Media
Interview
16 October 2015
EU-Turkey relations carry a strategic significance
According to EFD Senior Policy Advisor Dr. Demir Murat Seyrek, the refugee crisis has demonstrated that the meaning of EU-Turkey relations goes beyond the discussions regarding Turkey’s full admission to the European Union. Turkey cannot ignore the EU and the EU cannot ignore Turkey; they are necessary to one another....
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Article, Interview
15 October 2015
Early election in Turkey most likely means new coalition government – analyst
EFD Senior Policy Adviser, Dr Demir Murat Seyrek, is interviewed by Azerbaijan's Trend News Agency on the upcoming 1 November elections in Turkey. In the interview, Dr Seyrek predicts that Turkey's election will likely result in the creation of a grand new coalition government between the currently governing Justice and Development Party (AKP) and the Republican People's Party (CHP)....
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Mention
14 October 2015
Strategic dialogue and cooperation between Turkey and the EU regarding Syria must not be abused in new Turkish elections
The Brussels Times reports on the upcoming elections in Turkey, in which this article discloses that the EU has been urged not to allow its strategic partnership with Turkey regarding Syria to be abused as an election item that could boost the ruling AK party. The warning comes a a time as EU leaders are meeting with Turkey to discuss the situation in Syria, the migrant crisis and the EU and Turkey's "common fight against terrorism."...
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Article
13 October 2015
Syrian Refugee Crisis: Turkey-EU relations – the return of realpolitik?
EFD Senior Policy Adviser, Dr Demir Murat Seyrek, writes about EU-Turkey relations in the midst of the upcoming 1 November elections in Turkey. Discussions of Turkey's EU membership has been put on hold for the time being, due to the Brussel's focus turning to other matters at hand, including Russia, the refugee crisis, the rise of the far-right and growing Euroscepticism. Turkey as well has been preoccupied, with over 2 million refugees now resi...
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Article
30 September 2015
PM+: EU lacking effective response to extremist online propaganda
Tehmina Kazi, director of British Muslims for Secular Democracy and a Fellow at the European Foundation for Democracy, writes about the difficulty in countering online extremism and explains why vulnerable individuals have been so susceptible to their messages. In the article, Tehmina stresses the importance of combating non-violent extremism with the same tenacity as violent extremism and provides several examples for how an effective counte...
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Article
28 September 2015
The Salafists are the better social workers
Ahmad Mansour discusses the growing appeal of Salafism among young Muslims, and calls for an urgent critical debate about Islamic reform. He stresses that religious extremism needs to be addressed also in cases where it does not lead to physical violence....
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Mention
06 August 2015
The halt to Turkey’s authoritarian behavior
EFD Senior Policy Advisro Dr. Demir Murat Seyrek is mentioned in the Polish national daily newspaper Rzeczpospolita, commenting the latest Turkish election results and giving an in-depth analysis of what may happen next in Turkey's political scenario....
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Mention
20 July 2015
What makes Salafism attractive?
The child and youth protection agency of the German federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia reports on a symposium which was held on 2nd June 2015 on the topic of “Salafism — recruitment strategies and prevention approaches.” At the symposium, EFD Programme Director Ahmad Mansour discussed the psychological aspects of Salafism and why it can be appealing to young people....
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Op-Ed
16 July 2015
EU must strengthen eastern and southern neighbourhood in fight against radicalism
EFD Researcher Tommaso Virgili summarises the findings of an EFD publication on secularism in Azerbaijan and the threat of radicalisation in the region....
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Article
12 July 2015
In Egypt, political Islam kills
EFD Senior Fellow Valentina Colombo comments on the recent blast that severely damaged the Italian consulate in Cairo, Egypt. “The Egyptian press’ version, that explains the attack by citing its proximity to the High Court of Cassation, is plausible”, she says....
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Article
09 July 2015
People who can think for themselves are immune to radicalisation
Local German media reports on a panel discussion on the topic of radicalisation prevention work, featuring EFD Programme Director Ahmad Mansour. The article acknowledges Ahmad’s extensive contribution to the debate, where he warned that, at present, ‘the Salafists are proving to be the better social workers’, and that much more needs to happen in civil society to ensure that the needs of young people are met....
