Interviews

In an interview on Italy's Rai Radio 1, EFD Senior Fellow Valentina Colombo analyses the current situation in Tunisia, where political instability combined with weak economy creates a breeding ground for Islamist extremism....

In an interview with Italian online newspaper Affaritaliani.it, EFD Senior Fellow Valentina Colombo stresses the urge to agree on a strategy for tackling the issue of migration in the European Union and explains why the Bardo National Museum attack can be considered as an attack to Tunisia's economy....

On the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the 'honour killing' of Hatun Sürücü in Berlin, EFD's Ahmad Mansour is interviewed on what has changed in the last ten years. Ahmad states that the authorities now have an increased awareness of honour-based violence, but that it needs to be recognised that -- thankfully -- honour killings happen in only the most extreme cases, and that much more needs to be done to safeguard women and girls against...

EFD Programme Director Ahmad Mansour is interviewed following the publication on the Internet of a misogynistic sermon held at Berlin's Al Nur Mosque. Ahmad calls for speeches such as this to be clearly condemned from within the Muslim community....

EFD Programme Director Ahmad Mansour is interviewed on German radio about the radicalisation process, and the motivations which drive young people to join jihadist groups. Ahmad calls for radicalisation to be recognised not just in terms of security concerns, but also as a threat to civil society and democratic values....

EFD Senior Policy Advisor Lorenzo Vidino, in an interview with Italian newspaper Il Giorno, explains how even if the terror threat in Italy is low compared to other European countries, it must keep its guard up. The construction of Mosques in Italy does not pose a direct threat of Islamic terrorist attacks, Vidino says, however he warns that they should be run by Islamic communities with “correct ideologies” that protect human rights....

The attacks in Paris last week and yesterday's raids against militants in Belgium highlight the trend of European Muslims travelling to Syria and Iraq to fight. EFD Senior Policy Advisor Lorenzo Vidino speaks to PBS Newshour about Europe's porous borders and the challenge of monitoring possible suspects....

EFD Senior Policy Advisor Lorenzo Vidino discusses the challenges Switzerland faces with regard to Islamic radicalization, refuting the notion that a higher level of integration is a safeguard against attacks such as the ones which took place in Paris....

Following the terror attacks in Paris, EFD's Ahmad Mansour speaks in Germany's Tagesspiegel newspaper about his renewed determination to instigate a meaningful debate on issues relating to Islam. Ahmad calls for long-term prevention approaches to radicalisation instead of reactionary measures....

The day after the Charlie Hebdo attack in Paris, EFD Programme Director Ahmad Mansour is interviewed in Switzerland's Berner Zeitung on the challenges we face regarding Islamic radicalisation....

EFD Programme Director Ahmad Mansour is interviewed in Germany's Stern magazine on the current challenges we face regarding Islamic radicalisation. Ahmad discusses the various reasons why a strictly regulated Salafi way of life can be attractive to young people, describes what the radicalisation process can look like, and stresses the danger of Jihad as an ideological legitimisation of violence. He calls for more to be done to prevent radicalisat...

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....

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."...

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....

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....

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....

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....

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...

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....

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....

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....

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....

Ahmad Mansour talk about the intercultural (in)tolerance and how there is still a lot left to do. He also addresses the issue of radicalisation and the role that groups like “The True Religion” and Muslim organisations actually play and the one they should play....

Ahead of the Moses Mendelssohn award ceremony, EFD Programme Director Ahmad Mansour is interviewed on his work with numerous projects in Germany to foster integration, tolerance and gender equality, and to prevent anti-Semitism, radicalisation and honour-based oppression in the Muslim community....

EFD Senior Policy Advisor Lorenzo Vidino, in an interview published in Avvenire, explains how "keyboard jihadis" are on the rise. Whilst in the 90s it was in the mosque that radicalisaion occurred, today youths learn about jihadism online....

Following his appearance on Germany's Log-in television programme, Ahmad Mansour takes part in a webchat with viewers on a number of issues relating to the social challenges posed by fundamentalist interpretations of Islam....

The Mare Nostrum Project, a project funded by the EU that explores new ways to protect the Mediterranean Sea, saved the lives of 3500 refugees wanting to reach the shores of Southern Italy this summer. In an interview published on L'Occidentale, EFD Senior Policy Advisor Lorenzo Vidino calls for for the West to use these success stories to counter the negative narratives that attract young people to jihad....

EFD Senior Policy Advisor Lorenzo Vidino discusses the threats posed by Islamic extremism and “online jihadism” in Italy. He explains that in Italy, contrary to popular belief, immigration is not connected to terrorism or the threat posed by the “Islamic State”....

In an interview featured on Rai News, EFD Senior Policy Advisor Lorenzo Vidino delves into the issue of European foreign fighters and explains what role they play in Iraq and Syria....

EFD Programme Director Ahmad Mansour speaks with journalist Teresa Eder about anti-Semitism among young people with migrant backgrounds in Austria – a phenomenon which has become increasingly pronounced amid the renewed conflict in the Middle East....

In an interview on Servizio Informazione Religiosa, EFD Senior Fellow Valentina Colombo discusses the role of women in Islam, explaining how the perceived subordination of women is being defended by Koranic interpretation. She says that women are the key to the advancement of Islam and explains that is especially the case because there are as many Islamic women as there are “Islams”....

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....

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....

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...

In an interview with the Tunisian newspaper Al-Maghreb, EFD Senior Fellow Bakary Sambe says that the Libyan crisis has contributed to the spread of jihadist groups in northern Mali and in the region of southern Algeria....

EFD Senior Fellow Wahied Wahdat-Hagh talks to Austria's Der Standard about the choice of candidates in Iran's presidential elections....