“Why should I vote ?”

When it comes to elections, we often wonder why we should vote, to what extent a piece of paper will have an impact in this big matrix. At the European level, the answers to those questions seem more blurred. With the European Elections coming up, here are five reasons why you should vote on May 23-26! 

1° To build your future 

If your country is a part of the European Union, then all decisions taken by the European Parliament will have a direct impact on your daily life. Therefore, we better have an idea of what we want and do not want so that we can build the future we imagine and to do so, voting is the key. We are part of this incredible organization that is the European Union. We can go where ever we want, we can study abroad and we are united by common values. So let us shape the Europe that we want!

2° To have a voice 

We know that representation matters and when it comes to building our future, we should pay attention who we are voting for, which party is going to highlight our issues and make our voice heard when it comes to voting to laws and directives. How can we be part of the future of Europe if no one will represent us?  Being heard is crucial and can sometimes be hard, but when we vote, we participate in a common project of building the Europe that we want. In this way, we have the chance to be listened and we have the duty to use this chance properly. 

3°Fight discriminations and hate speech

When we see that the Christchurch terrorist was strongly influenced by visiting Europe, we can seriously question the European roots of this massacre and the spread of hate speech in Europe. Hate speech represents one of the biggest threats to our unity and social cohesion. Letting hate speech promoters take on the European Parliament is failing ourselves and failing all victims of hate speech across the world. We need to work altogether against this common enemy before it becomes so powerful that it can destroy the Europe that we love. 

4° We are the Youth

All revolutions and big changes in history started with the youth: we are the youth that represent the Europe of tomorrow and it is only with our commitment that we can create a more diverse and inclusive Europe. When we are young, we often pay attention to the politics inside our country more than the European policies even if we know that those European policies have a strong impact on our country. Therefore, we should take part in the discussions and be represented at European level. This is why this time we are voting.

5° Our planet needs us

Climate change is a serious, concrete and factual challenge that the entire world has to face. We only have one planet and it is only at continental and global level that we may take concrete actions to restrain and then remove the use of fossil energies, deforestation, plastic, food waste, the use of harmful pesticides and this cannot be done if we do not vote for the right people. 

#MyVoteMyChoice 

#ThisTimeImVoting 

about the author | Hassiba KECHICHE

Hassiba Kechiche is a Masters’ degree student in International Management in Lille, France. Hassiba was Board Member of Etudiants Musulmans de France and is currently the Head of Media at the Forum of European Muslim Youth and Student Organisations (FEMYSO).

“We are the young European Muslims mobilising for the European Elections”

The European Elections are taking place soon. Various civil society organisations are mobilising to encourage citizens to vote. Muslim youth are part of the movement.

The years in between the last European elections in 2014 and the next ones in May 2019 have been marked by unprecedented concerning changes in our societies. Young European Muslims are aware of these developments affecting our lives. Indeed, we have become more conscious of the intensity of political influence and public speech.

Not a day passes by without Islamophobic rhetoric from politicians, public figures and media outlets, which include hate speech similar to the rhetoric that inspired the Christchurch terrorist. Not a month passes by without an Islamophobic law is passed that clearly targets and attacks Muslims, such as the most recent headscarf bans in Austria and France.

Factors such as historical repetition and reaping the fruits of past injustices, continuing rise of right-wing extremists, and a growing attack on Islam and Muslims within a normalized legal, political and public framework are the main causes to a stronger consciousness and awareness. Most importantly, an understanding of the European project as a guarantee to protect our lives as human beings with a non-white background.

FEMYSO has been both capitalising and co-creating that understanding. With our network of 31 Member Organisations from 23 European countries, we have been able to consult with grassroots Muslim youth and students’ organisations on their perceptions of the European Union, and to motivate them to take part in the European elections with the purpose of having our own say.

We need to make use of our democratic rights and to mobilise ourselves, because the EU is the only guarantee to protect our fundamental rights in face of governments and political parties whose main aim is to violate our rights and reduce our presence in Europe.

That is why we need to act: to vote, spread the word, and empower our fellow young Muslims.

We need to better protect our rights as EU citizens: our generation consists of second- and third-generation Muslims with a migrant background born in EU countries with citizenships of EU Member States. By virtue of this citizenship, we have the same fundamental rights as any other citizen. No one can be discriminated based on language, religion or ethnicity. We are all equal under the Treaty on the (Functioning of the) European Union, Charter of Fundamental Rights and various international conventions.

The EU is the sole protector of equality of everyone. In face of growing Islamophobic governments and politicians, we need to better know our rights. While combating racism and discrimination is mainly a competence of the Member States, the EU still has institutions to scrutinise the Member States’ adherence to protecting citizens’ rights. We have to educate ourselves about these processes in order to better protect ourselves.

No one has any right to force ourselves to change our identities or religion. No one is allowed to instil fear in us by virtue of our adherence to the world’s second largest religion. I am a Muslim and I am proud to be so. I have the right under the Treaties to freely live my religion. I should not have to fight to enjoy my constitutionally guaranteed rights. I should not be afraid to walk on the street with my headscarf, nor to take an active role in society.

We young European Muslims are not identified by our religion only. We are molecular biologists, doctors, physicians, political scientists, engineers, psychologists. We are diverse, bright, we are fun to hang out with. We are so rich in our cultural and intellectual heritage consisting of the best of not only two worlds, but two worlds + the European Union, that we burst with impressive analyses, opinions, cultural knowledge and experiences. We are the embodiment of the artificially divided “East (Muslim, Turkish, Moroccan etc.) and West (German, Dutch, French etc.)” Yet we are also the embodiment of the Erasmus generation: the young Europeans knowing no borders, travelling to different EU Member States every few months, studying abroad and sometimes having more friends abroad than in our home country.

