08 October 2026, Immediate Release
Today, the European Parliament adopted a resolution calling for an EU strategy to “counter Islamist entryism” calling for de-platforming civil society organisations.
We the undersigned civil society organisations strongly condemn this resolution, which reaches a new high of Islamophobic attacks on civil society. Led by an alliance of MEPs from the far-right, the European People’s Party and Renew, the resolution outlines plans to discredit, defund and censor civil society. This marks a devastating shift away from democratic values and goes against the Charter of Fundamental Rights.
In particular, it targets the Forum of European Muslim Youth and Student Organisations (FEMYSO), the European Network Against Racism (ENAR) and the Collective against Islamophobia in Europe (CCIE). It wrongfully links the organisations with the Muslim Brotherhood, and accuses them of using EU funding and platforms to promote political Islam under the cover of diversity, inclusion and anti-discrimination. Together, these large civil society networks represent over 170 youth, student, and anti-racism organisations working to empower marginalised groups, facilitate access to fundamental rights, and encourage participation in decision-making processes.
The proposals in today’s resolution would go directly against the EU values of non-discrimination and equality enshrined in the Treaty on European Union and risk contributing to the criminalisation of millions of people living in Europe based on their perceived religious affiliation and/or origin. Moreover, they add to the wider phenomenon of systematic marginalisation, scapegoating and deliberate exclusion of European Muslims from democratic life which has fueled an alarming rise in hatred and violence in the past few years.
This resolution comes at a time when anti-racist organisations across Europe are operating in an increasingly hostile environment. By greenlighting calls to restrict the participation, access and funding of leading organisations working with both Muslim youth and communities, the Parliament is institutionalising and normalising harassment against civil society. If vague and unsubstantiated allegations – repeatedly been denied and debunked by credible and established sources – can be used to restrict an organisation’s access to European institutions and funding, it sets a dangerous precedent for the civic space available to Muslims across Europe. It weakens cohesion, trust and solidarity between people – in particular young people – and institutions.
Moreover, the resolution threatens to undermine recent initiatives of the European Commission, such as the EU Anti-Racism Strategy 2026-2030 – which explicitly recognises anti-Muslim hatred as a form of racism[1] – and the EU Civil Society Strategy. It also runs counter to the Council of the EU’s recently adopted Conclusions on combating racism which recognise anti-Muslim hatred as a specific form of discrimination that requires sustained attention in national and EU-level strategies.
We call on the EU Institutions to reject any calls to criminalise or discredit Muslim civil society organisations packaged as a “strategy to counter Islamist entryism”, and reiterate its commitment to EU values, in particular Articles 2 and 11 of the Treaty on European Union (TEU).
EU leaders must urgently address the dissemination of disinformation and hate speech inside the European Parliament and implement the EU Anti-Racism Strategy with the necessary resources and political buy-in to ensure that every person in the European Union lives in dignity and safety.
SIGNATORIES
- Collective for Countering Islamophobia in Europe (CCIE)
- #DiasporaVote!
- End FGM European Network
- Equinox Initiative for Racial Justice
- Eurocentralasian Lesbian* Community (EL*C)
- European Civic Forum
- European Network Against Racism (ENAR)
- Federation of Young European Greens (FYEG)
- Forum of European Muslim Youth and Student Organisations (FEMYSO)
—ENDS—
Sarah Chander, Director of Equinox Initiative for Racial Justice, said “Rising far-right influence in EU institutions has resulted in the systematic discrediting and targeting of Muslim organisations based on islamophobic tropes rather than rigorous evidence and due process. This is part of a wider backlash – the EU should be supporting civil society rather than participating in spurious smear campaigns that feed division and fuel racist sentiment.”
Hiba Latreche, President of FEMYSO, said: “European Muslim youth and students are an integral part of the EU. Their democratic participation is not only a right but needed for a strong and vibrant society, especially at a time of significant challenges across Europe. This unprecedented witch-hunt and relentless attempts at demonising FEMYSO are puzzling and completely unjustified given our clear track record of encouraging proactive contribution of all youth in public life and upholding fundamental rights. This resolution called for stronger and more transparent processes in the EU. We fully welcome that and note that our activities, reports, funding and partnerships have always been shared publicly. We will continue to work for a Europe for all, based on the core European values of freedom, equality and respect for human rights and dignity. Unfortunately, those targeting FEMYSO appear not to believe in or adhere to these same values.”
Emmanuel Achiri, ENAR: “Against a backdrop of rising racism, including anti-Muslim racism in Europe, this resolution gives institutional legitimacy to a politics of suspicion targeting Muslim communities and the organisations defending their rights. The targeting of ENAR and its members through false allegations we categorically reject is deeply concerning, particularly in a context where ENAR has also recently lost its EU structural grant. These developments highlight the growing pressure on independent anti-racist civil society at precisely the moment when its work is most needed. European institutions should be protecting civic space and strengthening the fight against racism, not contributing to its erosion.”
NOTES
- FEMYSO (est. 1996) is a youth-led and volunteer-run network organisation of 30 Muslim youth and student organisations across 21 European countries, working to develop and empower European Muslim youth, and contribute to a more diverse, cohesive, and vibrant Europe.
- Founded in 1998, ENAR is Europe’s largest anti-racism network, bringing together more than 140 anti-racist organisations across Europe.
- CCIE is a non-profit association, which aims to act against rejection, hatred and discrimination targeting individuals and institutions because of their real or perceived membership in the Muslim religion.
- Fundamental Rights Report, Challenges and Achievements, FRA (2025). https://fra.europa.eu/sites/default/files/fra_uploads/fundamental-rights-report_challenges-and-achievements_2025.pdf
- New Yorker Investigation “The Dirty Secrets of a Smear Campaign” https://femyso.org/femyso-new-yorker-statement/ , https://femyso.org/investigation-statement/
- https://www.comiteri.be/images/pdf/onderzoeksverslagen/TO%20Freres%20Musulmans_UNCLASS_FR_final%20Commission.pdf pages 12-13
- The researchers interviewed for the French report distanced themselves from it https://www.mediapart.fr/en/journal/france/220525/critical-report-muslim-brotherhood-could-rekindle-sense-fear-france-says-expert
- EU Anti Racism Strategy, pages: 2, 3, 5, 14, and 17 commission.europa.eu/document/download/f4acc4d4-689e-4db8-8c89-c7243b76ab88_en?filename=JUST_template_comingsoon_standard_0.pdf
- DRAFT COUNCIL CONCLUSIONS on combating racism and related forms of hatred and discrimination in the European Union: Safeguarding Fundamental Rights and European Values, October 2026: https://data.consilium.europa.eu/doc/document/ST-13811-2026-INIT/en/pdf