FEMYSO strongly condemns the shameful weaponisation of Holocaust Remembrance Day by Euractiv’s editor-in-chief, Matthew Karnitschnig, who used this solemn occasion to promote divisive and Islamophobic discourse.
His claim that antisemitism is inherent or universal to Muslim migrant communities is not only fallacious and entirely unfounded but also dangerously ignores a key driver of antisemitism’s resurgence: the rise of nationalist populism across Europe.
At a time when we should be strengthening our collective memory and commitment to fighting hatred in all its forms, Karnitschnig’s article serves only to further stigmatise already marginalised communities.
This reckless scapegoating fuels Islamophobic narratives and distracts from the responsibility that governments, institutions, and political actors bear in the fight against all forms of racism, including antisemitism.
We demand the immediate removal of this Islamophobic article and a formal apology for the harm caused. Such inflammatory rhetoric has no place in responsible journalism, particularly from a media platform that claims to uphold journalistic integrity.
As FEMYSO, we have witnessed first-hand the alarming normalisation of Islamophobia in European media, where Muslim communities are routinely vilified and blamed for societal issues while structural discrimination and far-right radicalisation remain unaddressed.
The fight against antisemitism must not be used as a pretext to promote Islamophobic tropes. Instead, we must unite against all forms of hatred.
FEMYSO remains steadfast in its commitment to combating racism in all its manifestations—whether antisemitism, Islamophobia, or any other form of bigotry. We call on media organisations to take responsibility in fostering narratives that promote solidarity rather than division.
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Notes:
1. FEMYSO (est. 1996) is a network organisation for 32 Muslim youth and student organisations across 22 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. Euractiv article: https://www.euractiv.com/section/politics/opinion/the-brief-never-again/
3. FEMYSO statement on The International Holocaust Remembrance Day: https://femyso.org/international-holocaust-remembrance-day-2025/
4. For more information or requests please email media@femyso.org
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