Media
Article
01 July 2014
A geography of Italian jihadism
Although many jihadists left Europe during the Arab Spring, networks of jihadists are still present in Italy. In an article published in Le Formiche, EFD Senior Policy Advisor Lorenzo Vidino gives an overview of the “identity-kit” of Italian jihadists....
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Article
01 July 2014
On Russia’s growing involvement in Iraq
Following news of ISIS advancing in Iraq, EFD Fellow Anna Borshchevskaya observes that U.S. policymakers should be concerned about Russia’s growing influence in the region, which is motivated by decreasing U.S. and Western interest....
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Broadcast
30 June 2014
“A Romanticised Battle”: Interview with psychologist Ahmad Mansour
EFD Programme Director Ahmad Mansour is interviewed for German television’s nano programme on the appeal of radical Islam and of the civil war in Syria....
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Article
24 June 2014
Iraq: Shia against Sunni? That would be too easy
In this article published on La Nuova Bussola Quotidiana, EFD Senior Fellow Valentina Colombo explains that in Iraq, the conflict cannot be reduced to a Sunni - Shia conflict. This is because, Valentina explains, the Baath party in Iraq is still a force to be reckoned with....
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Mention
23 June 2014
Actively countering Islamic fundamentalism
Following the announcement that he is to be awarded the prestigious Moses Mendelssohn Prize, Germany's Jüdische Allgemeine features a report on EFD Programme Director Ahmad Mansour. The report includes a quote from Ahmad who says, “I am incredibly proud to receive this recognition; I see it as a reminder of my obligation to continue to work for tolerance and human rights, and to fight against anti-Semitism.”...
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Mention
20 June 2014
Ahmad Mansour to be awarded the Moses Mendelssohn Prize
The prestigious Moses Mendelssohn Prize is to be awarded to EFD Programme Director Ahmad Mansour for his tireless work to promote tolerance in Germany. As reported widely in German newspapers such as Die Welt and the Berliner Zeitung, Ahmad has been described as “an exceptionally engaged and courageous individual” who makes a significant contribution to making German society more tolerant and inclusive....
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Mention
16 June 2014
Encouraging the ‘macho’ youths to reflect on their beliefs
Journalist Katja Hanke reports on the work of EFD's Ahmad Mansour and his colleagues at Heroes Berlin to support school teachers who are faced with sexism or misogyny from pupils with migrant backgrounds....
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Mention
16 June 2014
Swedish expert confirms that Polisario combatants are involved with AQIM
In an article on Sarara News, Magnus Norell is featured giving expert evidence on the recruitment of Polisario combatants by Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM)....
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Mention
16 June 2014
Swedish expert: AQIM is recruiting members from Polisario
In an article published by Moroccan source Medias 24, Magnus Norell warns that Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb is recruiting new members from Polisario groups based in the camps of Tindouf, in Algeria....
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Mention
15 June 2014
Norell: AQIM recruits members from Polisario
Moroccan Internet portal Menara features an article about the militant organization AQIM. AQIM seems not only to recruit Polisario combatants, but also to cooperate with other Islamist terrorist groups.
EFD Senior Policy Advisor Magnus Norell is quoted in the article....
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Broadcast
11 June 2014
Jihadism in Mali and West Africa
EFD Senior Policy Advisor Magnus Norell is interviewed by Frivärld on the topic of Jihadism in West Africa.
Jihadism began in northern Mali shortly after the war in Libya, but has quickly spread to neighbouring countries....
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Article
09 June 2014
Economic hardships wrack Crimea following Russian annexation
EFD Fellow Anna Borshchevskaya draws attention to Crimean economic difficulties that followed 2014 Russian annexation....
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Article
07 June 2014
Islamic anti-Semitism has existed since the times of Muhammad
The arrest of Mehdi Nemmouche, the perpetrator of the shooting at the Jewish Museum in Brussels, leads EFD’s Valentina Colombo to consider the links between this anti-Semitic attack and European Jihadism in Syria....
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Article
05 June 2014
Russia defends reelection of Bashar Al-Assad as fair
Despite civil war, presidential elections were held in Syria on 3 June 2014. EFD Fellow Anna Borshchevskaya discusses such elections and the international community’s reactions to President Bashar al-Assad’s victory....
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Article
05 June 2014
Tokyo worries about US commitment to global leadership
Following her trip to Japan, EFD Fellow Anna Borshchevskaya presents Tokyo’s concerns about US commitment to assisting Japan in protecting territories from both domestic and external threats....
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Broadcast
04 June 2014
Earning their respect: workshops for teachers
German radio station Deutschlandfunk features a report on EFD Programme Director Ahmad Mansour’s work with the Heroes project in Berlin to support teachers who face the challenges of cultural diversity in their classrooms....
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Broadcast
02 June 2014
The Heroes project: offering support in the culturally diverse classroom
German radio station SWR2 features a report on Ahmad Mansour's work with the Heroes project in Berlin to support teachers who face the challenges of cultural diversity in their classrooms. Ahmad also calls for new teaching methods which can accommodate this diversity....
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Article
01 June 2014
Political Islam and Islam in politics in Europe
In an article published by the European View journal, EFD Senior Fellow Valentina Colombo analyses the evolution of Muslim political participation in Europe. Valentina explains that whilst Islamic parties in Europe remain unpopular, Muslims who represent non-Islamic parties are considered positively by Europeans who vote them for their inner qualities regardless of their religion....
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Broadcast
01 June 2014
Why are young Germans drawn to jihad?