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Article
30 June 2015
The devil is in the details: what could a deal with Iran look like?
Summary of a parliamentary briefing on the Iranian nuclear negotiations with expert speakers Dr. Bruno Tertrais and Lukasz Kulesa, co-organised on 17th June 2015 by the European Leadership Network, the APPG on Global Security and Non Proliferation and the European Foundation for Democracy....
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Article
28 June 2015
The Tunisian model falters
Following the 47th attack since the Arab Spring, Tunisia must reflect on the democratic transition of the last four and a half years, and take stock of the situation, says EFD Senior Fellow Valentina Colombo. Tunisia, she adds, must not lose its identity, but find a solution to the economic crisis and to the spread of political Islam....
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Article
27 June 2015
Islamic terrorism strikes across the globe
EFD Senior Fellow Valentina Colombo comments on recent attacks in Tunisia, France and Kuwait. She also highlights that the Muslim Brotherhood is “infiltrating” European societies in order to conquer the world ideologically and politically....
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Article
23 June 2015
What to do when a school pupil is a member of “Generation Allah”? School teachers turn to two experts for advice
Swiss newspaper Aargauer Zeitung reports on a seminar with Ahmad Mansour at a college. The aim of the session is to discuss approaches to preventing Islamic radicalisation with educators. Ahmad states “a lot of teachers would really like to see a leaflet outlining the features of radicalisation. Unfortunately we don’t have these. You can only assess a pupil’s beliefs and views by talking to them individually.”...
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Mention
22 June 2015
Many points addressed, but very few questions answered
Facetten magazine reports on a panel discussion with Ahmad Mansour which took place at a church in Berlin’s Neukölln district under the title “Islam — between youth culture, religion and politics.” Among the guest speakers were Islamism expert Claudia Dantschke, local Imam Ender Cetin and Member of the Bundestag Erol Özkaraca (SPD)....
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Interview
22 June 2015
Mr Mansour, IS the terror group is planning to attack Switzerland?
Ahmad Mansour is interviewed in Switzerland’s Aargauer Zeitung on the topic of radicalisation among young Muslims. Ahmad stresses the danger of speaking about radicalisation exclusively in connection with violent jihadists; he states that the topic has to be understood as a broader tendency among young Muslims in “Generation Allah.”...
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Interview
22 June 2015
Muslim Forum: Islam and German reality
Ahmad Mansour is interviewed in Germany’s Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung about the newly founded “Muslim Forum Germany” (“Muslimisches Forum Deutschland”),which aims to give a voice to humanistically oriented Muslims....
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Article
20 June 2015
That’s how the Muslim Brotherhood is conquering Europe
EFD Senior Fellow Valentina Colombo explains how the Muslim Brotherhood is gradually succeeding in creating a well-structured, pervasive network in Europe. She highlights the roles played by key figures such as Yusuf Qaradawi and Ibrahim El Zayat in achieving "full integration" in European societies....
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Interview
19 June 2015
Germany’s “Generation Allah”: why young Muslims are becoming radicalised
EFD Programme Director Ahmad Mansour is interviewed on German news portal web.de on the topic of radicalisation among young Muslims in Germany. He describes tendencies in the current generation of young people - which he refers to as "Generation Allah" - where a general increase in religiousness can be observed....
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Mention
09 June 2015
Period of uncertainty after elections in Turkey
EFD Senior Policy Advisor Dr. Demir Murat Seyrek comments the outcome of the Turkish elections, that were held last June....
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Mention
09 June 2015
Uncertainty follows Turkish election
EFD Senior Policy Advisor Dr. Demir Murat Seyrek is mentioned in the Austrian daily financial newspaper WirtschaftsBlatt, where he comments on the new government coalition created after the Turkish parliamentary elections, which marked the end of the ruling AKP one-party government....
