Category: Statements

On the 21st of March, we mark the importance of this date, the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.

Today FEMYSO invites you all to reflect and learn from the past, working together for the present, in order to build a more equal world for our common futures.

Racial discrimination takes many forms and cannot be seen solely through the lens of the individual – an area of key work to eradicate discrimination from are the institutions that are there to represent all of us. From a lack of representation due to unconscious bias to draconian laws implemented by states in order to prevent individuals from being able to exert their religious identities. The time for talk is over, we must see action taken to deal with these endemic issues.

We at FEMYSO will continue our efforts on advocating against all forms of hate crimes, racism and discrimination, and push for more effective policies that reflect the seriousness of the matter. We will continue to work for a more diverse, cohesive and vibrant Europe.

It is with deepest sadness that we at FEMYSO commemorate the Christchurch attacks which took place on the 15th of March 2019. We send our deepest condolences to the families of the victims, and to the Christchurch community.

On a day that started like any other for the people of Christchurch, worshippers were attending their customary Friday prayer. However, the day took a turn when an extreme far right individual decided to enter places of worship and unleash a barrage of bullets which took the lives of 51 innocents and destroyed the lives of many more.

 The events of that day in Christchurch should have been a wake-up call that the normalisation of Islamophobia had to end. However, instead of supporting and engaging with Muslim communities many have chosen to stoke the fires of this cancer. Through this, we have seen further attacks on faith communities, from the Hanau attack in February 2020 to the Halle synagogue attack in October 2019 and the highly distressing San Diego synagogue attacks in April 2019.

Unfortunately, learning from the past has been a difficult task for humanity. This can be seen in the continuation of the demonization of Muslims and Islam. Only when public hate speeches are not condemned and states remainactive in securitising Islam and Muslims will extremists gain confidence in plotting and committing terror acts. 

No group of people should be actively stigmatised, ripped of their freedoms put under state surveillance for the mere fact that they belong to a certain group. This is an unfortunate reality in the majority of our own European Union Member States and other countries around the globe. We need state institutions to proactively listen to our voices and review their policies for our mutual benefit and of course civil society must play an important part in this. 

We pray we never see attacks similar to the ones in Christchurch 2019. May we never forget March 15th, and may this be a day for reflecting about the horrible consequences of Islamophobia.

FEMYSO stands with communities and organisations fighting for human rights, fundamental freedoms and human dignity for all. We will continue to work for a more diverse, cohesive and vibrant Europe.

The Forum of European Muslim Youth and Student Organisations (FEMYSO) strongly condemns the violent and inhumane treatment of refugees at the Greek border. Refugees are beaten at European Union (EU) borders and refugee boats are specifically targeted and attacked in EU seas. 

 

While Greece is one of the most outer borders of the EU, it is not a shield against the recent influx of refugees fleeing from war. Europe is not at war with vulnerable people in need of protection, who are in a deteriorating mental and physical health situation. Instead of perpetuating rhetoric and measures which only bolsters the humanitarian disaster at the Greek border, we believe EU solidarity should be enforced with Greece to ensure immediate and real respect for human rights.

 

We call upon the European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to condemn and take action against the human violations happening at the borders of Greece. We also call upon the EU Council President Charles Michel to invoke the EU Temporary Protection Directive. Refugees and asylum seekers must be evacuated from the islands and relocated to safe areas in the EU. Attempts at stability in Europe cannot go at the cost of human lives.

 

FEMYSO will continue to stand for fundamental and human rights and work for a 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.
2. For more information please email media@femyso.org

The Forum of European Muslim Youth and Student Organisations (FEMYSO) sends its deepest condolences to the people of Hanau following yesterday’s devastating attack on their community. We extend our utmost support to the survivors and victim’s families in this incredibly difficult period.

Following the statement by the Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel who indicated that this was a racially motivated attack, we call upon the German authorities to provide assurances of protection to Muslim communities and other religious minority groups all across Germany. 

We call upon national and international institutions to condemn this heinous act in the strongest language, as should be expected of the leadership of our nations. 

“Firstly, I send my heartfelt condolences to the victims of the horrific attack on the community of Hanau on behalf of our organisation. Secondly, it would be unbecoming to not recognise the part that Islamophobic and anti-migrant rhetoric has played in this tragic event. The normalisation of this rhetoric in the mainstream is plain for all to see, therefore stamping out this hatred in all its forms must be our shared priority” – FEMYSO President Abdelrahman Rizk  

We at FEMYSO will continue our efforts in advocating against Islamophobia and all forms of hate speech, and push for more effective policies that reflect the seriousness of these matters.

