Media
Broadcast
27 October 2014
Islamic extremists on the Internet
EFD Programme Director Ahmad Mansour is interviewed on Germany's Deutsche Welle about extremist activity online, and the effect which this content can have on young people....
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Interview
23 October 2014
Giving up is not an option
EFD Programme Director Ahmad Mansour is interviewed in Germany's Stern magazine on the current challenges we face regarding Islamic radicalisation. Ahmad discusses the various reasons why a strictly regulated Salafi way of life can be attractive to young people, describes what the radicalisation process can look like, and stresses the danger of Jihad as an ideological legitimisation of violence. He calls for more to be done to prevent radicalisat...
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Mention
20 October 2014
How do I save my child from Jihad?
Germany's Spiegel Online features a piece on the Hayat family counselling hotline, co-run by EFD Programme Director Ahmad Mansour, which offers support and practical advice to individuals who are concerned that somebody they know is becoming radicalised....
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Article
19 October 2014
For too long, London has been a hub for the Muslim Brotherhood
In an article published in The Telegraph, EFD Senior Policy Advisor Lorenzo Vidino discusses the British government’s recent review of the Muslim Brotherhood, disputing some claims that the delayed publication of the review is connected with a failure to uncover links to terrorist activity. Lorenzo states that the review was, in fact, “a genuine effort to better understand the group” which, he writes, “advocates a bottom-up, gradual Islam...
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Interview
18 October 2014
Nigeria: agreement with Boko Haram. On Monday they will release the girls
In an interview on Radio Vaticana, EFD Senior Fellow Valentina Colombo discusses the potential agreement that would see the release of the 219 girls kidnapped by the militant Islamist group Boko Haram. Valentina remains slightly sceptical about this development, stating that any agreement with would imply some form of payment....
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Broadcast
16 October 2014
German ISIS supporter threatens Angela Merkel
Following the appearance of a video from the militant Islamist group ISIS, issuing a threat against German Chancellor Angela Merkel, EFD Programme Director Ahmad Mansour is interviewed on evening news about the possible motives behind this. Ahmad states that messages such as these might be attempts from the fighters to gain recognition in Germany, and also to win the attention of other young people in the hope of recruiting them....
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Interview
15 October 2014
There is no alternative to a reform of Islam
In an interview in Germany's Deutsche Welle, EFD Programme Director Ahmad Mansour speaks about the urgent need for a reform of Islam and for a culture of debate and critical questioning within the Islamic community. Ahmad stresses the importance of showing young people "an Islam that has nothing to do with radicalism", and calls for the religion to be "freed from fear and the idea of a vengeful God."...
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Broadcast
15 October 2014
We are facing new challenges
EFD Programme Director Ahmad Mansour is interviewed on German television about his own experience of radicalisation, as well as the challenge we face in dealing with this phenomenon in our communities today -- a challenge which is being made increasingly apparent by the number of young Europeans being recruited to the militant Islamic group ISIS....
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Broadcast
11 October 2014
Fighting in the name of Jihad
EFD Programme Director Ahmad Mansour is interviewed on German television's 'Mona Lisa' programme on the phenomenon of young Muslims from Germany joining militant Islamist groups in the name of jihad....
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Article
09 October 2014
Putin and Russia’s Anti-Westernism
EFD Fellow Anna Borshchevskaya explains how Putin blames the West for Russia's problems and his authoritarian suppression is justified by the need to protect Russia from perceived external enemies....
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Mention
08 October 2014
15,000-plus for Fighting: The Return of the Foreign Fighters
In light of unprecedented numbers joining the conflict in Syria and Iraq, Dr Michael P Noonan discusses the phenomenon of foreign fighters, asking why it is that this conflict has attracted so many; what the returnees might mean for the West; and what can be done to prevent this trend. Among the possible prevention measures, he refers to the Hayat family counselling programme, led by Ahmad Mansour and Daniel Koehler in Berlin, whom he encountered...
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Broadcast
08 October 2014
Extremism among young Muslims
EFD Programme Director Ahmad Mansour takes part in a televised debate on extremism among young Muslims on Deutsche Welle's Arabic channel....
