I write on behalf of the Forum of European Muslim Youth and Student Organisations (FEMYSO), the leading European network representing Muslim youth committed to civic engagement, democratic participation, and social cohesion.
We raise an urgent concern: the escalating attacks on our organisation, our members, and the broader right of European Muslim youth to participate in European public life. On 21 May 2025, the French Ministry of the Interior released a report titled “Muslim Brotherhood and Political Islam in France.” Though framed as a security analysis, the document is ideologically motivated, lacking any rigour, and dangerously equates lawful civic participation with undermining national security.
This report reflects a wider trend: European Muslim youth are caught in a no-win situation—labelled as “infiltrators” if they engage in public life, or “separatists” if they engage within their faith-based community. These narratives aim to delegitimise our presence and disqualify us from democratic life.
Let us be clear: FEMYSO is an independent, transparent organisation rooted in the values of democracy, inclusion, and human rights. For over two decades, we have worked with non-Muslim partners to build bridges and encourage European young Muslims to be active citizens. To frame the civic participation of minority youth as a national security threat is not only unjust—it is profoundly dangerous, particularly in an environment where we have seen rising incidents of Islamophobic hate crime.
Indeed, since the report’s release, far-right actors have been further emboldened to target us, including attempts to undermine our participation in the European Youth Event—one of the rare spaces for institutional youth dialogue and a space where all European youth should feel welcome. This is a matter of principle: no citizen should be excluded from public life because of their faith, visible identity, or civic engagement. What is at stake is the integrity of European democracy. We have always been inspired by your consistency in championing the involvement of young people in political processes, emphasising the need to listen to their concerns, actively engage them, and empower them to shape the future of Europe. And we recall your public message asserting that “Europe cannot afford to leave anyone behind. Not least our young people.” and also stating that “Wherever discussions are taking place about young people and their future, they should be there too.”
We therefore urge you to:
Publicly reaffirm support for inclusive youth participation, including for visibly Muslim young people and organisations
Address the spread of state-level disinformation and ideological profiling that normalises Islamophobia
A detailed policy brief is attached, outlining the broader implications of this report and the growing securitisation of Muslim civil society in Europe.
In the spirit of your public statements and given the gravity of this situation, we respectfully request an urgent meeting with you to discuss these concerns and explore potential avenues for addressing this issue at the European level. We believe that the European Parliament has a crucial role to play in protecting the rights and freedoms of all its citizens and in combating all forms of discrimination.
At a time of rising extremism, we cannot afford silence. Muslim youth are not a threat—they are an essential part of Europe’s future. We stand ready to work with all who share a vision of a democratic, inclusive Europe.
The Forum of European Muslim Youth and Student Organisations (FEMYSO) expresses deep concern at the French government’s recently published report and strongly condemns the defamatory and politically driven narrative which aims to delegitimise Muslim civil society actors — including our organisation — through vague and unsubstantiated allegations framed as national security concerns. We were never contacted or consulted in the drafting process- a glaring omission that mirrors the very exclusion the report attempts to normalise.
FEMYSO is a proudly youth-led and democratic organisation. We categorically reject any attempt to associate us with political entities and urge the French government to reconsider the long-term consequences of policies that alienate its own citizens. French Muslims are part and parcel of the national fabric – engaged, proud, and committed to their society.
It is particularly troubling that this report employs Islamophobic tropes and unsubstantiated claims at a time when constructive dialogue is most needed. We have seen similar rhetorical strategies in the public debate following the brutal murder of Aboubakar Cissé – moments when serious societal issues are avoided by stirring artificial controversies around terms like Islamophobia.
FEMYSO remains steadfast in our mission to promote dignity, pluralism, and democratic participation. Today we have sent an official letter to the French Minister of the Interior, inviting him to meet with us and our members, experience first-hand the civic work our organisation does across Europe. We believe that engagement and dialogue – not exclusion and suspicion – are the foundations of a diverse, cohesive and vibrant Europe.
We call upon European institutions, civil society actors, and all defenders of democratic values to stand firm against this dangerous trend to marginalise and silence European Muslim communities under the pretext of security.
