Media
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....
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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....
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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....
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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....
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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....
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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...
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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...
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Mention
25 March 2015
Terrorism and the answer of universities
The Italian Brescia Oggi features a report on the public briefing organised by the European Law Students' Association (Brescia) in collaboration with the European Foundation for Democracy and Amnesty International on 24th March 2015, “International terrorism: new approaches and new strategies”....
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Broadcast
24 March 2015
Jihad on their minds
EFD Programme Director Ahmad Mansour is featured in a documentary broadcast on German television about the biographies of young Muslims who have become radicalised and, in some case, travelled to Syria in the name of jihad....
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Mention
24 March 2015
Terrorism: new approaches
The Italian Teletutto features a report on the public briefing organised by the European Law Students’ Association (Brescia) in collaboration with the European Foundation for Democracy and Amnesty International on 24th March 2015, “International terrorism: new approaches and new strategies”....
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Interview
22 March 2015
Interview with EFD’s Valentina Colombo on the Islamic State
In an interview with Commodities Trading, an Italian media outlet focusing on international business and finance issues, EFD Senior Fellow Valentina Colombo explains what the so-called Islamic State (IS) is and how it is able maintain its power base in the Middle East....
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Article
19 March 2015
A blow to the heart of Tunisia
EFD Senior Fellow Valentina Colombo discusses the consequences of the Bardo National Museum attack in Tunisia.
“È un momento critico per la nostra storia, è un momento che deciderà il nostro futuro”, queste le parole del Primo Ministro tunisino Habib Essid dopo l’attentato al Museo del Bardo, nel cuore della capitale tunisina, che ha causato una ventina di morti tra turisti e cittadini tunisini....
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Interview
18 March 2015
Terror in Tunisia
In an interview on Italy's Rai Radio 1, EFD Senior Fellow Valentina Colombo analyses the current situation in Tunisia, where political instability combined with weak economy creates a breeding ground for Islamist extremism....
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Interview
18 March 2015
Terrorists want to destabilise Tunisia
In an interview with Italian online newspaper Affaritaliani.it, EFD Senior Fellow Valentina Colombo stresses the urge to agree on a strategy for tackling the issue of migration in the European Union and explains why the Bardo National Museum attack can be considered as an attack to Tunisia's economy....
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Article
14 March 2015
Moral clarity is needed in countering anti-Western propaganda
EFD Fellow Anna Borshchevskaya calls on the Western policy-makers to be more committed to countering anti-Western propaganda....
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Article
12 March 2015
How Russia views the Iran nuclear talks
EFD Fellow Anna Borshchevskaya discusses the potential implications of the ever closer Russo-Iranian ties for the negotiations on Iran's nuclear programme....
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Mention
11 March 2015
Islam and Islamism: A discussion at our school about how we express our values
A large, inner-city secondary school in Berlin reports on a visit from EFD Programme Director Ahmad Mansour who held a discussion for pupils about Islam and Islamism. The aim of the session was to engage pupils in a critical discussion about their values, as well as to raise awareness of radicalisation and fundamentalist strains of Islam....
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Article
10 March 2015
Ahead of Egypt investment conference, cautious optimism for economic reforms
EFD Fellow Anna Borshchevskaya assesses the state of the Egyptian economy and calls on the US administration to support Sisi's economic reform agenda despite his undemocratic credentials....
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Article
10 March 2015
Sharia law comes first. So Islam whips and condemns
EFD Senior Fellow Valentina Colombo analyses the case of the Saudi blogger Raif Badawi and highlights the chasm between the universal human rights and the Islamic law....
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Op-Ed
02 March 2015
Internet “Freedom” in Turkey
Fundamental rights and freedoms in Turkey have been in decline for the last few years, including internet freedom, with Turkey hardly meeting the EU’s Human Rights Guidelines on Freedom of Expression. EFD Senior Policy Advisor Dr Demir Murat Seyrek and Amanda Paul, Senior Policy Analyst at the European POlicy Center, comment on the use of social media by the Turkish youth and on restrictions on internet freedom by the government....
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Article
01 March 2015
Dear Minister Alfano, regarding Islam: Italy is making a big mistake
In an open letter to Italian Minister of the Interior, Angelino Alfano, EFD Senior Fellow Valentina Colombo calls for an urgent re-think on Italian policy as regards Islam. She warns against Muslims being referred to as an "abstract entity", and calls for radicalisation to be addressed by working with young Muslims on a personal level and in secure environments such as schools. She also questions the extent to which "leaders from Italy's Islamic...
