Media Mentions
FEMYSO in the media
12.07.23
Hande Taner: Hoe een schimmig bedrijf de reputaties van Europese moslims kapotmaakte (Podcast)
FEMYSO President Hande Taner appeared on the NRC podcast to discuss the investigation by European Investigative Collaborations which highlighted the smear campaign waged against FEMYSO by anti-democratic forces.
Listen in full here: https://www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2023/07/12/hoe-een-schimmig-bedrijf-de-reputaties-van-europese-moslims-kapotmaakte-a4169567
07.07.23
Hande Taner: Dit schimmige bedrijf vernietigde reputaties van Europese moslims – NRC
De tientallen vrijwilligers van Femyso weten ondertussen niet wat ze overkomt. “Overal doken opeens berichten op”, vertelt Hande Taner, waarin steeds dezelfde soort beschuldigingen stond. Daardoor dachten wij al dat het een campagne was. Maar dat er een heel land achter zou zitten, dat hadden we niet gedacht.“
Read in full here: https://www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2023/07/07/dit-schimmige-bedrijf-vernietigde-met-succes-de-reputaties-van-europese-moslims-a4169074
28.06.23
Hande Taner: Mladi muslimani su među najugroženijim članovima evropskog društva – Al Jazeera Balkans
Prije dvije godine vidjeli smo krajnje desničarsku delegaciju kako uznemirava članove obje delegacije FEMYSO-a. Ovaj čin agresije s pravom je osudilo rukovodstvo evropskih institucija, pismom koje su potpisala 152 evropska parlamentaraca u kojem se poziva na istragu o tome incidentu.
Read in full here: https://balkans.aljazeera.net/teme/2023/6/28/hande-taner-mladi-muslimani-su-medju-najugrozenijim-clanovima-evropskog-drustva
08.06.23
Hande Taner: The European Youth Event: An opportunity for change – Brussels Morning
This edition of the EYE comes at a crucial moment, just 12 months from now, I like many others will be at the ballot box voting in the most important European elections of our lifetimes. Amidst ongoing conflict, pending environmental catastrophe and the continued rise of the far right across our region. The hopes of young people dreaming of a better Europe must not be ignored.
Read in full here: https://brusselsmorning.com/the-european-youth-event-an-opportunity-for-change/32696/
07.07.23
Hande Taner: Muslim group offers hope for an inclusive Europe despite far-right attacks – TRT World
“For Muslim youth, the EYE is especially important,” says Hande Taner, the president of FEMYSO. “In several European states, Muslim youth are subject to discrimination in their daily lives, which comes in the form of being denied a job that you’re overqualified for, or a home that you meet all the criteria but the landlord refuses your application, the sole reason is often due to your faith, this is sadly the reality for young Muslims all over Europe.”
Read in full here: https://www.trtworld.com/content/article/muslim-group-offers-hope-for-an-inclusive-europe-despite-far-right-attacks-13550902
26.04.23
Hande Taner: A New Yorker piece finally reveals why our NGO was mercilessly smeared – EU Observer
The morning of March 27th started like most for me. It was the first week of Ramadan and I had just begun working through some tasks in relation to our latest crowdfunding campaign, when I received an email notification that our organisation had been mentioned in an article. As a Muslim organisation, I naturally assumed it was negative, as most of our mentions have been over the last 4 years, but as I read the piece, it immediately became clear this was different.
Read the full piece here: https://euobserver.com/news/156963
15.04.23
The Assault on NGOs – EU Screams Podcast
Among organisations under assault is FEMYSO, the Forum of European Muslim Youth and Student Organizations. EU support for Femyso irks MEPs who dislike its fight against Islamophobia
Listen in full here: https://euscream.com/the-assault-on-ngos/
27.03.23
The Dirty Secrets of a Smear Campaign – N ew Yorker
In reality, the network, the Forum of European Muslim Youth and Student Organizations, was funded by the E.U. It campaigned against antisemitism, Islamophobia, and other forms of hate speech.
Read in full here: https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2023/04/03/the-dirty-secrets-of-a-smear-campaign
15.03.23
Nourhene Mahmoudi and Hande Taner on the International Day Against Islamophobia – Middle East Eye
The internalisation and understanding of Islamophobia cannot simply be reduced to a hateful online tweet, and should be seen and recognised for what it is: a cancerous disease that poisons our communities, and an anomaly in our democratic political systems.
