Media
Article
23 August 2013
The Future of the MENA region
EFD Senior Policy Advisor Lorenzo Vidino answers questions on the future of the MENA region for the Zurich-based think tank ISN. Vidino notes that the result of the Arab Spring has been to give citizens the idea that they can shape their countries' destinies. However the Arab world still has to contend with serious problems such as economic stagnation and a youth bulge that is causing social instability.
You can read the article at ISN her...
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Article
23 August 2013
The world’s inaction enabled gas attack
Magnus Norell on the international ramifications of the chemical attack launched by the Syrian regime against civilians in the suburbs of Damascus....
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Mention
23 August 2013
Two Sahara-based jihadist groups merge
US international broadcaster Voice of America features a report on the merging of two North African militant groups, formerly linked to al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb. Both have been responsible for taking hostages and launching suicide attacks. EFD Fellow Bakary Sambe contributes to the report noting that the name of this new group "Mourabitounes" comes from a thousand year old Islamist Berber dynasty, which was responsible for helping spread I...
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Mention
20 August 2013
Italy: low to medium risk
Reporter Graziarosa Villani from the online Italian news site L'Indro interviews EFD Senior Policy Advisor Lorenzo Vidino about the threat of terrorist attacks in Italy and the problem of radicalisation among Italy's second generation Muslim immigrants....
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Mention
18 August 2013
What’s next for Egypt: 3 scenarios
National Public Radio blogger Greg Myre lays out three scenarios for the future of Egypt and the relationship between the security forces and the Muslim Brotherhood. He includes analysis from EFD Senior Policy Advisor Lorenzo Vidino who says that outside pressure could help to prevent a bloody crackdown and outside influence could "lay the groundwork for some kind of reconciliation."...
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Mention
17 August 2013
Muslim Brotherhood: A force throughout the Muslim world
EFD Senior Policy Advisor Lorenzo Vidino contributes to the article noting that the Muslim Brotherhood has experienced different phases throughout its existence....
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Article
15 August 2013
Outlining US-Iranian dialogue
Iranian international relations expert Kayhan Barzegar lays the framework for the nature of US-Iranian dialogue....
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Broadcast
14 August 2013
The desire to think for themselves
EFD Policy Advisor Ahmad Mansour talks to Almut Engelien from the radio talk show "Tischgesprach" on the German radio station WDR 5. Mansour discusses his life growing up as an Israeli Arab and his time spent as a member of the Muslim Brotherhood. At the University of Tel Aviv, Mansour says it was here that he discovered the importance of critical thinking and began to change his ideas towards Jews. Today Mansour works as a psychologist in Berl...
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Broadcast
14 August 2013
Why do some young Muslims become radicalised?
EFD Programme Director Ahmad Mansour is interviewed on the German radio show "Country time" broadcast on the national station Deutschlandradio. Mansour is joined by a panel of experts to discuss the growth of Salafism in North Rhine-Westphalia. There are active social networks for young men to preach Islam and work towards the goal of creating an Islamic state. The panellists discuss what is the fascination for young people towards radical Isl...
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Article
13 August 2013
Iran’s new defence minister and Hezbollah
Iran's newly appointed Defence Minister Hossein Dehghan allegedly played a chief role in the formation of Hezbollah in Lebanon....
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Article
11 August 2013
EU action is insufficient to stop Hezbollah
Sweden's daily newspaper Göteborgs-Posten features a report written by EFD Senior Policy Advisor Magnus Norell on the activities of the Lebanese-militant group Hezbollah within Europe. In July the EU blacklisted Hezbollah's military wing, yet Norell cites that it is not possible to separate its political activities from its military wing and the EU's decision will not prevent the group from carrying out activities in Europe such as organised c...
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Mention
08 August 2013
American observers discuss cancelled US-Russian meeting
BBC Ukraine features a report by journalist Natalia Khyzhnyak on the reaction of US-based commentators on the Obama administration's decision to cancel talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin ahead of the G20 summit in St. Petersburg. EFD Fellow Anna Borshchevskaya says the situation regarding Edward Snowden is just the latest symptom of worsening US-Russian relations....
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Article
08 August 2013
President Rohani follows his predecessor
President Hassan Rohani has said he wants to end Iran's isolation, yet his actions suggest that he is following the path of his predecessor....
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Article
07 August 2013
President Rohani admits Iranian nuclear ambitions
In an interview on Iranian state television before the election, Hassan Rohani admitted that Iran has never attempted to halt its nuclear programme....
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Mention
06 August 2013
A weakened al-Qaeda remains a global terrorist threat
EFD Senior Policy Advisor Lorenzo Vidino contributes to the article on the growing threat of al-Qaeda....
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Broadcast
06 August 2013
Al Qaeda at the time of DataGate
Broadcaster Giampaolo Musumeci from Italy's national radio station Radio 24 talks to EFD Senior Policy Advisor Lorenzo Vidino about the information released by Edward Snowden on al-Qaeda's efforts to identify weaknesses in US drone technology. Musumeci asks about the political ramifications for the US government and what is Vidino's opinion on the nature of the threat. The recording is only available in Italian....
