Month: January 2026

On International Holocaust Remembrance Day, we solemnly honour the six million Jewish lives brutally taken during the Holocaust, alongside the millions of Roma, Sinti, people with disabilities, and countless others who were persecuted and murdered because of who they were. Their suffering and loss stand as one of history’s darkest warnings. 

The Holocaust did not happen overnight. It was the result of hatred allowed to grow; prejudice left unchallenged, and a world that too often looked away. History has repeatedly shown the consequences of such indifference. When discrimination is tolerated and dehumanisation becomes normalised, it can escalate into unimaginable violence. 

Antisemitism and all forms of prejudice are learned, not innate. As UNESCO highlights, education and remembrance are essential tools to challenge hatred and prevent atrocities like the Holocaust and genocides such as Srebrenica. Remembering these tragedies means recognising and confronting the warning signs of hatred, denial, distortion, and indifference. When these forces go unchallenged, they undermine human dignity and create conditions in which atrocities can occur. 

Remembrance, therefore, is not only about honouring the past, but about acting in the present. It is a call to stand against all forms of racism and prejudice, recognising that antisemitism cannot be addressed in isolation from Islamophobia, antigypsyism, anti-Black racism, anti-Asian racism, and other forms of discrimination. 

FEMYSO stands in unwavering solidarity with Jewish communities and all those targeted by hate. We reaffirm that “Never Again” is not only a promise to remember the past, but a commitment to act in the present, to defend justice, human rights, and the safety of all. 

[END] 

Notes:   

1. FEMYSO (est. 1996) is a network organisation for 32 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 information or requests please email media@femyso.org 

Brussels, 13 January 2026 

The Forum of European Muslim Youth and Student Organisations (FEMYSO) strongly rejects and condemns the allegations contained in the report recently published by the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) Group. The report reflects a pattern of ideologically driven narratives that misrepresent Muslim civil society organisations in Europe. Notably, it repeatedly misidentifies FEMYSO as a “federation” rather than a forum, pointing to a broader lack of factual accuracy and an absence of direct engagement with our organisation. 

FEMYSO is a transparent, volunteer-led, and democratically governed civil society organisation that has worked for decades to empower young people, promote civic participation, and uphold fundamental rights across Europe. Our activities, partnerships, and funding are fully disclosed and subject to standard scrutiny and accountability mechanisms. FEMYSO operates in accordance with democratic principles, civic engagement, and social cohesion, and has never been involved in any activity contrary to these values. FEMYSO is fully independent and maintains no political affiliations or ties with any organisation or party. 

The ECR report makes no attempt to consult FEMYSO or to substantiate its claims with verifiable evidence. Instead, it relies on a narrow set of sources that have previously contributed to misleading and Islamophobic narratives. Similar allegations in the past have been amplified through disinformation campaigns rather than objective, evidence-based inquiry. As a result, FEMYSO’s work promoting inclusion, transparency, and constructive civic engagement is either omitted or misrepresented. 

Reports of this nature are not only inaccurate but also socially harmful. By framing Muslim civil society organisations as inherently suspect, they risk legitimising exclusionary policies, discouraging civic participation, and marginalising underrepresented communities. Such narratives contribute to Islamophobia and discrimination, undermining the pluralism and democratic engagement that European institutions claim to uphold. 

FEMYSO remains committed to empowering young people to participate fully in European society and to promoting equality, pluralism, and human rights. We call on European institutions, policymakers, and media actors to exercise due diligence, engage directly with the organisations concerned, and reject fear-based narratives. Attempts to discredit FEMYSO will not deter our work; they only reinforce the importance of defending civic space, inclusion, and social cohesion. 

[END]  

1. FEMYSO (est. 1996) is a network organisation for 32 Muslim youth and student organisations across 20 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. FEMYSO responds to false allegations on links to Muslim Brotherhood
3. Smear campaign investigation statement 
4. FEMYSO New Yorker statement: https://femyso.org/femyso-new-yorker-statement/
5. Further clarifications on our organisation and its governance can be found on the FAQ page.
6. For more information or requests please email media@femyso.org