Category: Statements

Our deepest condolences to the people of New Zealand after the horrific terrorist mass shooting attacks on mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand. We condemn such hatred and violence, and extend our support and most heartfelt condolences to the victims’ families.

This is a reflection on the increased and normalised Islamophobic and hate speech by a number of political parties and media outlets.

FEMYSO calls on the European institutions and all governments to condemn these atrocious attacks and to review their policies on hate speech and specifically speech which incites to violence against Muslims.

We at FEMYSO will continue our efforts on advocating against Islamophobia and all forms of hate speech, and push for more effective policies that reflects the seriousness of the matter.

#NewZealandMosqueShooting #Christchurch

[END]

Notes

1. FEMYSO (est. 1996) is the umbrella organisation of Muslim youth and student organisations across Europe, representing them on European and international levels.

2. For more information please email hassiba.kechiche@femyso.org

Le Forum des Organisations Européennes Musulmanes de Jeunes et d’Étudiants (FEMYSO) est une organisation européenne non-gouvernementale à but non lucratif qui œuvre à promouvoir la participation à une citoyenneté active auprès de la jeunesse musulmane européenne depuis 1996. FEMYSO essuie des attaques répétées de la part de groupuscules d’extrême-droite et d’autres groupes l’accusant d’être liée aux Frères Musulmans. FEMYSO nie catégoriquement ces allégations calomnieuses qui n’ont pour volonté que miner notre organisation.

 

FEMYSO compte des membres dans 20 pays européens et est entièrement dirigé par de jeunes bénévoles qui partagent une identité européenne et musulmane commune. Depuis notre création en 1996, faisant suite à une conférence organisée par le gouvernement suédois, nous avons été un partenaire clé des institutions européennes, de nombreuses organisations de la société civile et avons travaillé d’arrache-pied pour encourager les contributions positives de la jeunesse musulmane au sein de nos sociétés. Ceci témoigne de notre engagement et de nos efforts visant à promouvoir la citoyenneté active, la coexistence et les valeurs européennes dans tous nos projets depuis nos 23 ans d’existence.

 

La transparence fait partie de nos principes clés, et ceci depuis notre création. Seuls les jeunes bénévoles et les organisations membres de FEMYSO sont responsables de la gestion de l’organisation, du respect de sa vision et de ses politiques, ainsi que de l’exécution de ses programmes. Toute la gestion se base sur les préoccupations, les priorités et les expériences de jeunes européens. Notre comité exécutif, élu de façon démocratique, répond aux besoins de nos organisations membres et a pour obligation de rendre des comptes lors d’assemblées générales annuelles. En tant qu’organisation internationale non-gouvernementale, nos archives financières et organisationnelles sont soumises, conformément à la loi, aux pouvoirs nécessaires ce qui comprend les autorités belges et le registre européen de transparence.

 

Nous avons pris la décision de publier cette clarification après de nombreuses attaques envers notre organisation, notre comité exécutif ainsi que nos bénévoles, de la part de membres d’organisations d’extrême-droite et de médias mal informés. Ces attaques ont pour objectif d’intimider et de faire taire les voix de celles et ceux qui travaillent pour promouvoir une société diverse et cohésive où chaque personne, quelle que soit son identité, puisse trouver sa place et avoir accès aux mêmes opportunités. Il est important de noter que ces attaques sont fréquentes, et cherchent à porter atteinte au travail de beaucoup d’organisations musulmanes et d’individus qui œuvrent à contribuer de façon positive à la société européenne, et à combattre l’islamophobie.

 

Le comité exécutif de FEMYSO a toujours été très clair et transparent sur la question : FEMYSO n’est pas un parti politique, n’est pas lié à un parti politique, et a prouvé au travers des années que son seul objectif est de contribuer à la construction d’une Europe diverse, cohésive et dynamique. Notre organisation se réserve le droit d’entreprendre des actions en justice contre toute organisation ou tout individu qui participe à ces allégations mensongères.

