Manar TV on Muslim youth in Germany and Europe with Member of the German Parliament and ranking member for Integration Aydan Özoğuz, SPD, Berlin (Alexander Ritzmann)
• Briefing on the negative impact of al Aqsa TV and al Manar TV on Muslim youth in Germany and Europe with Member of the German Parliament and Deputy Chairman of the party Dr. Günter Krings, CDU/CSU, Berlin (Alexander Ritzmann)

October

• Briefing on the negative impact of al Aqsa TV and al Manar TV on Muslim youth in Germany and Europe with the Director of intelligence of the U.S. European Command Norman R. Hayes, Berlin (Alexander Ritzmann)
• Participation of EFD Senior Fellow Dr. Wahied Wahdat-Hagh in A Symposium entitled,“Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung“ hosted by Bundeszentrale für Politische Bildung, 4th October, Bonn (Wahied Wahdat-Hagh)
• Briefing on the negative impact of al Aqsa TV and al Manar TV on Muslim youth in Germany and Europe with the Adviser at the Council of the European Union Ivan Calabuig-Williams, Berlin (Alexander Ritzmann)
• Speech at the US European Command (USEUCOM) Counterterrorism Summit in Germany, aimed to find ways to improve counterterrorism efforts of US governments and European organizations, 5th October, Stuttgart (Alexander Ritzmann)
• Participation of EFD Senior Fellow Valentina Colombo in a Seminar entitled “Banned in the name of Allah. Islamic censorship against Muslim intellectuals”, John Cabot University, 13th October, Rome (Valentina Colombo)
• Lecture by EFD Senior Fellow Dr. Wahied Wahdat-Hagh at an event held at the Konrad Adenauer Foundation entitled “Iranische Kultur in Deutschland zwischen Tradition und Aufbruch“, 14th October, Weimar Hafis (Wahied Wahdat-Hagh)
• Briefing on the negative impact of al Aqsa TV and al Manar TV on Muslim youth in Germany and Europe with the Global Affairs Chief of the Embassy of the United States of America Don L. Brown, Berlin (Alexander Ritzmann)
• Launch of EFD Senior Fellow Dr. Bakary Sambe’s new book, "Islam et democratie“ (Islam and Diplomacy) at the Al-Saoud Foundation, 25th October, Casablanca (Bakary Sambe)
• Participation by EFD Senior Fellow Dr. Bakary Sambe in the Conference of the Euro-Mediterranean Network for sharing knowledge WIKA with the collaboration of the German Ministry of the Foreign Affairs, 27th October, Rabat (Bakary Sambe)

November

• Media briefing on EFD activities with Laurent Thomet (Agence France Presse), 4^th November, Brussels (Murat Seyrek)
• Briefing on the negative impact of al Aqsa TV and al Manar TV on Muslim youth in Germany and Europe with the Senator for Homeland Security in the Senate of Berlin Dr. Ekehard Körting, Berlin (Alexander Ritzmann)
• Support given to the activist Jasvinder Sanghera at the Honour Crimes Conference in Nyborg, 4^th November, Nyborg (John Duhig)
• Briefing on the negative impact of al Aqsa TV and al Manar TV on Muslim youth in Germany and Europe with the President of the Berlin Police Dieter Glietsch, Berlin (Alexander Ritzmann)
• Media briefing on EFD activities with Dennis Kefalakos (New Europe), 8^th November, Brussels  (Murat Seyrek)
• Working Lunch “Addressing Honour Crimes at a European Level” with four activists in the presence of 5 Members of the European Parliaments, organised by the EFD, European Parliament, 10^th November, Brussels (Roberta Bonazzi, John Duhig, Valentina Colombo)
• Briefings were held with: Diana Wallis (ALDE/UK), Bill Newton Dunn (ALDE/UK), Marina Yannakoudakis (ECR/UK), Julie Girling (ECR/UK), Jean Lambert (Greens EFA/UK), Eva-Britt Svensson (GUE/NGL / Sweden), Kurt Lechner (EPP/Germany), Monika Hohlmeier (EPP/Germany), Cristiana Muscardini (EPP/Italy), Silvia Costa (S&D/Italy), Tiziano Motti (EPP/Italy), Marc Tarabella (S&D/Belgium)
• Participation of the EFD team and four activists at European level at the EP Seminar “European Muslims: Model Citizens or Forever Foreign?”, organized by the British Council, European Parliament, 10^th November, Brussels (Roberta Bonazzi, John Duhig, Valentina Colombo)
• Briefing on the negative impact of al Aqsa TV and al Manar TV on Muslim youth in Germany and Europe with the First Secretary of the Embassy of the United States of America in Berlin, Dr. J. Benedict Wolf, Berlin (Alexander Ritzmann)
• Media briefing on EFD activities with Daniel Schwammenthal (Wall Street Journal), 12^th November, Brussels (Roberta Bonazzi)
• Media Briefing on EFD activities with Jan Balliauw (VRT), 16^th November, Brussels (Murat Seyrek)
• Briefing on possible cooperation between EFD and Legal Aid Organization of Afghanistan (LAOA) with Afzal Nouristani 21^st November, Kabul (Roberta Bonazzi)
• Media briefing on EFD activities with Brooks Tigner (Jane’s Defence Weekly), 22^nd November, Brussels (Murat Seyrek)
• Briefing on the negative impact of al Aqsa TV and al Manar TV on Muslim youth in Germany and Europe with the Senior Fellow of the Council on Foreign Relations Dr. Stephen Biddle, Berlin, (Alexander Ritzmann)
• German Muslim Empowerment Workshop hosted by Serkan Tören MdB, FDP, Deutscher Bundestag, 24-25^th November, Brussels (Alexander Ritzmann, Roberta Bonazzi)
• Participation by EFD Senior Fellow Dr. Bakary Sambe in a Conference on the referendum on South Sudan’s self-determination and the defence of Human Rights and minorities, Khartoum, 27^th-28^th November (Bakary Sambe)
• Briefing on the negative impact of al Aqsa TV and al Manar TV on Muslim youth in Germany and Europe with the Chief Bureau of Paris-based The Christian Science Monitor, Robert Marquard, Berlin, (Alexander Ritzmann)
• Empowerment Workshop with 13 activists hosted by Jean Lambert MEP (Greens EFA/UK), European Parliament, 28^th – 30^th November, Brussels (Roberta Bonazzi, John Duhig, Valentina Colombo, Irshad Manji, Bakary Sambe, Khairi Abaza)
• 12 briefings by activists, EFD Team and Senior Fellows with several Members of the European Parliament, 29^th-30^th November, Brussels

December

• Briefing by EFD Senior Policy Adviser Murat Seyrek with Syed Kamall MEP (ECR/UK), 7^th December, Brussels (Murat Seyrek)
• Participation by EFD Senior Fellow Dr. Bakary Sambe in a  Conference on Islam and religious revival in Lyon’s “Grand mosque,” 16^th December, Lyon (Bakary Sambe)
• Participation by EFD Senior Fellow Dr. Bakary Sambe  in a Workshop on Muslim reformers at the Research Group on the Mediterranean Sea and Middle East, 16^th-17^th December, Lyon (Bakary Sambe)
• Lecture by EFD Senior Fellow Dr. Wahied Wahdat-Hagh, "Genealogy of the ideology of Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt or how the Iranian Ayatollahs from the 19^th century influenced the Arabic Muslim to reawaken the Islam. From Afghani and Ayatollah Nuri to Hezbollah and Hamas", during a Seminar organised by the International Institute for Education and Research on Anti-semitism, 22^nd December, Berlin (Wahied Wahdat-Hagh)

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