We are stronger defenders of the European Union than those who attack us and claim that we do not belong in Europe. We are more highly educated, we are more open-minded, we are better skilled and have higher cultural capital than them. We know how to navigate between different worlds, to bring people together, to work for cohesive societies. We are here to work harder for a united, cohesive and vibrant Europe than the mainstream. We are the young European Muslims of the 21stcentury.

about the author | Hande TANER

Hande Taner is a Dutch dual degree Master’s student in European Affairs between Sciences Po Paris and the London School of Economics. She is also the Head of Campaigns at the Forum of European Muslim Youth and Student Organisations (FEMYSO), Europe’s largest umbrella body of Muslim youth and student organisations. She is currently leading FEMYSO’s European Elections campaign.

FEMYSO participated in the Second Summit on Religion, Peace and Security in Geneva

FEMYSO participated in the Second Summit on Religion, Peace and Security, heldat Palais des Nations Unies, United Nations in Geneva, from the 29th April to 1stof May 2019.

The core theme of the summit was building bridges, fostering inclusivity andcountering hate speech to enhance the protection of religious minorities,refugees and migrants. The summit was co-organised by the United NationsOffice on Genocide Prevention and Responsibility to Protect (1) and theInternational Association for the Defense of Religious Liberty (AIDLR)(2). Thisthree day summit brought together religious leaders, academics, youth, memberstates and others to tackle these core themes that are affecting the very core ofour societies.

The rise of atrocity crimes and violent extremism has been manifested in everypart of society over the past few decades. The misuse of religion to justify suchacts has been the reason for the rise and expansion of intolerance, hate speechand nationalist movements worldwide. Over the past two months, we havewitnessed Synagogues, Churches and Mosques becoming targets of those claiming to be either from far right ideologies or in the name of religion. The media has also played a huge role in inflating fake news and drawing ourattention away from the core issues, and targeting the most vulnerable.

Simultaneously, national and international peace and security has been on the agenda of many member states since before WW1. In the most recent years, there has been increased disputes over the introduction of new measures worldwide to tackle and combat challenges around peace and security. However, in several cases this has led to the limitation of fundamental rights and freedoms, including the rights to freedom of religion and belief and freedom of expression and opinion. This is why, it is of utmost importance for different actors to work together to protect fundamental rights. Member states must show their obligation in protecting these very rights set out by the UN Human Rights Charter and adhere to the very rights they signed up for.

For this purpose, AIDLR(2) and the United Nations Office on Genocide Prevention and the Responsibility to Protect convened a Second Global Summit. Bringing together representatives to discuss ways to enhance the protection and promote human rights of religious minorities, refugees and migrants by building bridges, countering discrimination and hate speech and fostering inclusivity.

This was carried out by analysing challenges and opportunities, highlighting knowledge, lessons learned and good practices in this field of inclusivity and bridges building. While including and discussing how the ‘dialogue five’stakeholders (religious leaders and actors, states diplomats, civil society, politicians, media and business) can effectively work together and complement each other’s work in this regard. Moreover, the Summit was an opportunity to share information, experiences, expertise and best practices on promoting peace and respect for a cohesive society.

FEMYSO, a European umbrella organisation representing 31 member organisations, over 23 European countries presented young European Muslims at this summit. Our Board of Trustee, Hajar Al-Kaddo, as a panelist shared insight son the political, human rights and humanitarian challenges for the protection of religious minorities, refugees and migrants. As well as the importance of youth involvement in facing these challenges, emphasising the need for promoting interfaith dialogue worldwide.

For over 20 years, FEMYSO has been promoting and actively working on interfaith action and cohesion within European society. During the panel FEMYSO also shared lessons learnt from some of these actions, and showcased our latest campaign on bringing Muslim youth to the forefront of European Society through their right to vote at the next European Elections this year (3). Such actions are carried out to build better foundations for productive and respectful understanding within society.

There was a clear message sent to all present at the summit, that young people must be at the forefront of making positive change, and bridging the gap between religious leadership, politicians and civil society. FEMYSO will continue to work towards bridging this gap to protect freedom of religion and belief and freedom of expression and opinion for all. The final outcome of the summit was the drafting of a Plan of Action to reach aset of objectives based on participants inputs and discussions. We look forward to the implementation of this plan as part of a collaborative international effort with young people at the very front.

(1) https://www.un.org/en/genocideprevention/

(2) https://www.aidlr.org/

3) https://femyso.org/yourvoteyourvoice/

FEMYSO celebrates Europe Day.


This Thursday May 9th 2019, we celebrate the 34th Europe Day.
Since 1985, all European state members celebrate the European Union creation. A little bit of history, the 9th of May 1950, Robert Schuman, French foreign minister at the time, proposed a creation project of a common organisation between several European states and this is how the predecessor of the European Union was created.


In this joyful day of remembrance, the Forum of European Muslim Youth and Students Organisations would like to remind once again how grateful we should be for having such a strong organisation as the European Union. We, as FEMYSO, strongly believe of the need of such organisation and that it is only altogether that we will be successful.


As a European civil society organisation, we aim at building a diverse, cohesive and vibrant Europe and we remember today that our work has been made possible thanks to the creation of the European Union a few decades back.


When looking at our History, we cannot help but see how throughout the times we are still facing similar challenges and as our predecessors, we are working towards a common future, a Europe of freedom, equality, human rights and peace, a Europe we believe will continue to strive as the rightful heirs of the Schuman Declaration of 1950.


This Europe Day is particularly special this year since it comes a few days before the European Parliament elections and shows even more the importance of voting. In a few days, we will shape our future by one simple yet precious vote and this 9th of May sounds even more important today as it echoes an ideal we all want to see: a strong and peaceful Europe.