[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.
5. Further clarifications on our organization and its governance can be found on the FAQ page.
6. For more information or requests please email media@femyso.org
COMMUNIQUÉ DE PRESSE
FEMYSO dénonce le récit excluant du rapport français et l’attaque contre la société civile musulmane
Bruxelles, mercredi 21 mai 2025
Le Forum Européen des Organisations Musulmanes Étudiantes et de Jeunesse (FEMYSO) exprime sa profonde inquiétude face au rapport récemment publié par le gouvernement français et condamne fermement le récit diffamatoire et politiquement motivé visant à délégitimer les acteurs de la société civile musulmane – y compris notre organisation – à travers des allégations vagues et non fondées, présentées sous couvert de préoccupations sécuritaires. Nous n’avons jamais été contactés ni consultés dans le cadre de l’élaboration de ce rapport – une omission flagrante qui reflète l’exclusion même que ce document cherche à normaliser.
FEMYSO est une organisation fièrement dirigée par des jeunes et fondée sur des principes démocratiques. Nous rejetons catégoriquement toute tentative de nous associer à des entités ideologiques et appelons le gouvernement français à reconsidérer les conséquences à long terme de politiques qui marginalisent ses propres citoyens. Les musulmans de France font partie intégrante du tissu national – engagés, fiers et investis dans leur société.
Il est particulièrement préoccupant que ce rapport reprenne des clichés islamophobes et des affirmations sans fondement, à un moment où le dialogue constructif est plus que jamais nécessaire. Nous avons observé des stratégies rhétoriques similaires dans le débat public qui a suivi l’assassinat brutal d’Aboubakar Cissé – des moments où des enjeux sociétaux réels sont évités en suscitant des controverses artificielles autour de termes comme l’islamophobie.
FEMYSO reste fermement engagé dans sa mission de promotion de la dignité, du pluralisme et de la participation démocratique. Aujourd’hui, nous avons adressé une lettre officielle au Ministre de l’Intérieur français, l’invitant à rencontrer notre organisation et nos membres, afin de découvrir directement le travail civique que nous menons à travers l’Europe. Nous croyons que l’engagement et le dialogue – et non l’exclusion et la suspicion – sont les fondements d’une Europe diverse, cohésive et dynamique.
Nous appelons les institutions européennes, les acteurs de la société civile et tous les défenseurs des valeurs démocratiques à résister fermement à cette tendance dangereuse de marginalisation et de réduction au silence des communautés musulmanes européennes sous prétexte de sécurité.
[FIN]
FEMYSO (fondé en 1996) est une organisation de réseau regroupant 32 organisations de jeunesse et d’étudiants musulmans dans 20 pays européens. Il constitue la voix principale de la jeunesse musulmane européenne, œuvrant à son développement et à son autonomisation, et travaillant à construire une Europe plus diverse, cohésive et dynamique.
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.
Our partner, Humane Intelligence, hosted an inaugural event, the AI & Society House, as part of of the Paris AI Action Summit. This brought together 500 registrants — the most open gathering at the AI Action Summit so far. Our lead on AI and Digital Rights, Alexandra Darby, spoke at the panel discussion titled ‘Combatting Online Hate’ alongside Doris Li (Technology Policy Manager at Ofcom), Bjorn Ihler (Founder and CEO of Revontulet), Louis-Victor de Franssu (CEO and Co-Founder from Tremau) and moderated by Theodora Skeadas.
Islamophobia does not exist in a vacuum – it is not a single-issue fight, nor can it be tackled in isolation. It is the shadow cast by a web of interconnected injustices. This was the defining message of the 2024 European Action Against Islamophobia Conference, in which civil-society organisations, politicians, activists and academics came together to confront a stark reality: Islamophobia cannot be fought in silos. It thrives at the intersection of economic exploitation, the scapegoating of migrants, the normalisation of genocidal violence , and the hypersurveillance of minority communities – all rooted in Europe’s dark colonial past. These are not separate issues but interconnected fronts in the broader fight for a just, equal, and rights-based Europe.