 

[FIN]

 

Notes

1. FEMYSO (fondé en 1996) est une organisation parapluie de 32 organisations musulmanes de jeunes et d’étudiants à travers 20 pays Européens, est la principale voix de la jeunesse européenne musulmane, en les développant et autonomisant, contribuant à la construction d’une Europe plus diverse, cohésive et dynamique.
2. Pour plus d’informations ou de demandes, s.v.p. contactez media@femyso.org.

 

The Forum of European Muslim Youth and Student Organisations (FEMYSO), a European non-governmental organisation working to promote active citizenship and public participation among European Muslim youth since 1996, has faced repeated attacks by far-right and other groups accusing the organisation of having links with the Muslim Brotherhood. FEMYSO categorically denies these false and malicious allegations which are designed solely to undermine our organisation.  

FEMYSO, which has a broad membership in 20 European countries, is entirely run by young volunteers who are brought together by their shared European and Muslim identity. Since our founding in 1996 as an outcome of a conference hosted by the Swedish government, we have been a key partner for European institutions, numerous civil society organisations and have worked tirelessly to promote positive contributions by Muslim youth in all of our societies. This is testament to our commitment and efforts to promote active citizenship, coexistence and European values in all of our work throughout our 23 years of existence.  

Transparency has remained one of our key principles throughout the existence of our organisation. It is FEMYSO’s motivated young volunteers and member organisations who are solely responsible for managing the organisation, setting its vision and policies, and running its programs, based on their concerns, priorities, and experiences as European youth. Our democratically elected Executive Committee serves the needs of our membership and are held accountable at our yearly general assemblies. As an international non-governmental organisation, our financial and organisation records are submitted as required to the necessary authorities including the Belgian authorities and the European Transparency Register.  

We have decided to release this clarification after attacks on our organisation, its Executive Committee and volunteers by members of the far right and misinformed media organisations. These attacks are designed to intimidate and silence the voices of those who are working to promote a diverse and cohesive society which provides a place and opportunity for all regardless of background. It is worth noting that such attacks by the far right and others are a common means of seeking to undermine the work of many Muslim organisations and individuals who are working to make a positive contribution to their European societies and counter Islamophobia. 

FEMYSO’s Executive Committee has always been very clear and transparent on this issue – FEMYSO is not a political party, it is not linked to any political party and has proven throughout the years that our sole objective is to work for a diverse, cohesive and vibrant Europe. Our organisation reserves the right to take legal action against organisations and individuals making false allegations.  

 

Notes

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

The Forum of European Muslim Youth and Student Organisations (FEMYSO) stands by the Muslim Association of Britain (MAB) and the Muslim Scouts groups against the smearing campaign led by the Telegraph. Muslim organisations across Europe work tirelessly for the prosperity, support and service of the wider society.

Throughout the month of February, MAB Youth and FOSIS ((Federation of Student Islamic Societies) are partnering on the Believe and Do Good campaign, where Muslim youth groups across the country will be participating in a competition of compassion in feeding the homeless, cleaning streets, donating blood and other acts of service.

Don’t forget to check out and follow the #BADG19 campaign here: https://www.facebook.com/believeanddogood/

Read full response by the Muslim Association of Britain: https://www.mabonline.net/response-to-telegraphs-attack-on-muslim-scout-groups/

femyso.org

Statement
Brussels, 11/12/2018

In these troubled times, The Forum of European Muslim Youth and Student Organisations (FEMYSO) stands in solidarity with the people of Strasbourg following the gunman attack at the local Christmas market this evening.

We are shocked to hear of yet another heinous attack, this time in the beautiful and symbolic city of Strasbourg.

Our most heartfelt condolences go to the families and friends of those who have been impacted today in Strasbourg and our thoughts are with all those affected.

Ends.

The European Parliament has voted for a complete ban on a range of single-use plastic materials across the union in a bid to stop pollution of the oceans.

