Month: July 2026

For Immediate Release  

Brussels, 21 July 2026

The Forum of European Muslim Youth and Student Organisations (FEMYSO) expresses its profound concern and condemns the death of Abderrahim Fakir during a police intervention in Bologna, Italy.

Abderrahim died after being restrained by several police officers. Video footage of the incident appears to show him being held face down on the ground while repeatedly crying out that he could not breathe before losing consciousness. The incident has sparked widespread public concern, with protests taking place in Bologna. Italian authorities have opened an investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death, with prosecutors examining available evidence, including police body-camera footage.

FEMYSO stresses that the ongoing investigation must uncover the full circumstances surrounding Abderrahim’s death, while ensuring transparency and accountability throughout the process.

This case also comes amid wider concerns raised by Muslim and other racialised communities across Europe regarding racial profiling, discriminatory policing, and disproportionate use of force. Addressing Islamophobia requires confronting both individual acts of hatred and structural discrimination wherever it occurs, including within public institutions.

FEMYSO calls on the Italian authorities to: 

1. Ensure that the ongoing investigation examines all relevant evidence and provides clarity on the circumstances surrounding Abderrahim’s death. 
2. Guarantee that Abderrahim’s family has access to truth, justice, and accountability throughout the process. 
3. Take meaningful steps to address discriminatory policing and excessive use of force. 

FEMYSO stands in solidarity with Abderrahim’s family and all those seeking justice and accountability. His death is a tragic reminder of the urgent need to ensure equal protection, dignity, and justice for all. Accountability is essential not only for his family, but also for maintaining trust between communities and public institutions.

[END] 

Notes 

1. FEMYSO (est. 1996) is a network organisation of 32 Muslim youth and student organisations across 22 European countries, working to empower European Muslim youth and contribute to a more inclusive, cohesive, and just Europe. 
2. For more information or media requests, please contact: media@femyso.org  

Brussels, 13 July 2026  

To the President of the European Parliament, Secretary General and Members of the Bureau,    

We, the undersigned civil society organisations, members of the European Parliament, and the UN Special Rapporteur on Minority Issues, express our serious concern regarding public claims that the European Parliament has decided to exclude the Forum of European Muslim Youth and Student Organisations (FEMYSO) from its activities, beginning with the European Youth Event (EYE). 

At the time of this open letter, we have not received official confirmation from the European Parliament on such decision. However, the announcement made publicly by Member of the European Parliament Marion Maréchal raises serious concerns about transparency, due process, and the principles of inclusion and participation that European institutions have committed to uphold; going against article 2 and 11 of the Treaty of European Union and EU Civil Society strategy. 

If confirmed, this decision would represent a deeply troubling development. We are not aware of any precedent in which a youth organisation has been excluded from participation in the European Parliament in this manner. The exclusion of a European Muslim youth organisation from a flagship youth participation initiative would risk further marginalising an already underrepresented community, having a chilling effect and would send a concerning message about the place of minority voices in European civic life. 

Such decision would also raise serious questions regarding the European Parliament’s commitment to the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, including the principles of equality before the law, non-discrimination on the grounds of religion or belief, freedom of association, and the right of all citizens and civil society organisations to participate meaningfully in the democratic life.  

FEMYSO has been a longstanding partner of the European Parliament’s youth engagement initiatives. Since 2016, the organisation has participated in every edition of the European Youth Event, contributing to discussions, activities, and the broader success of this important platform for young people across Europe. FEMYSO has also collaborated with European institutions on initiatives aimed at strengthening youth participation and democratic engagement. 

Over recent years, FEMYSO has also been subjected to repeated harassment, intimidation and campaigns seeking to delegitimise its participation in the European Youth Event and other institutional spaces. Throughout this period, European Parliament acknowledged these concerns and communicated its commitment to ensuring a safe and inclusive environment in which all accredited participants could engage free from harassment and discrimination. If confirmed, this decision would effectively allow harassment to determine participation, rewarding intimidation instead of protecting those targeted by it. It also risks legitimising narratives that seek to exclude and stigmatise Muslim organisations and could contribute to the broader shrinking of civic space for minority and youth voices across Europe.  

