Category: Statements

FEMYSO strongly condemns the Federal Council of the Federal Republic of Germany (Bundesrat) for a vote which could lead to the erasure of religious symbols from the public sphere. As a pan-European Muslim youth NGO embedded in interfaith and intercultural action, we are appalled by this attack on rights of religious minorities in violation of fundamental freedoms.

On 7 May 2021, Germany marked an unprecedented development by voting in favour of adopting the Clothing Act for Civil Servants (“Erscheinungsbild von Beamtinnen und Beamten”). While this act does not include a specific mention of religious symbols as such and instead defines “symbols reducing trust in their neutrality”, this is in fact nothing less than a loophole on banning religious symbols. It provides a legal mechanism to federal and state authorities to bar public servants from wearing headscarves and kippahs. The decision blatantly disregards the more than 150,000 signatures gathered by German citizens outlining the dangerous nature of this act.

This law comes at a time where Muslims find themselves in the midst of a range of attacks on their freedoms across Europe. In France,we have seen Muslim women and organisations actively being targeted by the French state through the so-called anti-separatism bill, which also entrenches the ban on religious symbols in the public. It would be foolish not to see this move by German legislators as an active effort to mimic tactics used by their French counterparts, weaponizing discrimination against minorities in order to gain politically.  

We are deeply concerned over the far-reaching consequences of this decision which could signal the removal of the presence of Muslims, Jews and other religious minorities from the public sphere – which is at odds with the open and inclusive society we all desire. Therefore, we call on the German legislators to revise their decision and particularly invite the German President not to sign and pass this legislation. Both should explicitly protect the wearing of religious symbols by public servants according to the fundamental right of the freedom of religion.

FEMYSO will continue working towards a diverse, cohesive and vibrant Europe.

[ENDS]  

Notes 

1. FEMYSO (est. 1996) is a network organisation for 33 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 

Sustainability and taking care of our earth has been a priority of FEMYSO since our organisation’s existence. Today on the 22^nd of April 2021 FEMYSO once again joins the global community in observing Earth Day.

This day represents a movement by people for people. Raising awareness around environmental issues which have a significant influence on many communities all over the globe is one of Earth Day’s main objectives. It is important to remember that the people who suffer most due to climate change are not living in the developed world, but rather in developing countries. The climate change hits already struggling communities hardest with its extreme weathers. It cannot be negated that climate change which causes severe damage to the earth is caused by human interventions.

“Do not pollute the earth after it has been so wholesomely set in order” (Qur’an 7:56). It is an obligation for Muslims to look after the earth that was given to us and to prevent it from getting polluted. It was subdued by God to humans for enjoyment as well as productive use. Hence to treat the earth in a sustainable way is believed as a duty upon humans, for the sake of the earth being God’s creation and for the sake of allowing this generation and the generations to come to harness and appreciate all that earth has to offer.

Fortunately, more and more young people have been prioritising the inclusion of climate action in the political sphere. To support these young individuals FEMYSO is holding an International Climate Action Activity titled “Step-Up and Take Action”. More than 30 young Muslim activists will be taking part in a week-long training to enhance their skills and knowledge on climate advocacy, as well as developing new creative youth-led initiatives. This will empower young people to take the lead in the dialogue with policy- and decision-makers in topics concerning the protection of the earth.

We at FEMYSO strive to equip young individuals with the necessary tools required to have a positive and sustainable impact on the preservation of the earth. We hope to see the hard work of these activists yield fruit, and benefit all of humanity and our environment.

[ENDS]

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.

On this International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, FEMYSO as a pan-European Muslim youth and student organisation, would like to celebrate the efforts all youth activists, leaders and voices in the fight against racism. 

FEMYSO is proud to be a core actor and ally of the anti-racism movement with our policy, advocacy and empowerment work, together with our Member Organisations. Our 25 years of existence bears witness to our effortless commitment to fight all forms of racism. Our numerous campaigns, projects, collaborations and publications are proof to this. And our most recent pride is a FEMYSO representative proposing and occupying the first role of the anti-racism coordinator in the Council of Europe’s Joint Council on Youth. Just like in FEMYSO, this role is committed to tackle Islamophobia, anti-Black racism, anti-gypsism and anti-semitism at a structural level. 

Our Europe today is unfortunately darkened by more and more incidents and forms of hatred, structural discrimination and oppression of ethnic and religious minorities on a daily basis. Being anti-racist should therefore not be a choice, but a prerequisite for all claiming to wish or work for a more just and equal world. Public and political hate speech against racialised groups must be tackled by their root causes and be treated with zero tolerance. Efforts to tackle racism, such as the EU Anti-Racism Summit, must be fully inclusive and ensure the representation of young people. There must be no cherry picking in protecting racialised groups. 