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Mention
06 August 2013
Experts: The threat from al Qaeda against Denmark is decreasing
EFD Senior Policy Advisor Lorenzo Vidino contributes to the report saying that unlike in previous years, Denmark is no longer considered a prime terrorist target for the group....
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Article
06 August 2013
Mosques urge jihad in Syria
Sweden's daily newspaper Svenska Dagbladet features an op-ed on the problem of terrorist recruitment in Sweden. It is estimated that at least seven men from the city of Gothenburg have been killed in the Syrian conflict and there are fears that mosques in the city are encouraging young men to travel to the Middle East. The Swedes who head to Syria often join the most radical rebel groups such as Jabhat al-Nusra and there are fears that once th...
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Mention
06 August 2013
Possible car bomb in Copenhagen
Norway's public broadcaster NRK reports on the discovery of a possible car bomb in Denmark's capital Copenhagen. A suspect vehicle was found rigged with cables and police were ordered to evacuate the area and a bomb robot was used to investigate the car. EFD's Lorenzo Vidino is quoted in the report....
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Mention
05 August 2013
Terrorist threats – or intelligence tactic?
Sweden's daily newspaper Svenska Dagbladet features an article on the terror threat posed to US interests in the Middle East and North Africa. At least 22 US embassies closed in August after warnings emerged that an al-Qaeda linked attack was imminent and some senior US officials compared the situation to the days leading up to the September 11 attacks. EFD Senior Policy Advisor Magnus Norell believes that given the fragmented nature of al-Qaeda,...
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Article
05 August 2013
What can the world expect from Iran’s new president?
EFD Senior Fellow discusses what we can expect from Iran's newly elected President Hassan Rohani....
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Broadcast
04 August 2013
A conversation with Ahmad Mansour
EFD Policy Advisor Ahmad Mansour is interviewed on Germany's NDR radio show "Der Talk" about his background growing up in an Arab town in Israel and his time spent in a fundamentalist Muslim group before attending university where he overcame his prejudices against Jews....
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Article
02 August 2013
Iran: President Rohani’s anti-Israel rhetoric
Iran's President Hassan Rohani has accused Israel of being a wound in the body of the Islamic world....
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Article
01 August 2013
Iran’s Supreme Leader issues fatwas
Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has issued an extensive list of fatwas ordering people to avoid contact with the Bahai....
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Article
31 July 2013
Iran: Al-Qods Day
Al-Qods day in Iran has become symbolic of the regime's desire to target Israel....
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Mention
31 July 2013
Terror expert: Recruiters seeking new warriors in Gothenburg
Swedish newspaper features a story on the growth of terror recruitment in the city of Gothenburg. EFD Senior Policy Advisor Magnus Norell says that it is common for new jihadists to be recruited by their friends and through the use of social media. This is in contrast to the UK and Germany, where jihadists are often recruited at universities and mosques....
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Article
25 July 2013
More action than a terrorist stamp required
EFD Senior Policy Advisor Magnus Norell writing in Sweden's daily newspaper Svenska Dagbladet believes that the Lebanese-based militant group Hezbollah is a "united organisation" and it is not possible for the European Union to separate its political wing from its military wing....
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Broadcast
24 July 2013
The Interview: Lorenzo Vidino
International news channel France 24 talks to EFD Senior Policy Advisor Lorenzo Vidino about the political situation in Egypt following the removal of President Mohamed Morsi....
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Broadcast
10 July 2013
Ramadan: Fasting in times of crisis
The festival of Ramadan is an important occasion for Muslims to fast and devote time to their loved ones, yet this year's festival will be very different, according to EFD Policy Advisor Ahmad Mansour, as many countries across the Middle East are in the grip of civil strife and in the case of Syria, hundreds of families have been torn apart by conflict....
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Broadcast
07 July 2013
Radio interview: what is honour?
EFD Policy Advisor, Ahmad Mansour is interviewed on the popular cultural show "Tandem" on Germany's national radio station SWR2 . He discusses his efforts to help Muslim youth to break with harmful traditional practices, especially towards women and girls. In the interview, he talks about his work with HEROES, his Berlin-based non-profit organisation to encourage Muslim youth to become part of Germany’s tolerant, multi-cultural society. This in...
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Article
04 July 2013
Iran: Anti-Semitism in the Media
EFD Senior fellow discusses how Holocaust denial and anti-Semitism is still widespread in Iran's media....
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Article
03 July 2013
Iran: President Rouhani’s anti-democratic past
EFD Senior Fellow Wahied Wahdat-Hagh reveals how Iran's new President has little respect for democracy. (German)...
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Article
01 July 2013
A Calculating Act
In 2005 Iran's future president Hasan Rohani gave a speech in which he outlined Iran's strategy for dealing with the West regarding its nuclear programme....
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Article
19 June 2013
Iran’s New Machiavellian President
President Hassan Rohani says he wants to have a dialogue with the USA, but under the condition that it accepts Iran's right to have a nuclear programme....
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Mention
18 June 2013
US and Russia divided over Syria
EFD Fellow Anna Borshchevskaya is quoted in USA Today on Russia's position towards Syria....
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Article
17 June 2013
“In Iran there are no free elections”
EFD Senior Fellow discusses Iran's elections, its minorities and Hezbollah's activities in Europe....
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