In light of the EU-recognised European Action Day Against Islamophobia (EADAI) on the 21st of September, FEMYSO organises an annual conference at the European Parliament which serves as a crucial space to bring attention to the issue of anti-Muslim racism across Europe. Established through the advocacy efforts of FEMYSO and its partners, EADAI provides a space to share lived experiences, information and practical strategies to combat Islamophobia in Europe.
In 2024, amid the ongoing genocide in Gaza, the far-right surge during the European elections, and increasing use of technology to police and surveil Muslim communities, the urgency of EADAI’s mission has never been clearer. FEMYSO marked EADAI 2024 with a conference at the European Parliament in Brussels, and an afternoon Red-Teaming event, supported by Humane Intelligence. These events convened over 60 youth participants from across Europe, together with representatives from civil society groups and Members of the European Parliament, to reflect on the past year and engage in nuanced, critical discussions about the escalating levels of Islamophobia. By integrating the conference with the workshop, this year’s EADAI sought not only to foster dialogue but also to encourage practical engagement with the realities of discrimination, empowering participants to contribute to meaningful, real-world change.
The conference opened with a panel titled ‘Strategic Responses to Islamophobia in a Post-Elections Europe’, chaired by James Kanter, political commentator and host of the EUScreams podcast. The session sparked a dynamic discussion on Islamophobia, exploring both its contemporary manifestations and its structural roots. Attendees heard from journalists, human rights advocates, and politicians leading the fight against racism across Europe. Benedetta Scuderi, MEP for Greens/EFA, mapped out the rise of anti-migrant rhetoric and its intersection with Islamophobic discourse, whereby those in power wield their authority to dictate who belongs and who does not. Political commentator, Shada Islam, drew attention to the genocide in Gaza as the ultimate betrayal of Europe’s commitment to human rights and the rules-based international order. She highlighted the profound alienation and fundamentally altered sense of belonging felt by European Muslims in response to Europe’s indifference and complicity.
Aarti Narse, senior policy and advocacy officer at the European Civic Forum’s contributions highlighted the link between recent attacks on European civil space – through legislative restrictions on the right to protest, police brutality and the demonisation of the pro-Palestine movement in the media – and Europe’s unaddressed colonial past and long-standing treatment of minority groups. Here, Arab and Muslim dissent is presented as an expression of rage that cannot be examined, only condemned and violently opposed. Indeed, Julie Pascoet, Policy and Advocacy Coordinator at the European Network Against Racism, emphasised the invisibility of Muslim voices within EU institutions, stressing the need for representation and diverse consultation to drive meaningful, anti-racist policies. The session was followed by several pertinent questions from the audience members, facilitating a rich and multifaceted discussion.
The second panel, ‘Understanding Islamophobia in AI’, delved into a critical and contemporary facet of institutionalized Islamophobia in Europe. Expertly moderated by Daris José, Legal and Policy Officer at Equinet, the discussion unpacked how AI systems can embed and amplify Islamophobic biases. Despite its technical nature, the panel offered a nuanced exploration of how technology is deeply intertwined with social structures and prejudices. Zeynep Engin, Founding Director of Data for Policy CIC, outlined how AI models, such as ChatGPT, inherit biases from training data, which ultimately reflect existing, structural socio-political biases. Mark Faddoul, the Director at Al Forensics, provided the example of AI-driven content moderation on social media platforms which disproportionately suppresses Muslim voices. This creates a harmful feedback loop, whereby Muslims are policed online under counter-terrorism policies, generating biased data that perpetuates the cycle. All panelists stressed the urgent need for greater transparency from AI platforms, with mechanisms for public accountability and independent audits. The discussion underscored the vital role of civic engagement and grassroots in holding these systems accountable and shaping a collective vision of fairness and inclusivity in AI – a mission that FEMYSO is determined to carry forward.