FEMYSO will always stay committed to working for a more diverse, cohesive and vibrant Europe. 

On the 8th of March 2021 FEMYSO is proud to join the global community in celebrating International Women’s Day (IWD). We are also proud to announce that on IWD 2021 and in the year of our 25th anniversary, we are launching our largest survey of Muslim Youth on Gendered Islamophobia ever.

The theme for this year’s IWD is #ChooseToChallenge, and it is in that spirit that we believe the time has come for a monumental shift in the way that our society is governed to ensure that it serves all those that exist within it. As Muslim youth we believe we have a responsibility to follow the example provided to us by our prophet Mohammed, and from the very beginning women’s voices have been essential in the journey of our religion. We stand on the shoulder of giants, who serve as an inspiration to us all. It is in that tradition that as an organisation we #ChooseToChallenge structures and behaviours that seek to denigrate women.

Our survey comes at a time of increased Islamophobia, where Muslim women are amongst the most discrimated groups in society. However, our survey also comes at a time of increased youth activism and youth empowerment, where young people are often at the forefront of bringing major positive shifts in society. The survey seeks to tackle the issues faced by Muslim women in the job market, with our ambition being to process the data collected and produce a report which will support our work in advocating against his specific and dangerous form of oppression. 

We call upon everyone fighting for social justice in Europe to join us in this journey by advocating against gendered Islamophobia at every single opportunity. FEMYSO remains committed to our mission of working towards a more diverse, cohesive and vibrant Europe.

Take the English survey here!

FEMYSO is appalled by the violent attack against a mosque in the small town of San Javier in Spain on the early morning of 21 February 2021. “Death to Islam” was sprayed and the attackers tried to burn down the mosque through the use of explosives. Thankfully this was prevented by the local police and no one was injured.    

FEMYSO would like to note the traumatising effect attacks like this have on the Muslim community of San Javier, and within the wider Muslim community in Spain and Europe. FEMYSO extends its heartfelt solidarity to the local community of San Javier. 

This attack on Islam and Muslims in San Javier is part of an escalation of crimes committed against individual Muslims, mosques and Islamic organisations, within a context of heightened hatred towards the “other” in our European societies. This attack also takes place within the wider context of further institutionalised Islamophobia, where public officials condone and occasionally encourage Islamophobic hate speech by public figures, officials, and individuals. Such behaviour is one of the root causes of such violent attacks on our mosques and members of the Muslim community.  

FEMYSO would also like to point out the duty of media to report equally on all acts of hate crime and hate speech. FEMYSO notes the underreporting of this event and calls for more overt displays solidarity for and amongst minority religious groups in Europe. 

As an organisation representing thousands of young European Muslims, we will continue our efforts to prevent further division and hatred in our societies. We remain undeterred in our mission to strive for a more diverse, cohesive and vibrant Europe. 

[End] 

Notes 

1. FEMYSO (est. 1996) is a network organisation for 33 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. 

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

Open letter by FEMYSO and more than 70 organisations to President von der Leyen urging the organisers of the upcoming EU Summit on Anti-Racism to ensure that issues of structural and institutional racism frame the discussions and lead to strong policies and actions.

Read the letter below:

Open letter to President Von der Leyen

As the Forum of European Muslim Youth and Student Organisations (FEMYSO) celebrates 25 years of uninterrupted service to young European Muslims and the wider European community, we take this opportunity to thank all those who were part of this journey since 1996.

25 years of bringing young people from across Europe together for a common goal which is contributing to build a more diverse, cohesive and vibrant Europe. 25 years of developing and empowering young people through our unparalleled capacity building initiatives. 25 years of advocating for the rights of Muslims and human rights. 25 years of working closely with partners from all backgrounds. 25 years of cooperation with key European and international institutions.

Reflecting on the history of FEMYSO, we must acknowledge the effort and passionate energy of all the young volunteers, Executive Committee, Board of Trustee, and staff members who served this organisation throughout the past 25 years. Without them we could not have achieved all the above.

To all our Member Organisations, partner organisations, and friends, we thank you for your trust and dedication towards FEMYSO.

In 2021 FEMYSO remains a strong network of over 30 member organisations across 20 European countries reaching thousands of young people. We remain committed to our vision of being the leading voice of European Muslim youth, developing and empowering them, and working to build a more diverse, cohesive and vibrant Europe.