Last Wednesday, October 24, It was by an overwhelming majority that the European Parliament adopted the draft directive against marine pollution. The text was approved by 571 votes against 87, including 34 abstentions.
The European Commission proposed a ban in May, pushed by a surge from the public opinion following alarming documentaries such as David Attenborough’s BBC Blue Planet series. Single-use plastics make up 70% of marine pollution, and their impact on wildlife is dramatically worrying. The strategy of this project is part of the European transition towards a circular economy and will also contribute to reaching the Sustainable Development Goals, the global climate commitments and the EU’s industrial policy objectives.

FEMYSO strongly supports this initiative for our Planet and is pleased to see that what started as local initiatives such as our Green Up My Community Campaigns is now a European directive fighting marine pollution.
By analysing the most common litter found across beaches, the EU targeted 10 plastic products widely used by the general public. Six specific products are now banned on the European market, this includes cotton swabs, cutlery, plates, straws, drink-stirrers and balloon sticks. All will now have to be made of sustainable materials. The “polluter-pays” principle is also strengthened to put a harder pressure on manufacturers.

Food containers and plastic cups will unfortunately still be allowed, but states will need to ensure consumption reduce. In this regard, the Parliament has set a goal of 25% less consumption by 2025. Plastic bottles, the main source of marine pollution, also remain authorized but their cap will have to be attached and their collecting will be strengthened.

FEMYSO warmly welcome the adoption of this historical measure and enthusiastically supports all sustainable and eco friendly initiatives from the EU tackling the environment.
Find out more about this adopted project, check the key document from the European Commission *here*

In these troubled times, FEMYSO stands with the Jewish community against the cold hearted, devastating and heinous shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, PA, US.

The Forum of European Muslim Youth and Student Organisations (FEMYSO) is deeply saddened to witness that once again hatred is the cause of another atrocity. This attack does not only target the Jewish community but all people fighting for tolerance, freedom and peace.

FEMYSO strongly condemns Anti-Semitism and all forms of hate crime. Such attacks should not be tolerated and we call upon the authorities to bring the perpetrators to justice. We also call upon entities in the wider political and civil society spectrum to put more effort into tackling this tide of hatred and violence.

We offer our sincere condolences to the families of the victims and our thoughts and prayers are with them during this time of grieving.

When in darkness, one should always remember to turn on the light, so let us be the light today by showing our support to the ones who suffers.

We commend the fundraising campaign organised by CelebrateMercy and MPower Change, where “the Muslim-American community extends its hands to help the shooting victims, whether it is the injured victims or the Jewish families who have lost loved ones” -> https://www.launchgood.com/project/muslims_unite_for_pittsburgh_synagogue#!/

femyso.org

Brussels,
29/10/2018

Public discourses across Europe hammering that Muslims are a problem are currently justifying the adoption of policies, legislation and practices that are putting our core democratic and fundamental rights principles at risk. We shouldn’t fall into the trap of scapegoating Muslims and migrants and blaming them for the EU’s crisis. This will further divide us instead of enabling us to live together in a safe society.

Counter-terrorism and counter-radicalisation measures recently adopted in some EU countries have already led to serious human rights violations, including racial profiling by law enforcement authorities, police abuses during raids and the use of administrative restrictions on the basis of vague and discriminatory criteria. In the United Kingdom for instance, surveillance cameras are placed in so-called ‘Muslim areas’ and social workers are required to denounce ‘radical’ behaviour, often defined by strict observance and rarely linked to any criminal offence. As a result, many innocent Muslims are targeted mainly on the basis of their religious practice, with no evidence pointing to their involvement in any criminal act.

These laws and policies ultimately also have a negative impact on the rights of all Europeans, whether it is restricting freedom of expression, increasing surveillance or targeting human rights defenders. As a progressive society, we shouldn’t accept these as collateral damages in the name of security.