Following a delicious lunch, attendees shifted from discussion to action, participating in a hands-on Red Teaming exercise. We were honoured to be joined by Brando Benifei, MEP for the Democratic Party and AI Act Rapporteur, who outlined the importance of Red Teaming exercises in proactively identifying and addressing potential vulnerabilities in artificial intelligence systems. During the exercise, participants challenged AI models with prompts related to the Muslim identity, aiming to expose biases, discriminatory outputs, and potential vulnerabilities that could be exploited by malicious actors. FEMYSO is currently preparing a comprehensive report to document the findings of this exercise.
Indeed, this year’s EADAI has only further highlighted the critical importance of FEMYSO’s mission to empower and advocate for Muslim youth – now more than ever. We remain steadfast in our commitment to amplifying the voices of marginalised youth within European institutions, fostering spaces for meaningful engagement with decision-makers, and building a European-wide movement, with alliances across diverse civil society actors and EU stakeholders, to challenge Islamophobia and structural discrimination. As hundreds and thousands have taken to the street to advocate for peace and justice in Palestine, the pervasive impact of Islamophobic rhetoric has become increasingly clear: from media narratives that fuel hatred and demonisation, to legislative crackdowns on free speech, to the use of surveillance technologies targeting Muslims. Yet, amid these challenges, we have witnessed the transformative power of grassroots mobilisation and collective action in holding institutions accountable.
Muslim youth often find themselves at the cross-roads of the multifaceted forms in which Islamophobia manifests, facing barriers to education, employment and full participation in civic society. As FEMYSO we will continue our advocacy efforts to ensure that the perspective of Muslim youth and students is amplified and represented in decision-making processes that still lack diverse representation of all minorities in Europe.
The weekend of 13-15 October 2023 saw the election of a new Executive Committee of our organisation by its Member Organisations. With that, we say goodbye to our current executive team after two years of service.
We would like to thank our outgoing team for their commitment to this organisation over the mandate:
Hande Taner – President (The Netherlands)
Hiba Latreche – Head of Internal development (France)
Aida Rizk – General Secretary (United Kingdom)
Anes Cherigiu – Head of Fundraising (Sweden)
Nadia El Faroukhi – Head of Member Organisation Relations (France)
Vullnet Selmani – Head of Finance (North Macedonia)
Burak Barut – Head of Training (Germany)
Ibtihelle Ben – Head of Services (France)
Yusuf Hassan – Head of Media (United Kingdom)
Nourhene Mahmoudi – Head of Campaigns (Italy)
Saturday the 14th of October saw the election of the incoming FEMYSO Executive Committee:
Hania Chalal – President (France)
Vacant – Head of Fundraising
Ahmed Moujoud – Head of Finance (Italy)
Omar Abu Qalbain – General Secretary (United Kingdom)
Hamda Mohamed – Head of Communication and Marketing (United Kingdom)
Aida Rizk – Head of Internal Development (United Kingdom)
Chayma Bouchafra – Head of Training (Spain)
Nourhene Mahmoudi – Head of Media (Italy)
Abdulsami Arjumand – Head of Campaigns (United Kingdom)
The European Action Day Against Islamophobia (EADAI) is an annual event on the 21st of September and marks a major opportunity to raise awareness on the issue of anti-Muslim hatred. It was established by the advocacy and campaigning of FEMYSO together with other organizations and institutions. EADAI creates the opportunity to share facts, lived experiences, and tools to address Islamophobia and anti-Muslim hatred in Europe. To mark this day, FEMYSO organized a conference hosted at the European Parliament, Brussels, to bring together young Muslims from across the continent with stakeholders at an EU institutional level. In 2023, EADAI is more critical than ever as we witness the rise in Islamophobia in most European countries and its normalization by governing institutions.
The conference hosted approximately 40 young Muslim youth leaders from across Europe and featured two panels with Q&A sessions after each. FEMYSO’s Vice-President Nadia El Faroukhi opened the Conference and highlighted the importance of the event in the current political landscape. Her words were followed by a keynote speech by the honourable MEP Brando Benifei who has always been an incredible ally for the cause of Muslim youth.
