Mentions

Focus Online reports on the projects that EFD Programme Director Ahmad Mansour is currently involved in and announces the awarding of the Carl von Ossietzky Prize for 2016 to Mansour for his promotion of democracy, tolerance and integration....

Spiegel Online reports on the contents of German talk show Anne Will, in which EFD Programme Director Ahmad Mansour was invited to discuss issues related to the migration crisis. In light of the New Year’s Eve incidents in several European cities, the current German asylum policy was debated by Mansour, along with political scientist, Gesine Schwan, head of the German chancellory (CDU), Peter Altmaier and editor-in-chief of Welt24, Stefan Aust...

EFD Fellow Tehmina Kazi is mentioned in an article on the New Humanist. The article refers to her distinction between sharia as "a code of ethics governing personal religious practice" and sharia as "a set of prescriptive rules for society at large"....

US-based media website TribLIVE writes about the so-called Islamic State and the challenge that it poses to America in comparison to threats faced by the US in the past, including conventional adversaries and non-conventional threats like al-Qaida. Vidino is quoted for his expertise in examining the dangerous ideology of the Islamic State and for his views on what separates this from previous threats, highlighting that this factor makes it one of...

Der Landbote reports on a reading held by EFD Programme Director Ahmad Mansour of his book "Generation Allah" in Switzerland, where the issue of young people leaving the country to join the Islamic State has long been a reality....

Stern magazine reports on the New Year’s Eve attacks on women in Cologne (Germany) and cites EFD Programme Director Ahmad Mansour with regards to the discussion on why it is important to have a balanced debate, look after the victims and avoid stereotyping....

The Austrian Südkurier reports on the fear of radicalisation of young people in Germany and on the book "Generation Allah" that was written by EFD Programme Director Ahmad Mansour. The article elaborates on the missionary work undertaken to convert and radicalise young people to Islamism and why long-term preventative work is the only solution to this problem....

Süddeutsche Zeitung reports on different events held in November and December 2015 that were attended by EFD Programme Director Ahmad Mansour. By providing an overview of Mansour's current projects, the article portrays his commitment to his work as a social worker, psychologist, author and expert....

EFD Senior Policy Advisor Dr. Demir Murat Seyrek is featured in the Belgian online newspaper EU Today, commenting on the Turkish general election that was held on 1 November 2015. As highlighted in the article, "in an overview of the outcome of the election" Dr Seyrek states that "Turkish voters 'chose stability over fundamental rights and freedoms'"....

EFD Senior Policy Advisor Dr. Demir Murat Seyrek is mentioned in the online newspaper CS Monitor regarding the refugee crisis in Turkey and its EU bid: “For the Turkish public, there has been a clear realization after seeing what happened in Syria and Iraq that the Western world is a far more attractive and stable option. There is a real fatigue about the Middle East while public support for EU membership is growing, which is something that pol...

The Brussels Times reports on the upcoming elections in Turkey, in which this article discloses that the EU has been urged not to allow its strategic partnership with Turkey regarding Syria to be abused as an election item that could boost the ruling AK party. The warning comes a a time as EU leaders are meeting with Turkey to discuss the situation in Syria, the migrant crisis and the EU and Turkey's "common fight against terrorism."...

EFD Senior Policy Advisro Dr. Demir Murat Seyrek is mentioned in the Polish national daily newspaper Rzeczpospolita, commenting the latest Turkish election results and giving an in-depth analysis of what may happen next in Turkey's political scenario....

The child and youth protection agency of the German federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia reports on a symposium which was held on 2nd June 2015 on the topic of “Salafism — recruitment strategies and prevention approaches.” At the symposium, EFD Programme Director Ahmad Mansour discussed the psychological aspects of Salafism and why it can be appealing to young people....

Facetten magazine reports on a panel discussion with Ahmad Mansour which took place at a church in Berlin’s Neukölln district under the title “Islam — between youth culture, religion and politics.” Among the guest speakers were Islamism expert Claudia Dantschke, local Imam Ender Cetin and Member of the Bundestag Erol Özkaraca (SPD)....