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Broadcast
27 February 2015
Anti-Semitism — daily life for Jews in Germany
EFD Programme Director Ahmad Mansour is interviewed on German news show heute-journal on the issue of anti-Semitism among young Muslims in Germany. In order to eliminate prejudice, Ahmad emphasises the importance of personal encounters and dialogue between Muslims and Jews....
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Broadcast
24 February 2015
How radical Salafists lure young Muslims
Ahmad Mansour is interviewed on German television about the ways in which young Muslims can be influenced by radical Salafists and the Islamist ideology....
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Article
20 February 2015
Anti-Semitism among Muslims
Following the terror attacks in Paris, EFD Programme Director Ahmad Mansour highlights the growing issue of anti-Semitism among young Muslims in Europe, and calls for urgent responses and prevention approaches to be developed. He states that the phenomenon is more widespread than many realise, and that current school curricula are not adapted to the needs of many pupils with migrant backgrounds. He also emphasises the need for topics such as the...
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Article
20 February 2015
Islamic style adoption to be introduced in Italy
EFD Senior Fellow Valentina Colombo discusses the implications of Islamic adoption or 'Kafala', which is set to be legalised by the Italian Senate....
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Article
17 February 2015
The West cannot abandon Ukraine now
EFD Fellow Anna Borshchkevskaya discusses what the West must do following extensive negotiations and the announcement of a ceasefire in Minsk....
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Article
16 February 2015
The grip of the Caliphate tightens on Europe
EFD Senior Fellow Valentina Colombo discusses Al Qaeda, the Islamic State and the Muslim Brotherhood. She states that the organisations each have different priorities but the same ultimate goal of establishing a Caliphate. She also writes that, while the Muslim Brotherhood does not call for armed jihad, it does nurture the breeding ground for the radical ideology....
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Article
13 February 2015
Russia-Egypt nuclear power plant deal: why ignoring Egypt’s needs is bad for the US
EFD Fellow Anna Borshchkevskaya urges the US to stop distancing itself from Egypt as an ally, and to stop ignoring Egypt's security and energy needs....
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Article
10 February 2015
Ahead of Minsk talks, West needs a comprehensive solution on Ukraine
Ahead of talks to discuss an end the crisis in Ukraine, EFD Fellow Anna Borshchevskaya calls for Western leaders to reach a consensus on how to help Ukraine become integrated into the West....
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Interview
07 February 2015
Honour killings are just the tip of the iceberg
On the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the 'honour killing' of Hatun Sürücü in Berlin, EFD's Ahmad Mansour is interviewed on what has changed in the last ten years. Ahmad states that the authorities now have an increased awareness of honour-based violence, but that it needs to be recognised that -- thankfully -- honour killings happen in only the most extreme cases, and that much more needs to be done to safeguard women and girls against...
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Mention
07 February 2015
Presentation from Islamism expert Ahmad Mansour
Local German media report on a presentation held by EFD Programme Director Ahmad Mansour on identifying and preventing Islamic radicalisation among young people. The audience, which comprised twice as many attendees as were expected, included representatives from schools and mosques as well as social workers....
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Article
06 February 2015
How to judge Putin’s trip to Egypt
On February 9th - 10th, Russian president Vladimir Putin will travel to Egypt for a bilateral meeting at President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi's invitation. EFD Fellow Anna Borshchkevskaya discusses how to judge this meeting....
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Interview
05 February 2015
Not the first controversial sermon
EFD Programme Director Ahmad Mansour is interviewed following the publication on the Internet of a misogynistic sermon held at Berlin's Al Nur Mosque. Ahmad calls for speeches such as this to be clearly condemned from within the Muslim community....
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Article
01 February 2015
The European Parliament is deluded about the Muslim Brotherhood
EFD Senior Fellow Valentina Colombo urges the European Parliament to exercise caution when dealing with representatives from the Muslim Brotherhood, stating that the image some individuals present in the English speaking world is notably different to that which is presented in the Arab speaking world: "The West should aim to maintain a balanced approach in their official statements intended to safeguard freedom of expression but also protect the...
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Interview
28 January 2015
Disoriented, sexually frustrated, and waging Jihad
EFD Programme Director Ahmad Mansour is interviewed on German radio about the radicalisation process, and the motivations which drive young people to join jihadist groups. Ahmad calls for radicalisation to be recognised not just in terms of security concerns, but also as a threat to civil society and democratic values....
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Mention
23 January 2015
Hearing on Islamism and Salafism at the Hessian Parliament, Germany
On 22nd January 2015, EFD Programme Director Ahmad Mansour was one of several experts invited to speak at a public hearing at the Hessian Parliament on how to deal with Islamism and Salafism in society. Ahmad called for the psychological factors of radicalisation to be taken into account, and for schools to actively encourage critical thinking among pupils, also in connection with religion....
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