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Op-Ed
08 June 2015
Turkey votes – Part II: All shook up-A first assessment of Turkey’s post-election political landscape
EFD Senior Policy Advisor Dr. Demir Murat Seyrek and Amanda Paul, European Policy Centre (EPC) Senior Policy Analyst published a commentary on the recent Turkish electoral results of June 7....
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Interview
Interview
08 June 2015
We speak far too infrequently about political topics
EFD Programme Director Ahmad Mansour is interviewed in Germany’s Der Tagesspiegel newspaper on rising anti-Semitism a...
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Op-Ed
03 June 2015
Turkey’s 7 June parliamentary elections – Part I – A pivotal moment for Turkey’s future
On 7 June, Turks will head to the polls to elect a new parliament. This election is a pivotal moment for Turkey’s future, with two battles being played out. EFD Senior Policy Advisor, Dr. Demir Murat Seyrek and Amanda Paul of the European Policy Centre have released a commentary on the many facts of Turkey's parliamentary election....
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Interview
22 May 2015
ISIS destroys our heritage. Our culture is ignorance for them.
In an interview with Italian newspaper Giornale di Sicilia, EFD Senior Fellow Valentina Colombo comments on the attack on the Syrian city of Palmyra by the militant group Islamic State. She highlights that, despite the general disapproval of IS, many Islamic groups would be opposed to Western intervention....
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Article
21 May 2015
Put a Saudi Arabian at the Book Fair
In light of recent human rights concerns in Saudi Arabia EFD Senior Fellow Valentina Colombo comments on the presence of this country at the International Book Fair that will be hold next year in Turin....
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Article
17 May 2015
The death penalty does not stop Islamists
"On 16th May, Cairo Criminal Court sentenced the former Egyptian president Mohamed Morsi and 106 members of the Muslim brotherhood to death". EFD Senior Fellow Valentina Colombo analyses the consequences of this decision and stresses the need for reform at the basis of the Egyptian society and economy....
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Interview
03 May 2015
“Islamists often plan attacks together with family members”
Following a foiled terror attack in the German town of Oberursel, EFD Programme Director is interviewed in Die Welt newspaper on the radicalisation process and the urgent requirement for greater State level support in the prevention work....
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Article
30 April 2015
Between religion and tradition: Gender roles, sexuality and honour
An article by EFD Programme Director Ahmad Mansour on gender roles, sexuality and the concept of honour is published in the current edition of Germany’s Der Bürger im Staat....
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Mention
23 April 2015
Counter-radicalisation symposium in Vienna
EFD Programme Director Ahmad Mansour is among a number of international experts invited to take part in today’s counter-radicalisation conference at the Austrian Ministry of Justice....
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Mention
23 April 2015
Islamists spread fear in prisons
Austrian newspaper Kleine Zeitung reports on a symposium held by the Austrian Ministry of Justice to address the phenomenon of Islamic radicalization in state prisons....
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Mention
23 April 2015
Prevention ‘has to move faster than the Salafists’
EFD Programme Director Ahmad Mansour is quoted in a report in Austrian newspaper Die Presse on how to combat Islamic radiclisation in state prisons....
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Interview
23 April 2015
Psychologist on Islamism
Following a symposium at the Austrian Ministry of Justice on preventing Islamism in state prisons, EFD Programme Director Ahmad Mansour appears on Austrian national news to discuss the radicalisation process, and what needs be done both in the Muslim community and in mainstream society to safeguard young people from the violent ideology....
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Mention
23 April 2015
Rising number of Islamists in Austria’s prisons
Austrian newspaper Der Standard reports on a symposium held by the Austrian Ministry of Justice to address the phenomenon of Islamic radicalization in state prisons. EFD Programme Director, who was among the international experts invited to take part in the conference, is quoted in the article: “in many cases, the Salafists prove to be the better social workers.”...
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Article
14 April 2015
Don’t play it down! Trivialising the threat of radical Islam hinders effective prevention work
In an article published by Germany’s Konrad Adenauer Foundation, EFD Programme Director Ahmad Mansour calls for German policy makers to ensure that the debate about radicalisation is conducted carefully and thoroughly, without stoking hate or inciting fear....
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