EFD Senior Policy Advisor Dr. Demir Murat Seyrek comments the outcome of the Turkish elections, that were held last June....

EFD Senior Policy Advisor Dr. Demir Murat Seyrek is mentioned in the Austrian daily financial newspaper WirtschaftsBlatt, where he comments on the new government coalition created after the Turkish parliamentary elections, which marked the end of the ruling AKP one-party government....

EFD Programme Director Ahmad Mansour is among a number of international experts invited to take part in today’s counter-radicalisation conference at the Austrian Ministry of Justice....

Austrian newspaper Kleine Zeitung reports on a symposium held by the Austrian Ministry of Justice to address the phenomenon of Islamic radicalization in state prisons....

EFD Programme Director Ahmad Mansour is quoted in a report in Austrian newspaper Die Presse on how to combat Islamic radiclisation in state prisons....

Austrian newspaper Der Standard reports on a symposium held by the Austrian Ministry of Justice to address the phenomenon of Islamic radicalization in state prisons. EFD Programme Director, who was among the international experts invited to take part in the conference, is quoted in the article: “in many cases, the Salafists prove to be the better social workers.”...

The Brussels-based EU Reporter features a report on the public briefing organised by the European Foundation for Democracy and hosted by Julie Ward MEP (UK S&D) on 25th March 2015, "How to deconstruct the radical narrative? An alternative discourse of Academics and Activists of Muslim Heritage." The article presents an overview of the discussion as well as the views outlined by Karima Bennoune, Professor of international law at the University of...

The Brussels-based EU Today features a detailed report on the public briefing organised by the European Foundation for Democracy and hosted by Julie Ward MEP (UK S&D) on 25th March 2015, "How to deconstruct the radical narrative? An alternative discourse of Academics and Activists of Muslim Heritage." The article presents an overview of the discussion as well as the views outlined by Karima Bennoune, Professor of international law at the Universi...

The Italian Brescia Oggi features a report on the public briefing organised by the European Law Students' Association (Brescia) in collaboration with the European Foundation for Democracy and Amnesty International on 24th March 2015, “International terrorism: new approaches and new strategies”....

The Italian Teletutto features a report on the public briefing organised by the European Law Students’ Association (Brescia) in collaboration with the European Foundation for Democracy and Amnesty International on 24th March 2015, “International terrorism: new approaches and new strategies”....

A large, inner-city secondary school in Berlin reports on a visit from EFD Programme Director Ahmad Mansour who held a discussion for pupils about Islam and Islamism. The aim of the session was to engage pupils in a critical discussion about their values, as well as to raise awareness of radicalisation and fundamentalist strains of Islam....

Local German media report on a presentation held by EFD Programme Director Ahmad Mansour on identifying and preventing Islamic radicalisation among young people. The audience, which comprised twice as many attendees as were expected, included representatives from schools and mosques as well as social workers....

On 22nd January 2015, EFD Programme Director Ahmad Mansour was one of several experts invited to speak at a public hearing at the Hessian Parliament on how to deal with Islamism and Salafism in society. Ahmad called for the psychological factors of radicalisation to be taken into account, and for schools to actively encourage critical thinking among pupils, also in connection with religion....

The German president Joachim Gauck brings together 50 experts, including EFD Programme Director Ahmad Mansour, to discuss the dramatic increase in instances of discrimination and polarisation in German society. Among the topics for discussion are the anti-Islam movement known as PEGIDA, Islamic radicalisation, anti-Semitism, and right-wing extremism. At this seminar, Ahmad calls for new educational methods to counter anti-Semitism among Muslim yo...

Germany's Spiegel Online features a piece on the Hayat family counselling hotline, co-run by EFD Programme Director Ahmad Mansour, which offers support and practical advice to individuals who are concerned that somebody they know is becoming radicalised....

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...

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....

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....

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....

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....

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....

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....