[END]

Notes

1. FEMYSO (est. 1996) is an 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 please email media@femyso.org

In the new mandate, 2020-2021, Hande Taner will be representing FEMYSO for a two-year mandate in the newly elected Advisory Council (AC). Last week, The AC met for its induction course at the European Youth Centre Strasbourg where the new members learned more about their tasks, role and the CoE’s structure and work on youth.

The AC is the non-governmental partner in the co-management structure which establishes the standards and work priorities of the Council of Europe’s youth sector and makes recommendations for future priorities, programmes and budgets. It is made up of 30 representatives from youth NGOs and networks in Europe and its main task is to advise the Committee of Ministers on all questions relating to youth. The AC meets twice a year in Strasbourg and Budapest with Council of Europe Member States to discuss recommendations and implementations of youth priorities.We wish the new Advisory Council and our representative Hande Taner good luck with the new mandate and we are looking forward to working together #ForYouthRights in Europe.

Check out this page (https://www.coe.int/en/web/youth/advisory-council-on-youth) to know more about the AC and its work!

The Forum of European Muslim Youth and Student Organisations (FEMYSO) shares its disappointment that the European Parliament has failed to include the Youth Intergroup amongst the selected Intergroups for the current parliamentary mandate.

FEMYSO and its member organisations successfully mobilised youth across the continent to participate in the 2019 European Parliamentary Elections. This contributed to an increased turnout amongst young people who were emboldened by promises from MEPs and political parties that their priorities would be taken seriously. The failure to select the Youth Intergroup sadly shows otherwise.

‘We must see the European Parliament as representative of its member states and their populations. As the representative voice for Young Muslims in Europe we call upon our political leaders to make guarantees that young people and their priorities will not be forgotten‘ Abdelrahman Rizk, President, FEMYSO.              

As FEMYSO we issue an open call to those who care about the representation of youth in Europe to contact their local members of European Parliament to ask them to place the Youth Intergroup in their Intergroup priority list. As the decision isn’t final and there is scope to see the youth intergroup included if our representatives within their political groupings make a strong case.

Young people will not stand to see our interests side-lined, for it is though our participation that political structures draw their authority. This decision excludes the future of Europe from the top table and we hope to see it reversed.

[END]

Notes

1. FEMYSO (est. 1996) is an 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 please email media@femyso.org

The Forum of European Muslim Youth and Student Organisations shares its deep thoughts and prayers with the people of Albania as they were hit by a powerful 6.4 magnitude earthquake. Our deepest concerns  go to the injured and the deceased and their loved ones.

Ardhmëria, our member organisation based in Albania, is collecting donations to support those affected by the recent earthquake. We encourage you to contribute towards this initiative. If you wish to be part of it you can find the bank details below.

INKT ACC. NO: 429000397

IBAN LEKE AL0720511296000397CLTJCLALLL

IBAN EURO: AL9820511296000397CLTJCFEURK

SWIFT CODE: NCBAALTXXX

FONDACIONI MIRESIA

TIRANE – SHQIPERI

[END]

Notes

1. FEMYSO (est. 1996) is an 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. Ardhmëria (est. 2001) is a national youth and student organisation based in Albania that believes in a just and balanced society with spiritual values, coexistence and mutual respect. Ardhmeria is a member organisation of FEMYSO.

3. For more information please email media@femyso.org

BRUSSELS, 16.10.2019

FEMYSO is deeply concerned with the active approach taken by the French government in securitising Islam and Muslims; severely limiting the freedom of religion; and creating targeted discrimination leading to social divide and hate crimes in France.

Recently, France’s President Macron and his government presented signs to identify a radicalised person, specifically targeting practicing Muslims. On October 14th, the University of Cergy (Paris) distributed a survey to their staff, to detect radicalisation amongst their students and colleagues. The survey included signs such as: wearing a headscarf, a beard without a moustache, being absent from class during prayer times and on Fridays, not drinking alcohol and not eating pork. After this survey was leaked on social media, the University tried to apologise explaining it was a mistake. 

