Bridging Divides: Addressing Polarisation and Radicalisation Among Europe’s Youth
Context
Polarisation and radicalisation among young people are becoming pressing challenges across Europe, with significant societal and security implications. This conference saw IMPAC table its detailed research report into polarising and radicalising materials available to or produced for schools in Belgium. The increasing threat of political NGOs and the Muslim Brotherhood were also addressed by keynote speakers.
Summary
IMPAC hosted a crucial conference at the European Parliament, uniting policymakers, educators, religious leaders, and experts to confront the rising threats of polarisation and radicalisation among Europe’s youth. The event explored the pervasive influence of social media in spreading extreme views, the critical role of education in fostering critical thinking and resilience, and the need for interfaith dialogue to promote tolerance and coexistence.
Discussions also addressed antisemitism, the impact of extremist groups on democratic values, and strategies for policy reforms, digital accountability, and youth inclusion. Emphasising global cooperation, the conference highlighted successful models for deradicalisation and called for proactive measures to build unified, inclusive societies where dialogue prevails over division.
Moderator, Hosts and Speakers
Sabrina Repp MEP
Host
Bio
Sabrina Repp MEP is a German politician and Member of the European Parliament (MEP) since July 2024, representing the (SPD) within S&D Group where she serves on the Committee on Regional Development (REGI), the Committee on Culture and Education (CULT), and as a substitute on the Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality (FEMM), while also participating in delegations for Northern cooperation (DEEA) and relations with Central Asia (DCAS).
She holds a Bachelor’s degree in political science from Dresden University of Technology (2017-2021) and a Master’s degree in political science with a focus on area studies from the University of Rostock (2021-2023), and was a scholarship holder of the Friedrich Ebert Foundation. Active in youth politics, Repp served as district executive chair of the Young Socialists (Jusos) in Rostock (2022-2024), deputy regional executive chair of Jusos in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania since 2022, SPD district executive member in Rostock since 2022, and SPD regional executive member in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania since 2024.
She also holds executive positions in the European Movement Germany since November 2024 and Europa-Union Mecklenburg-Vorpommern since October 2023. As one of the youngest MEPs, she focuses on education, regional development, gender equality, and European integration, contributing to debates on university alliances and addressing issues like antisemitism.
Read speech
Today it’s a great honour for me to host this important event. And I would like to thank IMPAC and especially Patricia and Nigel for organising that and making this conference possible. I also want to thank our speakers that are here today for their participation and of course for our valued audience who share our concerns and are here with us today.
We have come together to face one of the most urgent challenges for Europe and the whole world: the growing polarisation and radicalisation of our youth, and we live in time where polarisation and radicalisation especially among young people are increasing. Social media plays a key role in that. For that it is very important that we look at social media spreading extreme opinions and attitudes faster and more directly. This has clear effects also to my home region Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.
So I had a school tour there and last week I was at the school, and there I noticed that especially since October 7 in schools we see discussions about Israel and Gaza are more and more shaped into extreme positions, and for me it was last week very hard to get in a conversation and to talk about peace in that region, which is a very important topic for me. We also see that antisemitism plays a central role both in a far-right spectrum and in a public debate. Parties like the AFD or the MPD or the so-called Third Way fuel these tendencies and we cannot and we will not accept this.
The strength of our democracy lies in bringing together different perspectives, staying in dialogue and finding ways to create a good future for our young people. To achieve this, it is crucial that not only to teach young people about that, it is also important to include them. Many young people fear that politicians do not represent them. And me as the second youngest member of the European Parliament, for me it is important to do politics not *about* young people. It is important to do politics *with* young people.
And it means that we need to listen to them. We need to include them in our decision- making processes, and in our opinion forming processes in a committee of culture and education. We try to do that, and we must show them that having a reflected position is not a weakness, it is a strength because our world is not simply black or white.
Our democracy means accepting diversity and seeking compromises instead of falling into extremes. We also noted noticed that especially young men are more vulnerable to radicalisation often because it appeals to traditional ideas of masculinity. And we must be clear what happens on social media does not stay there. Hate, agitation and disinformation have direct impact on our reality. And it this is why we need clear rules. In digital space, the same values and boundaries must apply as in real life. This means consistent prosecution of hate speech and treats of violent.
And it also means holding platforms accountable in fighting fake news and division. Our goal must be to counter extremist tendencies at an early stage through education, participation and a clear stance. Only in this way we can strengthen an open democratic society where young people can find their place.
I am glad that we are here today to discuss how we can succeed in this and I thank you very much for being here. The strength of Europe lies in its diversity, its democratic values and its commitment to human rights. The great interest in this conference gives me the hope that we can confirm these principles by working tirelessly to protect our youth from the force that want to divide and destroy them. I am convinced that the good forces here can build a future where dialogue wins over division. Truth triumphs over lies and hope overcomes hate.
Together we can achieve this, and I look forward to our exchange in the next two hours. Thank you for being here and thank you for the discussion.
YouTube
Antonio López-Istúriz White MEP
Co-Host
Bio
Antonio López-Istúriz White is a Spanish politician and Member of the European Parliament (MEP) since 2004, representing the centre-right Partido Popular (PP) within the European People’s Party (EPP) Group.
