In a statement released on its website, the Forum of European Muslim Youth and Student Organisations (FEMYSO) has called upon members of the European Parliament to vote against the new EU Commission over what it calls its “lack of ethnic, racial and religious diversity” and the Commission’s establishment of a “Commissioner for Protecting our European Way of Life”, said by FEMYSO to be an expression of “far-right rhetoric”. According to the statement:
The Forum of European Muslim Youth and Student Organisations (FEMYSO) is deeply concerned by lack of ethnic, racial and religious diversity and the adoption of far-right rhetoric by the new European Commission. A fully white European Commission does not reflect our diverse and inclusive Europe. FEMYSO is the voice of Muslim Youth in Europe, and brings minority youth from different European countries together to empower them to work for a more cohesive, diverse and vibrant Europe. Despite our efforts to spread the European project to marginalized, discriminated and alienated Europeans, current political rhetoric is increasing the alienation of minorities across Europe. The new President of the European Commission Von der Leyen has adopted steps within the rhetoric and direction of those who vilify the full diversity of Europe. It concerns us and many across Europe to see the adoption of far-right rhetoric by establishing “Commissioner for Protecting our European Way of Life” role to oversee immigration policy. Protecting human life is core to European values, and conceptualising migration as a potential threat to European values only feeds into nationalist and fascist agendas.
Read the rest here.
Past GMBDW reporting on FEMYSO’s EU-level lobbying activities have included:
- In December 2007, we reported on a FEMYSO art festival sponsored by the Council of Europe.
- In May 2015, we reported that FEMYSO organized an Islamophobia event at the Youth Center of the Council of Europe.
- In October 2015, we reported on another FEMYSO Islamophobia event launched with a European Parliament Roundtable.
- In September 2019, we reported on a Muslim Brotherhood-dominated coalition including FEMYSO which called upon EU officials to provide the “EU Coordinator on anti-Muslim hatred” with more resources.
A NEFA Foundation report authored by the GMBDW editor identifies the Forum of Muslim Youth and Student Organizations (FEMYSO) as the youth/student arm of the Federation of Islamic Organizations in Europe (FIOE), representing the Muslim Brotherhood in Europe. Over the years, FEMYSO has developed a relationship with both the Council of Europe and the European Commission where it has been invited since 2003 to attend meetings of the Group of Policy Advisers (GOPA). Today, FEMYSO claims it has become “the de facto voice of Muslim Youth in Europe”.