Such actions of both the President, government and the University are intentional and actively feeds the culture of denunciation and suspicion towards Muslims and increases islamophobia in France. They only further stigmatise Muslims, alienate Muslim students expressing their faith and undermine effective counter-terrorism measures. They are also not isolated, yet part of a larger climate of suspicion against Islam and Muslims wider in a Europe facing increasing Islamophobia.

FEMYSO stands with Etudiants Musulmans de France (EMF) in advocating for the rights of all students across France, and working hard to promote active citizenship amongst its membership. FEMYSO urgently calls upon the French state, its public officials, university staff and other Member States to denounce the stigmatization of Muslims, to withdraw the biased signs of identifying a “radicalised” person and to protect the freedom of religion equally to all people of faith. 

[END]

Notes

1. FEMYSO (est. 1996) is an network organisation for 33 Muslim youth and student organisations across 23 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 please email media@femyso.org

CO-SIGNATURES

Etudiants Musulmans de France (EMF)

Moslimstudenten Associatie (MSA) Nederland

Mashriq Studentenvereniging (Netherlands)

Federation of Student Islamic Societies (FOSIS) UK and Ireland

Muslim Association of Ireland (MAI) Youth

Islamische Gemeinschaft Milli Görüş (IGMG) Students

Muslim Association of Britain (MAB) Youth

Sveriges Unga Muslimer (SUM)

European Forum of Muslim Women (EFOMW)

Collectif Contre l’Islamophobie en Belgique (CCIB)

Collectif Contre l’Islamophobie en France (CCIF)

Fundación Al Fanar Para el Conocimiento Árabe (Spain)

Muslim Association of Greece

Associazione Studenti Musulmani Universitari (ASMU) Parma

Asocijacija za kulturu, obrazovanje i sport – AKOS (Bosnia and Herzegovina)

Brussels, 11.10.2019

FEMYSO expresses their deepest condolences to the Jewish community of Halle and beyond after the reprehensive terrorist attack on the synagogue on the holy day of Yom Kippur.

We strongly condemn such cruel violence extend our heartfelt condolences to the victims, their family and the wider Jewish community.

This attack once more confirms the consequences of limited and biased counter-terrorism policies. While the attacker had also planned attacks on a mosque and politically left centre, he chose a synagogue and the Jewish community as a target. Radicalisation and extremism on the political spectrum should be prevented similarly, keeping in mind rising Anti-Semitism, Islamophobia and other forms of racism and increasing white supremacy.

The Christchurch attack which had European roots, and which inspired the Halle terrorist, confirms this urgent need. FEMYSO thus once more urgently calls upon the European Union institutions, its EU Member States and OSCE Participating States to review their post-9/11 counter-terrorism measures, to increase the security of religious institutions and to work with religious civil society organisations in improving and protecting the rights of minorities.

We at FEMYSO will continue our efforts on strengthening civil society, advocating against all forms of racism and discrimination, and on maintaining and valuing peace and diversity in Europe.

On the occasion of the European Action Day against Islamophobia, the Forum of European Muslim Youth and Student Organisations (FEMYSO) reiterates the need that European institutions must publicly recognise and condemn Islamophobia* as a specific form of racism. This is a pre-requisite in order to implementation of legislation and actions to prevent and tackle Islamophobia, which has become a major society issue impacting all of us. 

*A commonly held definition employed by these NGOs and organisations defines Islamophobia as “Acts of violence and discrimination, as well as racist speech, fuelled by historical abuses and negative stereotyping which leads to exclusion and dehumanisation of Muslims, and all those perceived as such. Islamophobia has nothing to do with criticism of Islam”.

Across Europe, the political and public discourse frames Muslims as the source of a problem which justifies the adoption of legislation and practices that are putting the core European fundamental rights and democratic principles at risk. This further divides the European society, instead of enabling all of us to live together to build a more diverse, cohesive, and vibrant Europe. It is time to see concrete political actions to address the rising discrimination and violence faced by Muslims on a daily basis in Europe.

It is significant to note that Islamophobia and Anti-Muslim hatred have a direct impact on the mental health of young muslims, as the negative stereotypes, racism, and attitudes of rejection have adverse consequences which directly affect their self-confidence, their general sense of belonging to the broader community, and it manifests with anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem. 

Today, more than ever, we urge European and national decision makers to get serious about tackling Islamophobia.

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