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Mention
06 October 2014
Once a spy, always a spy: How Putin’s KGB past shapes his autocratic rule
EFD Fellow Anna Borshchevskaya is quoted on Russian President Vladimir Putin, stating that he fits the archetype of a KGB agent. The article states that, as the Ukraine crisis continues, Putin is still using tactics from his time as a KGB officer: preying on the fearful, crushing dissent and controlling information....
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Mention
04 October 2014
Jasmin is frightened of going to hell
As it emerges that 40 women and girls are among the 400 Germans who have joined the Islamic State militants in Syria and Iraq, EFD Programme Director Ahmad Mansour considers the reasons behind radicalisation among young Muslim women....
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Article
02 October 2014
Don’t forget about Afghanistan
Anna Borshchevskaya discusses the necessity of US military presence in Afghanistan, stating that the hard-won peace remains fragile. The Bilateral Security Agreement (BSA) between the two countries signed on 30th September ensures that a small contingent of troops will remain to advise the Afghan government, while the drawdown continues....
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Article
01 October 2014
Contrasting Russian Perspectives on Beslan, 10 Years Later
In a monthly Operational Environment Watch commentary, EFD Fellow Anna Borshchevskaya looks back at the Beslan siege, and compares two contrasting Russian views of the event – the public view and that of the Russian authorities....
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Article
01 October 2014
Russia’s Reasons to Provide Arms to Iraq
In a monthly Operational Environment Watch commentary, EFD Fellow Anna Borshchevskaya writes that Russia has specific motivations for providing Iraq with military resources, including geopolitical and gas-related interests....
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Mention
30 September 2014
Syria, here is where ISIS combatants come from
In an article published on wired.it, that analyses European foreign fighters, the European Foundation for Democracy and EFD Senior Policy Advisor Lorenzo Vidino's report 'Home-Grown Jihadism in Italy" are mentioned. The author mentions the study's main findings to substantiate his argument....
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Mention
30 September 2014
When young people go to war
EFD Programme Director Ahmad Mansour is quoted in an article on radicalisation among Muslim youths in Germany, particularly in context of the growing numbers who appear to sympathise with militant groups such as ISIS....
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Interview
29 September 2014
The president’s right to war
Are air strikes in Syria legal? What is the likelihood of air war with ISIS succeeding? EFD Fellow Anna Borshchevskaya is interviewed on Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty....
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Article
28 September 2014
Book review: Putin’s Kleptocracy
Anna Borshchevskaya reviews Russian scholar Karen Dawisha’s new book, Putin’s Kleptocracy: Who owns Russia?...
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Interview
26 September 2014
ISIS supporters are very active in Germany
Ahmad Mansour is interviewed in Germany's Pforzheimer Zeitung on the growing number of young Germans who have joined the militant Islamist group ISIS in Iraq and Syria. He warns that ISIS supporters and sympathisers are rife in Germany, and calls for more to be done in schools and society on the whole to prevent vulnerable young people from being drawn into radical groups....
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Interview
26 September 2014
They are like a ticking bomb
Ahmad Mansour is interviewed in Germany's Nordsee Zeitung on the radicalisation process, the reasons why Islamist groups can be appealing to young people, and what can be done to prevent this tendency....
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Interview
25 September 2014
Interview with Ahmad Mansour
EFD Programme Director Ahmad Mansour is interviewed by tip Berlin on the process of radicalisation. He describes the work he does with families of youths who are becoming radicalised, and calls for a constructive debate within Islam to confront radicalisation....
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Mention
23 September 2014
Radicalisation: people do not become jihadists overnight
On 23rd September 2014 the European Foundation for Democracy organised a public briefing in the European Parliament hosted by Andrey Kovatchev (Bulgarian MEP). This article in Austria's Tiroler Zeitung talks about the speakers that took the floor at this event: Ahmad Mansour (EFD Programme Director), Daniel Köhler and Michael Noonan....