They are fuelling a generalised suspicion and marginalisation of Muslims following terrorist attacks and the current migration context in Europe. As are stigmatising and racist discourses, representing Muslims as the “enemy from within” who needs to be controlled and policed, and as threats to “European values” and the “European way of life”, which in practice actually only mean that diversity is not welcome in Europe. Instigating fear and suspicion in the European population’s hearts and minds will only lead to further insecurity and violence, instead of creating resilient and trustful communities that can work together for a better future for all.

Indeed, instead of being able to fully participate in European society, Muslim people’s lives are dictated by a sense of insecurity, injustice and fear of retaliation. In the words of Amar, subjected to a house search in France in 2015 : “It feels like if you display your religion, if you are bearded or wear a religious symbol or dress or if you pray in a particular mosque you can be considered to be “radical” and thus targeted. If you try not to display your religion too much, then they think you are concealing something.” Even children are being criminalised, resulting in traumatic experiences for them. For example, a 5-year-old girl in France was suspected of fasting and brought to hospital by eight armed policemen, although her parents and doctors denied that she was fasting.

Now the European Parliament, instead of putting energy into developing long-term solutions to address the current consequences of the EU’s socio-economic crisis, has gone one step further with the establishment of a closed-door special committee on terrorism. Discussions in this committee further illustrate a tendency to reiterate racist connotations between terrorism and Europe’s Muslim population. There is a strong trend in European and national policies and practices to racially define terrorism and radicalisation by over-focusing on Muslim populations, whilst completely ignoring far-right terrorism and radicalisation for instance. However, this threat is real and has already killed in Europe : far-right attacks targeting Muslims and progressive forces have led to several deaths and uncovered plots, including in France and the United Kingdom.

The ‘escalator’ approach whereby a conservative religious practice would lead to support for violent terrorism is bound to target innocent Muslim individuals and families, fuel suspicion towards any practising Muslims, and to generate violent backlash from the mainstream population. In addition, discriminatory measures are fuelling a sense of insecurity, injustice and defiance toward authorities, making them counter-productive in the long term.

EU decision makers need to get serious about tackling Islamophobia, which has become a major society issue impacting all of us. They should focus on treating Muslims as human beings with equal rights who are concerned, just like everyone else, about having a decent life and ensuring they and their families are safe, instead of trying to score political points ahead of the EU elections by pandering to racism.

Signed by : 
European Network Against Racism
Collective Against Islamophobia and Discrimination CTID (Netherlands)
Euro-Mediterranean Center Migration & Development – EMCEMO (Netherlands)
Forum of European Muslim Youth and Student Organisations (FEMYSO)
Farid Hafez, political scientist, editor of the European Islamophobia Report, University of Salzburg

This article was originally published on EUObserver on 21 September 2018.

The Eureopean Network Against Racism (ENAR) together with 20 other organisations wrote an open letter to First Vice-President Timmermans, Commissioner Jourová, Director-General Tina Astola with important recommendations to ensure the European Commission Coordinator on anti-Muslim hatred has a clear mandate and sufficient resources.

Dear First Vice-President Timmermans,
Dear Commissioner Jourová, 
Dear Director-General Tina Astola,

On behalf of the signatories part of an informal European coalition against Islamophobia, a platform of anti-racist/human rights/faith-based NGOs combatting anti-Muslim racism and hatred, we are writing to ask the European Commission to provide its Coordinator on anti-Muslim hatred with a clear human rights-based mandate and meaningful resources. The European Commission’s decision to appoint a new coordinator is an opportunity to make this happen.

In December 2015, following the first ever European Commission Fundamental Rights Colloquium, we welcomed the appointment of a European Commission Coordinator on combating anti-Muslim hatred. This was a strong and concrete commitment to tackle increasing racism against Muslim people in Europe. The coordinator took some steps to increase the relationship with NGOs and the recognition of anti-Muslim hatred. Two years after the coordinator’s appointment, this political commitment must now lead to a shift in strategic approach and to tangible actions, which have been lacking so far.

