Media
Article
28 July 2014
Persecution of Christians, timid disapproval from Islam
In an article published on La Nuova Bussola Quotidiana, EFD Senior Fellow Valentina Colombo explains that whilst the Islamic world has been somewhat vocal in denouncing the persecution of Christians in the Middle East, it needs to be more critical of such acts....
Read more
Mention
24 July 2014
Misleading images are being circulated online
EFD Programme Director Ahmad Mansour is quoted by journalist Katharina Pfannkuch in an article on misleading images which are circulating on social media in connection with the conflict in Gaza. Ahmad points out that highly emotive or graphic images -- which sometimes originate from Iraq or Syria -- are being shared particularly by young people, who are less likely to check or question the source....
Read more
Article
24 July 2014
Muslims fear jihadists, especially those closest to them
EFD Senior Fellow Valentina Colombo discusses the findings of a survey conducted by the Pew Research Center, which suggests that support for Islamist groups in the Middle East is closely linked with the proximity of the group, and that support tends to dwindle when these groups are encountered first-hand. Valentina calls for us to consider these findings in connection with the growing presence of ISIS in Iraq....
Read more
Interview
23 July 2014
The hatred is completely out of control
Amid rising tensions in Germany due to the ongoing crisis in Gaza, EFD's Ahmad Mansour voices his concern about the increasingly pronounced anti-Semitism among Germany's young Muslims....
Read more
Article
20 July 2014
There are no longer Christians in Mosul
As the militant Islamist group ISIS makes gains in Iraq, EFD Senior Fellow Valentina Colombo writes that, for the first time in Iraq's history, Christians can no longer be found in Mosul. She also discusses the rigid ideology which is behind ISIS' actions....
Read more
Article
18 July 2014
So dies Christianity in Iraq
EFD Senior Fellow Valentina Colombo on the persecution of Christians and non-Sunni minorities in Iraq, which has escalated significantly with the increased presence of the militant group ISIS....
Read more
Broadcast
14 July 2014
Interview with EFD’s Lorenzo Vidino on European Foreign Fighters
In an interview with Radio 24, EFD Senior Policy Advisor Lorenzo Vidino explains the phenomenon of European foreign fighters, what motivates young Europeans to fight in Syria and the extent of the threat of jihadism in Italy....
Read more
Article
13 July 2014
Hamas wants to see an increasing death toll on its own side
Amid renewed conflict in the Middle East, EFD Programme Director Ahmad Mansour calls for Palestinians to take a critical stance on Hamas' conduct. He pleads for the adoption of new role models, a culture of constructive self-reflection, and argues that, in order to actually move forward in the region, it is time to distance ourselves from the image of a victimised Palestine -- both in the Middle East, and in the West....
Read more
Article
11 July 2014
Iraq: the myth of the Caliphate divides Islam more than it unites it
Following the announcement of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi that a new Caliphate called "Islamic State" has been established in Iraq and Syria, EFD Senior Fellow Valentina Colombo discusses conflicting perceptions of the notion of Caliphate in the Muslim world. Valentina examines the historic role of the Caliphate, and discusses its power to inspire Islamic fundamentalists....
Read more
Mention
11 July 2014
Iraq: watch out for jihadists with a European passport
Senior Policy Advisor Lorenzo Vidino warns of the potential security threat posed by ISIS militants who hold European passports. He urges us to be cautious of individuals who have gained military training in Syria and Iraq, and have easy access to Europe...
Read more
Article
04 July 2014
No to the burka: It also says so in the Koran
Following the judgement of the European Court of Human Rights to uphold a ban on the full-face veil in France, EFD Senior Fellow Valentina Colombo writes that this decision is in-keeping with what many Muslim theologians think about the burka and the niqab: that they are not Islamic....
Read more
Interview
03 July 2014
The Muslim Brotherhood: Really moderate?
EFD Senior Fellow Valentina Colombo states that The Arab Spring has led to the ‘legitimisation’ of the Muslim Brotherhood and urges Europe to remain cautious....
Read more
Article
02 July 2014
Jihadism in the Balkans: new jihadist networks in Bosnia
EFD Researcher Giovanni Giacalone writes that, following the collapse of the Soviet Union, instability in Bosnia provided fertile ground for the spread of Wahhabism from Saudi Arabia....
Read more
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....
Read more
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....
Read more
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....
Read more
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....
Read more
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.”...
Read more
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....
Read more
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....
Read more
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)....
Read more
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....
Read more
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....
Read more
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....
Read more
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....
Read more
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....
Read more
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....
Read more
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....
Read more
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....
Read more
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....
Read more
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....
Read more
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....
Read more
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....
Read more
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....
Read more
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....
Read more
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....
Read more