Journalist Elizabeth Veh from Germany’s Bayerischer Runkfunk asks the question: why are young Germans drawn to jihad? She turns to EFD Programme Director Ahmad Mansour to find out more. During the discussion, Ahmad demonstrates how easily youths can arrive at extremist content online, and explains why this content, and the Salafist groups which promote it, can be appealing....
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Article
28 May 2014
Ukraine Elections Free, Fair
In an article published on The Washington Free Beacon, EFD Fellow Anna Borshchevskaya discusses Ukraine's presidential elections. While this election was praised by international onlookers for being fair, Russia is still concerned about initiating dialogue with newly elected Petro Poroshenko....
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Article
25 May 2014
The risky normalization of Egypt
In the run-up to 2014 presidential elections, EFD Fellow Valentina Colombo provides a clear picture of the current political situation in Egypt....
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Article
23 May 2014
Freedom of conscience: international campaign for Raif Badawi
Saudi tribunal’s decision to harshly punish the blogger Raif Badawi, who was found to have violated “Islamic precepts” through his writings, leads some Muslim intellectuals to call for freedom of conscience and religion....
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Article
18 May 2014
“I am a Christian, I have not apostatized”
The story of Sudanese Doctor Maryam Yahya Ibrahim, sentenced to death for apostasy, is a clear indication of the limited protection of citizens’ fundamental rights in some Muslim countries. EFD Fellow Valentina Colombo discusses the absurdity of the verdict....
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Mention
16 May 2014
Islamists returning to Germany from Syria are ‘ticking bombs’
Following heightened security concerns in Germany, EFD's Ahmad Mansour emphasises the importance of counter-radicalisation work, and states that the most effective time to carry out this work is during the school years....
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Article
16 May 2014
Let’s stop the massacres in Sudan
EFD Fellow Valentina Colombo discusses the death sentence given to Maryam Yahya Ibrahim, accused of apostasy. Valentina urges her audience to continue to support the battle for religious freedom....
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Article
16 May 2014
Qaradawi’s fatwa against Egyptian elections
In May 2014, Yusuf Qaradawi, one of the most prominent theologians for the Muslim Brotherhood, publicly denounced participation in the forthcoming Egyptian elections as “haram”. EFD Senior Fellow Valentina Colombo discusses the extent to which such a fatwa could influence voting in Egypt....
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Article
08 May 2014
International campaign to save Raif Badawi
In an article published by Zenit, EFD Fellow Valentina Colombo discusses a Saudi court's sentencing of blogger Raif Badawi, who speaks out for religious freedom....
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Interview
07 May 2014
The phenomenon of Boko Haram
EFD Senior Fellow Valentina Colombo is interviewed on Italian web-based radio station oltreradio.it about the Islamist group Boko Haram. Her analysis covers group's history; previous attacks it has carried out; its heightened fundamentalism following the Arab Spring; the increasing use of media as a communication vehicle; attempts to prevent the education of women and girls; and the necessity of Nigeria's government to act against this Islamist...
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Article
06 May 2014
Crucifixions: in Syria today, in Italy tomorrow
In the wake of recent events in Raqqa, Syria, where several crucifixions took place, EFD Senior Fellow Valentina Colombo discusses the content of Sura 5:33. It is largely on the basis of this verse that crucifixion is still practised in many Islamic countries. At the same time, Islamic preachers in Europe continue to promote a strict interpretation of the Quran....
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Article
03 May 2014
Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, wolves in sheep’s clothing
Since the overthrow of Mohamed Morsi, Egyptian tribunals have been deploying the death penalty and other harsh punishments against the Muslim Brotherhood. This has been met with criticism from the international community, which considers mass death sentences a significant obstacle to the achievement of democracy in Egypt. While EFD Senior Fellow Valentina Colombo takes a stand against such convictions, she points out that the Muslim Brotherhood i...
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Article
01 May 2014
Russia-China Gas Deal: Implications for Western Sanctions against Russia
In a monthly Operational Environment Watch commentary, EFD Fellow Anna Borshchevskaya discusses a possible agreement between China and Russia that would provide for building a gas pipeline from Russia to China, ensuring the supply of Russian gas to China....
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Article
01 May 2014
Tatarstan and Japan Increase Cooperation
In a monthly Operational Environment Watch commentary, EFD Fellow Anna Borshchevskaya discusses bilateral cooperation between Russia's Republic of Tatarstan and Japan. Tatarstan's President stresses that this country could be economically beneficial to Japan....
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Article
30 April 2014
Milan and the mosque of discord
Giovanni Giacalone discusses tensions within Milan's Islamic community, surrounding the planned construction of a large mosque....
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Article
29 April 2014
The “Italian” Sheikh who incites the jihadists
According to a study by King’s College, Musa Cerantonio, an Italian-Australian man converted to Islam, is among the most influent online spiritual leaders.
EFD’s Lorenzo Vidino discusses Cerantonio’s online preaching, which encourages hundreds of Europeans to join Syrian fighters against Bashar Al-Assad....
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Article
27 April 2014
Austria: Muslim Brotherhood’s new European headquarters
Over the last few months, the possible relocation of the Muslim Brotherhood's European headquarters from England to Austria has been largely discussed. EFD Senior Fellow Valentina Colombo highlights the extent to which 1912 Austrian Law of Islam has influenced such change by providing a particular protection for Islamic organisations....
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Mention
21 April 2014
The “Holy War” enlists terrorists
An increasing number of Islamic Italian fighters are using Internet to spread the “Holy War”. EFD Senior Policy Advisor Lorenzo Vidino is interviewed by the Italian daily newspaper La Padania on the radicalisation dynamics in Italy....
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