Media
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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Broadcast
16 April 2014
For Boko Haram, an educated woman poses a threat
Valentina Colombo is interviewed on Italy's Radio Vaticana about the Islamic fundamentalist group Boko Haram, and ther possible motives for kidnapping female students in Nigeria....
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Mention
14 April 2014
Italians fighting for Islam: the network is growing
Italian daily La Stampa features a detailed report on Home-Grown Jihadism in Italy, a new publication from EFD's Lorzono Vidino....
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Article
14 April 2014
The terrorist branch of the Muslim Brotherhood
Valentino Colombo discusses militant groups within Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood, in light of decisions from the British government and the US State Department to add Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis to their lists of terrorist organisations....
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Broadcast
13 April 2014
Democratic, free, pleasing to God: Is there such a thing as modern Islam?
EFD's Ahmad Mansour appears on German talkshow West ART Talk to debate whether Islam is compatible with modern German society....
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Mention
13 April 2014
Very well-connected and rappers: these are the Italian jihadists
Following the publication of Lorenzo Vidino's Homegrown Jihadism in Italy, Italian newspaper Corriere Della Sera features a report on the profiles of young Italians who are drawn to radical groups, and their possible motives for joining Syria's civil war....
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Article
12 April 2014
Possible ties between radical Islam and anarchical ideology
Italian intelligence magazine, GNOSIS features a study from EFD's Valentina Colombo on the possible ties between radical Islam and anarchical ideology....
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Broadcast
11 April 2014
Renewed pro-Morsi protests in Egypt. The analyst: The Muslim Brotherhood has two sides
EFD Senior Fellow Valentina Colombo speaks on Radio Vaticana about rising tensions in Egypt and presents a profile of the Muslim Brotherhood....
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Article
11 April 2014
The die is cast: Russia’s intentions in Ukraine
In the below article, EFD’s Anna Borshchevskaya underlines the importance attached by Russia to Ukraine. The recent events, which took place in Crimea, do not only threaten Ukraine’s democracy but also “Western credibility on protecting freedom”....
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Article
10 April 2014
We need to talk about Mali
Mali is the best example of a country where governmental, judicial and educational shortcomings let Islamist groups establish themselves.
EFD Senior Policy Director Magnus Norell discusses the UN intervention in Mali and the Islamists’ possible reaction to it....
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Mention
10 April 2014
We will never completely eliminate the danger
Following the return from Syria of one of Switzerland's foreign fighters, EFD's Lorenzo Vidino speaks to Swiss daily 20 Minuten about how these individuals can be reintegrated into society....
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Article
09 April 2014
Muslim Brotherhood out to conquer Europe
The article follows a statement of concern as to the Muslim Brotherhood's background and motives, issued by British Prime Minister David Cameron, and the subsequent response from the Muslim Brotherhood....
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Broadcast
09 April 2014
The fatal consequences of a poor upbringing
EFD Programme Director Ahmad Mansour speaks to Germany's Deutschlandradio Kultur about how we can deal with violence in immigrant communities.The interview follows an open letter from German police woman,Tania Kambouri, who has spoken out against the aggression and lack of respect she frequently experiences from individuals in these communities....
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Mention
08 April 2014
Hezbollah fundraisers banned
In one of its articles on the German ban of a Hezbollah’s support group, the German news Tagesschau quoted EFD Senior Policy Advisor Alezander Ritzmann.
In 2009, EFD had already expressed its concerns as regards the linkage between the Lebanese Islamic militant group and “Orphans Project Lebanon e.V.”...
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Mention
05 April 2014
German women becoming ‘holy warriors’ in the name of Jihad
EFD Programme Director Ahmad Mansour is interviewed in Germany's Deutsche Welle about the increasing number of German women who are being drawn to Syria's civil war in the name of Jihad....
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Article
03 April 2014
Migration board should have a bad conscience
In the below article, EFD Senior Policy Advisor Magnus Norell assesses and criticises the performance of the Swedish Migration Board (MV)....
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Mention
02 April 2014
“How do we want to live?” : Teaching materials on Islam, Islamophobia, Islamism and Democracy
EFD Programme Director Ahmad Mansour contributes to new teaching resources on democracy, Islamophobia, Islam and racism from the German organisation UFUQ....
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