The first panel was titled ‘Islamophobia in 2023: Shrinking of the civic space, and top-down vs. bottom-up challenges’ and was chaired by James Kanter, political commentator and host of the podcast EUScreams. Attendees heard from academics, journalists, and human rights advocates on the current European context and anti-Muslim hatred. The panelists were Shada Islam, political commentator and analyst, Eve Geddie, Director of Amnesty International’s EU Office, and Farid Hafez, co-editor of the annual European Islamophobia Report). After the session, several participants asked pertinent questions and there were contacts exchanged between speakers and attendees to continue the conversations beyond the event.
The second panel’s title was forward-looking, and covered “Safe-guarding future-policies, 2024 EP Elections and Muslim European Voters”. Areeq Chowdhury, Head of Policy at the Royal Society and Labour Party Councillor from the UK, shared his expertise and answered questions on the issue of discrimination in AI. The contributions of Hania Chalal, activist and the former president of Muslim Students of France (Etudiants Musulmans de France – EMF), were insightful for the situation of French Muslim women and advocacy in the aftermath of the French abaya ban in schools. FEMYSO was pleased to host the Director of the European Network Against Racism, Kim Smoulter, and the Director of Policy and Advocacy for the European Youth Forum, Ozgecan Kara.
The role that institutions have in upholding and spreading anti-Muslim sentiment, is a topic especially poignant to FEMYSO, due to the shocking revelations this year from the smear campaign that FEMYSO and other major organizations faced. As revealed in a year-long joint investigation by European Investigative Collaborations, this campaign aimed to destroy FEMYSO’s reputation and marginalize the young people we represent in public life. It has resulted in increased censorship and the removal of our representatives from important events and youth advisory bodies and has hindered the historical cooperation between European institutions and FEMYSO. FEMYSO, therefore, is calling for clear and effective European strategies to tackle the growing issue of systemic Islamophobia.
With the endemic stigmatization and exclusion of Muslims from all areas of life, FEMYSO wants to create a space to discuss future-looking policies and how these are likely to affect the lived experience of young Muslims in Europe. With the known concerns of bias in artificial intelligence systems, and how this risk impacts young people in the job market, in their access to education, or simply existence in public spaces; upcoming European Elections, and the expected rise in Islamophobic rhetoric; FEMYSO believes that it is vital that diverse stakeholders are brought together to discuss policies on these critical issues.
On Thursday 21st of September 2023, FEMYSO was proud to have hosted an event that explored the different manifestations of Islamophobia, with specific attention to youth. Different institutional representatives and civil society organizations working on youth, education, and discrimination presented their inputs and findings to ensure an inclusive and effective approach to addressing Islamophobia. In line with our human rights to freedom of faith and right to security, it is essential that young Muslims are free to practice their faith and in their rights as individuals in Europe today. We look forward to welcoming more attendees at next year’s conference, EADAI24.
Please find the recording of panel discussions using the following links:
In occasion of the European Action Day Against Islamophobia, FEMYSO is organizing an important in-person conference on 21 September 2022. This is an annual event commemorating the victims of Islamophobia, reflecting on gaps and good practices in Europe when it comes to tackling Islamophobia, and agreeing on joint actions with relevant stakeholders. All of this within the specific dimension of youth.
The European Action Day Against Islamophobia represents a major opportunity for Muslim youth that FEMYSO helped to create with EU institutions to bring the attention of stakeholders on the issue of islamophobia in Europe, sharing key facts with them as well as tools that they can bring in their fields of work to tackle islamophobia.
The gradual increase of islamophobia at all levels has led to the aspirations of young European Muslims to be deeply affected and as of now, a clear and effective European strategy is lacking to tackle this issue.
The event to be organized for the European action day against islamophobia will represent a pivotal opportunity to raise awareness and foster follow-up actions as well as relations and contacts with stakeholders with which cooperative actions can be implemented on the ground and at the policy level.
FEMYSO is a pan-European network of national Muslim youth and Muslim students’ organizations covering more than 20 European countries. Our vision is to be the leading voice of European Muslim youth, empowering and serving them through networking, campaigns, trainings, and representation. FEMYSO aims to ensure that Muslim youth are included in relevant decision-making processes and that they are consulted on issues pertaining to Muslims and European Youth.