As expressed on several occasions by the coalition, the mandate and the approach of the coordinator has serious gaps to tackle the issue effectively, to ensure meaningful participation of Muslim communities and anti-racism NGOs, and to develop policies to combat Islamophobia. The appointment of one dedicated person does not replace strong political will, actions and effective policies.

Inadequate human and financial resources, expertise, objectives and evaluation processes partly explain disappointing results to date. The lack of transparency concerning meetings with national governments, the failure to organise a meeting between NGOs and Commissioners, the framing of anti-Muslim hatred as a religious issue instead of a human rights one, the absence of European Commission representatives at several events on Muslim women’s rights and the engagement of the coordinator with very questionable figures fuelling Islamophobia, are among the most problematic illustrations of these systematic gaps.

In addition, the coordinator has conflated the fight against Islamophobia, anti-blasphemy laws, Islamism and counter-terrorism in a number of social media posts and declarations. In a context of generalised suspicion of Muslims, EU policy makers advancing equality and non-discrimination must see Muslims as human beings who enjoy fundamental rights as any other person. The fight against Islamophobia is about politically addressing structural forms of discrimination and racism affecting Muslims or those perceived as such.

If the European Commission is serious about upholding European core values of equality and non-discrimination, it needs to make important strategic changes and concrete actions including :

● Profile of the coordinator. Ensure that the coordinator is appointed based on relevant skills and competences in order to work meaningfully on the issue of Islamophobia as a form of racism. This will also facilitate the relationship and trust with NGOs who have extensive knowledge about the issue and its manifestations. It would be desirable to appoint a coordinator from the affected communities.

● Clear mandate. Clarify what the role of the coordinator entails in terms of representation, official communication and actions that can be undertaken, also defining the remit of issues to be covered.

● Communication and consultation process. Transparency is key to build trust with civil society organisations who are on the ground in direct relation with communities. Communication and consultation processes need to be clarified to ensure meaningful participation of civil society.

● Concrete objectives and action plan. The role of the coordinator cannot only be about listening and bringing issues to the political level without any accountability. The coordinator needs to set concrete objectives to achieve during their mandate and work on an action plan with evaluation processes.

Finally, we officially request a meeting with First Vice President Frans Timmermans and Commissioner Věra Jourová to discuss the above-mentioned recommendations. This is a necessary signal at a time when parties using blatant islamophobic rhetoric have come to power.

Yours sincerely,

Signatories :

European organisations
1. European Forum of Muslim Women (EFOMW)
2. European Muslim Initiative for Social Inclusion (EMISCO)
3. European Network against Racism (ENAR)
4. European Network on Religion and Belief (ENORB)
5. Forum of European Muslim Youth and Student Organisations (FEMYSO)

National organisations
6. Alliance of Inclusive Muslims (AIM)
7. Anti-Racist Forum, Finland (ARF)
8. CAGE, UK
9. Center for Danish Muslim Relations, Denmark (CEDAR)
10. Collective against Islamophobia and Discrimination, The Netherlands (CTID)
11. Collective against Islamophobia in Belgium (CCIB)
12. Collective against Islamophobia in France, France (CCIF)
13. Coordination Contre le Racisme et l’Islamophobie, France (CRI)
14. Etudiants Musulmans de France, France (EMF)
15. Euro-Mediterranean Center Migration & Development, The Netherlands (Emcemo)
16. Justice & Liberties For All Committee, France (CJL)
17. Muslim Council of Britain, UK (MCB)
18. Muslim Human Rights Committee, Sweden (MHRC)
19. Muslims for Progressive Values, the Netherlands (MPV Nederland)
20. RADAR/Art.1, The Netherlands
21. Farid Hafez, editor of the Islamophobia Studies Yearbook and co-editor of the European Islamophobia Report and Salzburg University