FEMYSO Meets with Canada’s First Special Representative on Combatting Islamophobia

FEMYSO’s leadership engaged in critical dialogue with Amira Elghawaby, Canada’s inaugural Special Representative on Combatting Islamophobia. Their discussion highlighted the intersecting challenges Canada and Europe face in addressing systemic Islamophobia and the urgent need for coordinated, global strategies. From policy reform to cross-cultural education, collaboration is key to fostering inclusive societies. Grateful for insights that remind us: combatting hate begins with collective action.

FEMYSO calls for long-lasting peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina amid the current political and security context

Monday, 24th March 2025

As the voice of Muslim youth in Europe, FEMYSO is alarmed by the recent political and security crisis in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The increasing instability has exposed the fragility of the Dayton Peace Agreement and serves as a dangerous reminder of the ideologies that led to the Bosnian genocide of the 1990s. As a youth-led organisation advocating for justice and human rights, FEMYSO stands in solidarity with the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina against attempts to undermine its sovereignty and security.

The recent sentencing of Milorad Dodik, the ultra-nationalist president of the Serb-led Republika Srpska (RS) entity, to one year in prison with a six-year ban from holding presidential office has further exposed these tensions. Dodik’s refusal to accept the verdict and his threats to “radicalise the situation” have been followed by unconstitutional separatist laws enacted by the Republika Srpska National Assembly.

Due to the attacks on the constitutional order, the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina has requested the arrest of RS President Milorad Dodik, Prime Minister of the RS Government Radovan Višković, and President of the RS National Assembly Nenad Stevandić. Security agencies have not yet executed the court order due to security challenges.

The rise in security threats, reminiscent of the 1990s, is exacerbated by the normalisation of escalating rhetoric including Islamophobia among media, politicians and the public at the local and national levels which is alarming within the context of genocide denial and triumphalism. The EU peacekeeping force (EUFOR) has been forced to deploy reserve forces in Bosnia and Herzegovina to prevent further destabilisation.

Amid these developments, the Srebrenica Genocide Memorial Centre has taken the difficult decision to close its doors due to security threats. This closure is an evident indication of the worsening situations and highlights the urgent need for international intervention. The Memorial Centre, run by survivors of the Srebrenica genocide, plays a critical role in preserving historical truth and honouring the memory of the victims. With the 30-year commemoration of the Srebrenica Genocide approaching in July 2025, it is essential that the centre is protected from those seeking to erase history.

President of FEMYSO, Hania, stated: “The closure of the Srebrenica Genocide Memorial Centre is a distressing reflection of the worsening situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The international community cannot remain silent while history is being rewritten and security is under threat. We must act now to safeguard peace, truth, and justice.”

 FEMYSO calls on the EU to:

  • Condemn secessionist threats in Bosnia and Herzegovina and urge Milorad Dodik to comply with the summons from Bosnia and Herzegovina judiciary.
  • Empower the security organs and law enforcement of the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina to ensure that any actual step towards secession by Milorad Dodik are quelled
  • Impose sanctions on Milorad Dodik, Radovan Viskovic and Nenad Stevandic as their illegal moves are a direct threat to the peace and integrity of Bosnia and Herzegovina

FEMYSO stands with all who call for peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina and denounce all those that seek to divide and destroy our societies with their dangerous language and actions.

END

Notes:  

1.   FEMYSO (est. 1996) is a network organisation for 30 Muslim youth and student organisations across 22 European countries, and is the leading voice for European Muslim youth, developing and empowering them, and working to build a more diverse, cohesive and vibrant Europe.   

2.   For more media-related information or requests please email media@femyso.org.

Statement on the International Day to Combat Islamophobia

Today, on the UN International Day to Combat Islamophobia, we reflect on the urgent need to address the growing hostility against Muslims across Europe and beyond. The 15th of March, chosen as a day of remembrance, resonates deeply with millions of Muslims worldwide as it marks the anniversary of the Christchurch terrorist attack in 2019, an act of unspeakable brutality that shocked the world and exposed the deadly consequences of Islamophobic hate.

But Christchurch is not an isolated event, we have witnessed numerous tragic incidents fuelled by Islamophobia, including the murder of Marwa El-Sherbini in 2009, who was brutally stabbed in a German courtroom for simply wearing a hijab. These acts of violence are stark reminders of the very real dangers faced by Muslims in Europe and beyond.

This year’s commemoration is particularly significant as it coincides with the 30th anniversary of the Srebrenica Genocide, a harrowing reminder of the consequences of dehumanisation and unchecked hatred towards Muslim communities on European soil.

Three decades later, we are witnessing an alarming resurgence of Islamophobic rhetoric, violence, and exclusion, exacerbated by the ongoing war in Gaza. Across the continent, Muslims, particularly young people, face growing discrimination and barriers in education, employment, and public life. This climate of fear and exclusion is not only a threat to individual rights but also undermines the very principles of equality and democracy that the European Union upholds.

Islamophobia is not just an abstract issue; it is a lived reality for millions of Europeans, and its normalisation is preventing equal participation in society. From education to employment, negative stereotypes and systemic biases continue to marginalise Muslims, as illustrated by the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights’ latest report, Being Muslim in the EU (2024)1, presenting alarming findings:

  • Muslim students, especially in higher education, face structural barriers that limit their academic and professional opportunities. Many experience exclusion, discrimination, and a lack of institutional support.
  • Alarmingly, young Muslims are disproportionately affected: in the 13 Member States surveyed, the share of young Muslim respondents who experience discrimination is three times higher (30%) than among young people in the general population.
  • Islamophobia affects even the youngest members of our communities—16% of Muslim parents or guardians report that their children experience harassment or bullying at school due to their ethnic or immigrant background. Despite these urgent challenges, Islamophobia remains inadequately addressed at the European level. With the upcoming adoption of the EU Anti-Racism Strategy, we call on European

institutions to take concrete action against Islamophobia’s detrimental effects on young people, particularly in higher education and access to the job market.

Our key demands include the following:

  • The incorporation of the Srebrenica Genocide into educational curricula, fostering remembrance and reinforcing the lessons of the past to combat present-day hatred.
  • The establishment of stronger reporting mechanisms to protect Muslim students in higher education, ensuring they have safe avenues to report discrimination.
  • The adoption of robust policies and measures to prevent and counteract hate speech on campuses, creating a safer and more inclusive learning environment.
  • For universities to provide continuous training in cultural competency, anti- discrimination, and anti-muslim racism for teachers and educational staff, equipping them with the necessary tools to foster diversity and inclusion within classrooms.

We are proud to stand alongside organisations committed to equality and inclusion, including

ternYpe-International Roma Youth Network
No Hate Speech Network
AEGEE-Europe / European Students’ Forum
Organising Bureau of European School Student Unions (OBESSU)
DiasporaVote!
Federation of Young European Greens
European Youth Forum
European Students’ Union (ESU)
World Student Christian Federation in Europe (WSCF-Europe).

Together, we call on the European Union to put young people at the heart of its strategy and ensure that no student is denied the right to education, dignity, and opportunity because of their faith.

1https://fra.europa.eu/sites/default/files/fra_uploads/fra-2024-being-muslim-in-the-eu_en.pdf


FEMYSO – Forum of European Muslim Youth and Student Organisations