We therefore call on the European Parliament to provide urgent clarification regarding the reported decision, on what grounds it was taken, the process through which it was reached, and how it is consistent with the European Parliament’s obligations under the Treaties and the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union. We request the disclosure of the 6^th of July meeting minutes and the Secretary General’s 2027 EYE Concept Note. We further call on the European Parliament to uphold its commitment to protect participants from harassment, safeguard civic space, and ensure that all youth organisations are able to participate in democratic processes free from discrimination.  

[END]   

Signatories: 

1. #DiasporaVote! 

2. Academia Cidadã/Citizenship Academy (Portugal) 

3. Avocats Sans Frontières (ASF) 

4. Collectif Contre l’islamophobie en Europe (CCIE) 

5. COMEX ARC 

6. Committee for National and International Relations of Youth and Non-formal Education Organisations (CNAJEP) 

7. Consejo de la Juventud de España (CJE) 

8. Dalla Parte Giusta della Storia 

9. Ecumenical Youth Council in Europe (EYCE) 

10. Equinox Initiative for Racial Justice 

11. Erasmus Student Network (ESN) 

12. European Roma Grassroots Organisations (ERGO) Network 

13. European Bureau for Conscientious Objection to Military Service (EBCO-BEOC)  

14. European Civic Forum (ECF) 

15. European Disability Forum (EDF) 

16. European Network Against Racism (ENAR) 

17. European Students’ Union (ESU) 

18. Fédération des associations générales étudiantes (FAGE) 

19. Fantapolitica 

20. Federation of Young European Greens (FYEG) 

21. Human Rights Watch (HRW) 

22. International Falcon Movement – Socialist Educational International (IFM-SEI)  

23. JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) 

24. Kif Kif vzw 

25. L’APEStE, association des parents et des enfants de Strasbourg et l’Eurométropole — Front de Mères Strasbourg 

26. Ligali 

27. No Hate Speech Network (NHSN) 

28. No Name Kitchen (NNK) 

29. Observatoire des camps de réfugiés  

30. Organising Bureau of European School Student Unions (OBESSU) 

31. Portuguese Platform of Development NGOs 

32. SOLIDAR 

33. ternYpe – International Roma Youth Network 

34. Union of Justice 

35. Vocify 

36. World Student Christian Federation in Europe (WSCF) 

37. Youth and Environment Europe (YEE) 

38. Youth of European Nationalities (YEN) 

39. MEP Benedetta Scuderi (Greens/EFA) 

40. MEP Lynn Boylan (The LEFT) 

41. MEP Bricmont Saskia (Greens/EFA) 

42. MEP Rima Hassan (The LEFT) – Co-chair of the Anti-racism and diversity intergroup of the European Parliament (ARDI) 

43. MEP Rudi Kennes (The LEFT) 

44. MEP Mélissa Camara (Greens/EFA) – Co-chair of the Anti-racism and diversity intergroup of the European Parliament (ARDI)  

45. United Nations Special Rapporteur on Minority Issues – Nicolas Levrat, as an Independent mandate holder from the UN Human Rights Council 

Notes:      

1. FEMYSO (est. 1996) is a network of 32 Muslim youth and student organisations across 22 European countries. It is the leading voice for European Muslim youth, developing and empowering them, and working to build a more diverse, cohesive and vibrant Europe.       

2. Hate and discrimination have no place in Europe

3. EYE 2025 Policy Recommendations

4. For more information or requests please email media@femyso.org.

Pour diffusion immédiate

Bruxelles, le 8 juillet 2026

Le Forum des Organisations Européennes Musulmanes de Jeunes et d’Étudiants (FEMYSO) a pris connaissance d’une déclaration publique faite aujourd’hui par la députée européenne Marion Maréchal, dans laquelle celle-ci affirme que FEMYSO a été exclu des activités du Parlement européen. Elle reprend des allégations et des discours qui ont été maintes fois démentis ; nous sommes convaincus que nos institutions ne se laisseront pas entraîner dans cette désinformation.