FEMYSO has been representing and advocating for the rights of European Muslim Youth for 26 years and the fight against Islamophobia has always been at the core of the work that we deliver. With the unfortunate rise in discrimination against Muslims, the online hate speech targeting Muslims and Muslim activists, and also the increased numbers of Islamophobic events and hate crimes, a firm and solid reaction from the EU and Member States is needed now more than ever.
With the continuous rise of islamophobia alongside the stigmatization and exclusion of Muslims from all areas of life, in the job market, in their access to education, or simply in public spaces, there is the necessity to recognize this serious phenomenon and ensure that policies protecting against islamophobia are put in place.
On the 21st of September, our event in Brussels will explore more in depth the different forms through which Islamophobia can occur, with a specific attention to the “youth” component. Different institutional representatives and civil society organizations working on youth, education, and discrimination will be present to take part in the discussion and share their inputs and findings to ensure an inclusive and effective approach to addressing Islamophobia.
The European Network AgainstRacism (ENAR) together with ERGO and Equinox Initiative for Racial Justice, organized a People’s Summit for the second year in the row, to create spaces for anti-racist civil society (CSO) to come together and strengthen solidarity in the movement. FEMYSO’s Advocacy and Active Citizenship Officer from the Campaigns Department participated in the series of events, finishing in Brussels at the end of March 2022.
In 2020, the European Commission adopted an Anti-Racism Action Plan. While this was an important step in the right direction, we know that it was a response to the power that was built on the ground in Europe.
The aim of the People’s Summit in 2022 was to collect CSO priorities and recommendations to share during the European Commission’s annual Anti-Racism Summit, and to respond and comment on the event and to fill in any gaps. Civil society, activists, institutional representatives and press were welcomed to come along to engage, share their thoughts and contribute to the anti-racist agenda in Europe.
As part of the coalition of organizations, FEMYSO brought forth the advocacy points which are part of the core values of the FEMYSO’s mandate. Muslims in Europe continue to suffer in different areas of social life, including education, employment and housing, through hate speech, acts of violence or ethnic and religious profiling. Anti-Muslim speech is no longer confined to the margins of society, but has now become omnipresent in the discourse of the leaders of traditional political parties.
Minorities in European countries should not be targeted, harassed or persecuted by their government due to their cultural specificities or their religious practices under the guise of a “fight against separatism.” Therefore, by being present in these spaces, we are able to push institutions for the inclusion of these points in Member States’ Anti-Racism Action Plans across Europe.
The Peoples’ Summit ended in an exchange between CSOs and the MEP Evin Incir, who is part of the European Parliament’s Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE). As they are in charge of putting together the Racial Justice report for the European Parliament, this meeting was called on to hear the perspectives of CSOs on what the report should include. Islamophobia or Anti-Muslim Hatred was strongly urged to be included as part of the report by FEMYSO’s representative, as the subject should be mentioned for what it is, after having been sidelined for far too long.
That moment has sadly come. We will soon part ways with our beloved guest Ramadan.
FEMYSO hopes that you were able to pursue a self-development journey that won’t stop with the end of Ramadan.
To inspire you to keep doing good and be generous to your family ,friends neighbours and also strangers, we are happy to introduce you to the “Crafting for Unity” project for Eid and also beyond.
This initiative aims at encouraging our European Muslim Youth to engage with their non-Muslim friends and network to build cross cultural and interfaith dialogue bridges.
The Crafting for Unity project provides you with stencils you can cut out and fold into a box to fill it with sweets/ chocolate/ dates or any other delights you wish.
To support these dialogues we prepared fifteen messages to insert or attach to the boxes.
We also left some space between each message which you can use for your own additions, wishes or even translations.
The Crafting for Unity contains two stencils.
One already coloured and the other one for our creative Youth and our young community members to colour it out. You can use this opportunity to have fun with the younger members of your family, siblings, kids or cousins.
We wish you and your family a lot of fun while preparing and don’t forget to share with us your creations by tagging @femyso and using the #BlossomYourRamadan🤩