Read the full piece here: https://www.middleeasteye.net/opinion/islamophobia-combat-day-hatred-muslim-unchallenged-no-longer
09.08.22
Hande Taner in reply to Tomáš Zdechovský MEP – Brussels Morning
Whilst parliamentary privilege may allow some to defame and attack civil society organisations, when an individual has the audacity to utilise the media to disseminate conspiratorial narratives, they must be held to account.
Read the full piece here: https://brusselsmorning.com/in-reply-to-tomas-zdechovsky/25822/
22.04.22
Hiba Latreche on Islamophobia in France and the French Presidential Elections – CNN
“We’re constantly being marginalized, excluded from society and then being told that we’re not taking part in society,” said Latreche. Being refused agency and choice over our own lives and contribution to society, , inevitably has a negative effect on my mental health and that of my friends.
Read and watch the full interview here: https://edition.cnn.com/2022/04/22/europe/french-muslim-voters-2022-election-intl-cmd/index.html
21.03.22
Hande Taner Opinion Piece: International Day Against Racism – Brussels Morning
Muslims have been made the answer to every insecurity and every uncertainty. Europe’s worries in the face of an unknowable future have been summed up in an obsession. ‘The Muslim must be stopped.’ ‘The Muslim must be driven out from public life.’ ‘The Muslim must be restrained and restricted.’ ‘Their Europeanness must be challenged even if they were born and raised here.’
Read the full piece here: https://brusselsmorning.com/anti-racism-is-not-a-passive-act-it-requires-permanent-vigilance-and-limitless-solidarity/22759/
11.10.21
Hande Taner on Sebastian Kurz Resignation – TRT World
FEMYSO President Hande Taner appeared on TRTWorld that evening to discuss the events of the day in light of the resignation of Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz.
Watch the interview here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qCNX0X2uDGY
08.11.21
Burak Barut on Greek Ban on Ritual Religious Slaughter – TRT World
This ongoing conversation required the input of Muslim youth, therefore our Head of Training Burak Barut appeared on TRT World to present a unified inter-religious voice condemning this decision and its impacts on the lives of young people, and religious communities in Greece and across Europe.
Watch the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NK7WQ9fokmMh
03.11.21
Hande Taner on Council of Europe Pulling Hijab Campaign – BBC News
“The campaign itself is still on” but added: “As for why the tweet was deleted, I can’t speak on behalf of the Council of Europe. It’s really sad that the efforts of minority youth are being attacked and undermined” by politicians.
Read the full article here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-59149035
04.11.21
Hande Taner on Council of Europe Pulling Hijab Campaign – Deutsche Welle
It is another example of how the rights of Muslim women are non-existent to those who claim to represent or protect notions such as liberty, equality and freedom.
Watch the video here: https://twitter.com/FEMYSO/status/1457023593091670022
Read the full article here: https://www.dw.com/en/eu-funded-hijab-campaign-sparks-outrage/a-59725546
04.11.21
Hande Taner on Council of Europe Pulling Hijab Campaign – Al Jazeera
‘Sadly Paris is currently the Capital of western prejudice. France’s biggest export is racism’.
Watch the video here: https://twitter.com/FEMYSO/status/1456366170702024704
29.10.21
Young people harassed at EP event – EURACTIV
“disgusting Islamophobic rhetoric was shouted in the microphone directed to the moderator.”
Read the full article here: https://www.euractiv.com/section/non-discrimination/news/young-people-harassed-at-ep-event-organisers-say-it-wasnt-first-time/
21.09.21
Nourhene Mahmoudi Opinion Piece: European Day Against Islamophobia – Brussels Morning
The challenges ahead are numerous, but in an anti-European, anti-institutional age where nationalism is the resurgent norm, we must choose to trust and believe in civil society, in our institutions and in their capacity to protect the vulnerable and guarantee equal rights for each and every inhabitant.
Read the full piece here: https://brusselsmorning.com/the-growing-threat-of-islamophobia-in-europe/17410/
01.11.20
Civil Society Open Letter to Emmanuel Macron
Over 20 groups that bring young Europeans together call on the French president to stop stirring up hatred and embrace France’s cherished principles of Egalité, Liberté, Fraternité.
Read the full letter here: https://www.middleeasteye.net/opinion/emmanuel-macron-islamophobia-pandering-bigots-strong-moral-leadership-
23.05.19
Hande Taner on the European Parliament Elections– TRT World
On FEMYSO’s engagement with Muslim youth ahead of the European elections, discussing the key issues why Muslims need to vote and fulfil our civic duty.