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Article
22 September 2014
Here is how Sicily is becoming an emirate
In an article published on La Nuova Bussola Quotidiana, EFD Senior Fellow Valentina Colombo exposes how Qatar is investing in Sicily. She explains that the Qatari government has been supporting the Muslim Brotherhood by financing projects such as the construction of mosques and Islamic centres, as is happening in Sicily. Those in the West who accept investments from Qatar should remember the emirate's ties with the Muslim Brotherhood, Valentina w...
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Broadcast
19 September 2014
How can radicalisation be prevented?
Germany's Forum on Friday (ZDF television) features a half-hour broadcast on EFD's Ahmad Mansour and the various projects he works with in Germany to prevent radicalisation and intolerance....
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Interview
17 September 2014
Salafism is a youth culture
In an interview in Switzerland's Tages-Anzeiger newspaper, EFD Programme Director Ahmad Mansour states that we need to start seeing reform from moderate Islam, or else we will continue to play into the hands of radicals. Ahmad also points out that Islamism appeals particularly to young Muslims as it offers a form of youth culture and an identity. He calls for youth programmes and a stronger debate culture to counter the damaging narratives of rad...
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Mention
16 September 2014
Ahmad Mansour – a Muslim who is fighting against anti-Semitism
Germany's Tagesspiegel newspaper features a transcript of the speech given by editor-in-chief Stephan-Andreas Casdorff on the occasion of EFD's Ahmad Mansour being awarded the prestigious Moses-Mendelssohn Prize for his work to promote tolerance....
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Mention
15 September 2014
Ahmad Mansour – from Salafist to prize winner
The Berliner Morgenpost features an article on EFD's Ahmad Mansour who has been awarded the prestigious Moses-Mendelssohn Prize for his work to promote tolerance and peaceful coexistence in Germany....
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Mention
15 September 2014
Ahmad Mansour is awarded prize
Germany's Jüdische Allgemeine newspaper features an article on EFD's Ahmad Mansour who has been awarded the prestigious Moses-Mendelssohn Prize for his work to promote tolerance and peaceful coexistence....
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Broadcast
15 September 2014
Challenging the Muslim image of masculinity
On the day he is awarded Berlin's prestigious Moses Mendelssohn Prize, Ahmad Mansour speaks with journalist Katrin Heise about his extensive work with young Muslims in Germany to promote tolerance, gender equality and peaceful coexistence, and to counter honour-based oppression and extremist ideologies. Ahmad also discusses his own experience of radicalisation, as well as the challenges of migration which he himself encountered upon moving to Ger...
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Broadcast
15 September 2014
Every second counts in the fight for vulnerable Muslims
EFD Programme Director Ahmad Mansour is interviewed on Swiss radio about his personal experience of radicalisation, his ongoing work to prevent anti-Semitism in the Muslim community, and the pressing need for programmes to counter the dangerous narratives of militant groups such as IS and to encourage critical thinking among Germany's young Muslims....
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Article
13 September 2014
Countering the hatred of Islamic State extremists
In a bid to take a clear stance against the actions of the militant Islamist group IS, the Coordinating Council of Muslims in Germany (KRM) has announced plans for peace rallies in seven German cities on 19th September. However, EFD Programme Director Ahmad Mansour states that prominent Islamic groups must do more than distance themselves from the violence. He states these groups must be willing to call into question some of the content which is...
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Interview
13 September 2014
We need to start arguing, even with God
Two days before he is awarded Berlin's Moses Mendelssohn Prize for promoting tolerance, Ahmad Mansour is interviewed on his work to prevent radicalisation and anti-Semitism in Germany's Muslim community....
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Mention
11 September 2014
Germany sees rising anti-Semitism among Muslims
EFD Programme Director Ahmad Mansour is quoted in an article from the Wall Street Journal on increasing anti-Semitism among Muslims in Germany. As in other European countries, Germany has seen a surge in anti-Semitic abuse in connection with the recent conflict in Gaza. However, Ahmad states that the issue is not a new one, "The protests got a lot of attention, but 'Jew' has been used as an insult by young Muslims in schoolyards, on sports ground...
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