À la date de publication de ce communiqué de presse, FEMYSO n’a reçu aucune notification du Parlement européen confirmant une telle mesure. Notre organisation n’a pas non plus été informée d’un quelconque processus lié à une telle décision, ni invitée à y participer. Nous demandons donc de toute urgence aux autorités compétentes du Parlement Européen de nous fournir des éclaircissements quant à la véracité de ces allégations.

Depuis près de trois décennies, FEMYSO collabore de manière transparente et constructive avec les institutions européennes afin de promouvoir la participation des jeunes, l’engagement démocratique et les droits fondamentaux. Nous accordons une grande importance à notre coopération de longue date avec le Parlement européen et restons déterminés à entretenir une relation constructive et respectueuse avec cette institution.

Fort d’un engagement de longue date avec l’Unité Jeunesse du Parlement européen et la Rencontre des jeunes européens (EYE), FEMYSO a participé au EYE dès sa deuxième édition en 2016, puis à chaque nouvelle Rencontre jusqu’à aujourd’hui. Tout au long de cette période, FEMYSO a contribué au programme et au succès de cet événement en animant des ateliers sur des thèmes tels que l’intelligence artificielle et les droits numériques, l’éducation et l’élaboration des politiques, ainsi que la démocratie et les droits de l’homme. FEMYSO a par ailleurs été partenaire officiel du projet du Parlement européen consacré aux élections européennes de 2019 et a figuré parmi les partenaires de l’Année européenne de la jeunesse 2022.

Tant que le Parlement européen n’aura pas apporté de précisions officielles, les déclarations publiques faites aujourd’hui restent invérifiées. Nous appelons donc l’institution à clarifier la situation sans délai.

[FIN]

Notes:

1. FEMYSO (fondé en 1996) est une organisation parapluie de plus de 30 organisations de jeunes et d’étudiants musulmans à travers 22 pays Européens, et constitue la voix de la jeunesse européenne musulmane, en les développant et autonomisant, contribuant à la construction d’une Europe plus diverse, cohésive et dynamique.
2. FEMYSO répond aux fausses allégations sur son lien avec les Frères Musulmans – FEMYSO 
3. Communiqué concernant l’enquête sur la campagne de diffamation.
4. Communiqué de FEMYSO concernant The New Yorker : https://femyso.org/femyso-new-yorker-statement/
5. Pour plus d’informations ou de demandes, s.v.p. contactez media@femyso.org.
   

For immediate release 

Brussels, 8 July 2026  

The Forum of European Muslim Youth and Students Organisations (FEMYSO) has noted a public statement made today by Member of the European Parliament Marion Maréchal claiming that FEMYSO has been excluded from activities of the European Parliament. She is recycling allegations and narratives that have been repeatedly debunked; we trust our institutions to not be drawn into this disinformation.  

At the time of this press release, FEMYSO has not been notified by the European Parliament of any decision confirming such a measure. Nor has our organisation been informed of, or invited to participate in, any process relating to such a decision. We are therefore seeking urgent clarification from the relevant authorities within the European Parliament regarding the accuracy of these public claims. 

For nearly three decades, FEMYSO has engaged transparently and constructively with European institutions to promote youth participation, democratic engagement, and fundamental rights. We value our longstanding cooperation with the European Parliament and remain committed to maintaining a constructive and respectful relationship with the institution. 

FEMYSO has a longstanding history of engagement with the European Parliament’s Youth Outreach Unit and the European Youth Event (EYE), having participated in all five editions of the EYE since 2016. Throughout this period, FEMYSO has contributed to the programme and success of these events by delivering sessions on topics including AI and Digital Rights, Education and Policymaking, and Democracy and Human Rights. FEMYSO has also been an official partner of the European Parliament’s 2019 European elections project and was a listed partner for the European Year of Youth 2022. 

Until the European Parliament provides official clarification, the public claims made today remain unverified. We therefore call on the institution to clarify the situation without delay. 

[END]

Notes:      

1. FEMYSO (est. 1996) is a network of 32 Muslim youth and student organisations across 22 European countries. It 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. For more information or requests please email media@femyso.org.