Media - European Foundation for Democracy

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....

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....

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....

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....

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....

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....

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....

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.”...

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)....

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.”...

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....

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....

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....

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....

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....

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....

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...

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....

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....

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....

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....

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....

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....

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....

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....

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....

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....

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.”...

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....

Interview 13 April 2015

Islam does not justify the massacre or the destruction

In an interview with Italian newspaper Il Giornale di Sicilia, EFD Senior Fellow Valentina Colombo highlights the absence of Islamic religious authorities as the major cause of misinterpretation of the Koran....

Broadcast 11 April 2015

What are you posting online?

EFD Programme Director Ahmad Mansour is featured on German radio in a piece which looks at ways to curb online radicalisation....

Interview 08 April 2015

The youngsters who are waging Jihad are just the tip of the iceberg

EFD Programme Director Ahmad Mansour states that the fact that youth from all social classes are vulnerable to radicalisation, and that the propaganda proliferated by ISIS is sophisticated and tailored to the interests and concerns of young people....

Press Release 03 April 2015

Garissa University (Kenya) students have been killed by the indifference of the West

“The deafening silence of intellectuals, universities, professors and scholars about the Garissa University College massacre fills us with dismay” Alberto Gambino, Director of the Department of Human Sciences at the European University of Rome and Valentina Colombo, Professor of Culture and Geopolitics of Islam and Senior Fellow at Brussels-based European Foundation for Democracy say in a press release issued on the 3rd April 2015....

Interview 26 March 2015

ISIS and Foreign Fighters

EFD Senior Policy Advisor Lorenzo Vidino elaborates on the wave of violent radicalisation among European youth. He identifies the cause of this phenomenon as an identity issue rather than economic and social hardship. He analyses the consequences of radicalisation, as well as the solutions implemented by the United Kingdom since the 2005 attacks....

Mention 26 March 2015

Leading author calls for ‘attack on all fronts’ against Islamic fundamentalism

The Brussels-based EU Reporter features a report on the public briefing organised by the European Foundation for Democracy and hosted by Julie Ward MEP (UK S&D) on 25th March 2015, "How to deconstruct the radical narrative? An alternative discourse of Academics and Activists of Muslim Heritage." The article presents an overview of the discussion as well as the views outlined by Karima Bennoune, Professor of international law at the University of...

Mention 26 March 2015

Muslim academics praised for “tireless” work tackling radical Islamist narratives

The Brussels-based EU Today features a detailed report on the public briefing organised by the European Foundation for Democracy and hosted by Julie Ward MEP (UK S&D) on 25th March 2015, "How to deconstruct the radical narrative? An alternative discourse of Academics and Activists of Muslim Heritage." The article presents an overview of the discussion as well as the views outlined by Karima Bennoune, Professor of international law at the Universi...