Media - European Foundation for Democracy

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...

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....

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....

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."...

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....

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....

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....

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...

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....

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....

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....

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....

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....

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....

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....

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....

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....

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?...

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....

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....

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....

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....

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...

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....

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...

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....

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....

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....

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...

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....

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...

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....

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...

Interview 05 September 2014

The content which IS is using can also be found in mainstream Islam

EFD Programme Director Ahmad Mansour is interviewed in Germany's Zeit newspaper on why the Islamic State militant group attracts German Muslims, what we might expect from those who return from the conflict, and how we can work to prevent radicalisation....

Interview 05 September 2014

Those who can think for themselves are immune to radicalisation

EFD Programme Director Ahmad Mansour was interviewed on German radio on radicalisation of youths in Germany. He speaks about how young people are drawn to jihad because they are looking for structure and meaning in their lives, and that psychological factors contribute to their radicalisation. Furthermore, he expresses regret that the issue of radicalisation has not been brought up in the German Senate....

Interview 05 September 2014

Those who can think for themselves are immune to radicalisation

EFD Programme Director Ahmad Mansour is interviewed on German radio about the reasons why radical groups can be appealing to young Muslims, and what can be done to discourage this trend....