In recognition of this anniversary, we will be organising activities throughout the year to recall the past success and plan for the future contributions for a more diverse, cohesive and vibrant Europe

With the continuous efforts and commitments of grassroots young Muslim activists in Belgium, a historical decision has been taken: from September 2021 onwards, religious symbols in higher education are authorised by the educational authority of Wallonia-Brussels. This historical development could not have come without young women advocating for their rights, and without a reminder of the fundamental values that we stand for in Europe.

FEMYSO congratulates the #HijabisFightBack activists, CCIB (Collective against Islamophobia in Belgium), la 5e vague and le Collectif les 100 diplômées: grassroots NGOs and movements who worked tirelessly to make education accessible for all. FEMYSO also congratulates the authorities who made a wise decision to ensure students their full freedom in what they want to wear at higher education. This is regardless of the inherently discriminatory and disproportionately Islamophobic decision of the Belgian Constitutional Court allowing schools to misuse the “neutrality of education” principle to wear off students wearing religious symbols. See our statement on this from July 2020 here, and the social campaign we did with a powerful video here.

Mr Abelrahman Rizk, President of FEMYSO noted: “As education is a key factor for young people’s flourishing, personal development and access to the job market, any barriers of systemic discrimination and institutional racism must be effectively identified and removed. When we talk about freedom of education equality, this must not have any exceptions.”

At FEMYSO, we will continue to empower young people across Europe to contribute to positive change and know their rights, while being proud of their identity.

Journalistic reference (French): https://www.rtbf.be/info/belgique/detail_les-signes-convictionnels-autorises-dans-l-enseignement-superieur-des-la-prochaine-rentree-academique?id=10675006

[End]

Notes

1. FEMYSO (est. 1996) is a network organisation for 33 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

Het Forum van Europese Moslim Jongeren en Studenten Organisaties (FEMYSO) is diep teleurgesteld in de demoniserende berichtgeving over FEMYSO, die momenteel circuleert in Nederlandse media. Het citeren en aanhalen van onterechte beweringen die in het verleden zijn gedaan, met als enig doel het destabiliseren van de organisatie, doet tekort aan het werk dat wij verrichten om Europa een inclusievere plek te maken; ongeacht religie of overtuiging. 

Deze voortdurende aanval op FEMYSO en haar  lidverenigingen is geïnitieerd vanuit het extreemrechtse spectrum en creëert een onjuist narratief over inspanningen van moslims in de bredere samenleving. Deze geluiden zijn helaas onterecht overgenomen door verschillende nieuwsorganisaties, zonder FEMYSO te benaderen om de ruimte te geven om deze onwaarheden te disputeren. De media hebben immers de verantwoordelijkheid om het publiek van waarheidsgetrouwe informatie te voorzien. Die belangrijke taak staat ver af van het klakkeloos overnemen van vermoedens en geruchten zoals we recent bij verschillende media hebben gezien.  

We zijn enorm ontsteld dat een nieuwe generatie van jongeren met een minderheidsachtergrond die meedoen met het democratisch proces, wordt aangevallen enkel op basis van hun religie of positie in de maatschappij. Het verschillen van mening en hierover kunnen debatteren vormt samen met het kiezen van representatieve volksvertegenwoordigers de basis van onze democratische systemen. De betrokkenheid van steeds meer bevolkingsgroepen zou als voorbeeld moeten dienen voor hoe Europa toegroeit naar de democratie waar we met zijn allen naar streven. Echter wordt dit gegeven misbruikt door xenofobe uitingen die als enig doel hebben om de maatschappij te verdelen. Dit laat eens te meer zien dat het huidige sociaal-politieke klimaat ervoor zorgt dat legitieme, maatschappelijke organisaties zich moeten verdedigen op basis van valse beschuldigingen. Ditzelfde klimaat zorgt voor een onveilig gevoel bij jongeren en is verantwoordelijk voor de krimpende ruimte voor publiek debat in Europa. 

Vandaag, meer dan ooit tevoren, blijven wij toegewijd aan en enorm trots op onze lidverenigingen. Het werk dat zij verrichten is van enorme toegevoegde waarde en heeft waardevolle impact op de samenleving in Europa. Deze organisaties dragen bij aan een sterke en trotse gemeenschap, die ernaar streeft eer te doen aan het motto van FEMYSO: building a diverse, cohesive and vibrant Europe. 

[EINDE] 

1. FEMYSO ( 1996) is een netwerkorganiatie voor 32 Moslim jongeren- en studentenorganisaties vanuit 20 Europese landen, en is de stem van Europese Moslimjongeren, die worden geholpen in hun ontwikkeling, empowerment, en het werken voor een divers, hecht en bruisend Europa.
2. Voor meer informatie of verzoeken, kunt u een mail sturen naar media@femorg