He holds a degree in Law and a diploma in Economics from CEU San Pablo University. His career in Brussels began in 1997 as an assistant to the PP delegation in the European Parliament, followed by serving as personal advisor to former Spanish Prime Minister José María Aznar (1999–2002).He served as Secretary General of the European People’s Party (EPP) from 2002 to 2022. He continues as Executive Secretary of the Centrist Democrat International (CDI) and Secretary Treasurer of the Wilfried Martens Centre for European Studies
.In the current parliamentary term (as of January 2026), he chairs the Delegation to the EU-Mexico Joint Parliamentary Committee (D-MX) and the Conference of Delegation Chairs. He is a member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET), the Subcommittee on Human Rights (DROI), the Delegation for relations with Israel (D-IL), and the Delegation for relations with the Arab Peninsula (DARP).He is active in children’s rights advocacy and holds honorary roles in foundations supporting at-risk youth and disadvantaged groups.
Read speech
First of all, thank you very much, Patricia and Nigel.
This is not the first time that we are addressing these facts. Thank you for that. It’s always good during this term in the European Parliament to remember everybody about the facts that we are talking about. Also, I would like to thank my colleagues from Trends that are here, Abdulaziz there.
And also, most especially from all the guests and speakers, Iman Muhammad Tawidi, who is with us today. Also, thank you very much because your presence is always for us comforting. And Sabirina, thank you very much. You have the courage to support this exchange. As you and I, we are confronted with extremes every day more in this parliament and so on.
Also, your voice, your contribution and this cross-party process is a very good thing. Thank you for that
I do believe school of history repeats itself, unfortunately. And in humans, we have a tendency to always step on the same stone. Every time that there is a change of era, every time that there is, you know, a change like from the Industrial Revolution, now the new technologies revolution.
We have these social changes and fear appears. Our societies, they don’t know. But this is this change, if it’s going to be good or bad. I know that I am not against new technologies. I know it’s another human invention done to better our life. But as humans, unfortunately, we also tend to use the negative parties. And then fear appears. And fear, unfortunately, is an incredible political tool used always in history by the same. Prophets of the apocalypse. Sellers of miraculous elixirs.
That appear every time human kind has had a change, social change, these kind of people appear today. We call them populists, you know, if the 100 years ago was nationalist, fascist, communist, you name it. We are facing the same polarisation. This is not new. It’s not going to be responsible people that are sitting around this table. That’s I think why you’re here. Very difficult times ahead.
I cannot hide from you. Sabrina and I – we live this in every plenary in Strasbourg.
We have to face extremes trying to get the show. We had that two weeks ago with the Gaza resolution. And fortunately for all of us, the resolution was painstakingly for them because there was no headlines and show. It was a balanced resolution. And that’s why today, unfortunately, these positive news, you know, are not welcome by these polarising people. And these effects, especially our young, they are vulnerable. They are exposed to these prophets, to these sellers. Of dreams of solutions tomorrow morning.
That we all know it is not possible. That people are desperate.
I cannot go against people that vote for extremes or because they are desperate. They are looking for quick solutions. And there are questions that are now mounting up every time more. We can – maybe politicians we can react. And these people choose, you know, this kind of, you know, they are attracted. There has been a long history. It’s not the first time. But now with all the information we have, we have a way to address this. And especially, you know, what we have to work with is with the young people.
And our first line of defence Sabrina mentioned an absolute degree is education. That’s our first line of defence first and last, because it’s the next generation. You know, I always, I remember, you know, I was laughing at my father when he had problems to use the remote control of the TV years ago. Now my daughters, you know, laugh about me and I have a clue on how to use, you know, the new technologies. It’s the next generation. We cannot do anything about the actual situation, I have to say, unfortunately, we can navigate this drama. But what we have to do is contrary to what’s happening that everybody’s thinking about today, but only today about me and today what we think is about think about them and the future.
Education then it’s the key, the key thing that I’m sure the experts will talk about. We need to promote. I know that it is not a trending topic. They’re not very attractive for the media. They do not produce clicks. But nevertheless, we have to promote the dialogues between cultures support integration and create spaces where differences are respected rather than fear. I am leaving this every day in my country in Spain, where history showed us that confrontations in my country are usually solved by civil wars.
Our humble aspirations to some cool head politicians is that this is not repeated again. But believe me, it’s done against politicians, media, not all, but a great part, you know, and also in Europe. Why not when I hear when I see these headlines war in Europe? Excuse me. We don’t have a war in Europe. There is a war in Ukraine. It’s affecting us Europeans. Yes, this is also we are defending our values, but the war is not in Europe. I could think that sometimes it’s like they would like a war because they will have more headlines and more clicks and more money. So, revolution, our responsibility of the people that we are here today.
Also, European politicians. It’s also to create a political strategy to combat extreme organisations that are damaging our societies.
I have been and some of us we have been advocating, you know, against organisations like the Iranian Revolution, Hezbollah, Samidoun. Also other terrorist organisations, but now we have also the Russians and others trying to interfere and attacking our values. So radicalisation. It is used as a weapon by some and also by others trying to interfere in our democracies and to change the opinion, the approach from young people. Because they’re not stupid. They are addressing the young people. That’s why much of the votes from young people go to the extremes. Because it’s already produced by these these countries and regimes that they want to change our system and democracies. We are vulnerable.
History always teaches, especially second world war that at the end democratic world, you know, can win this. We have some hope. We have some hope that we can win this. I’m telling especially people that are now afraid of what we are facing. The most question that I was demanded during the European campaign last year in my country, you know what was. Excuse me, Mr Isturez, excuse me, Member of Parliament. Is there going to be a third world war? That was the question I was confronted. That was not in a survey. No, no, no, no, this was people asking. I think that today in this event, and especially to young people, we have to bring in some hope. Do not deny the facts. We have a very, very tough agenda ahead. But also, and I want to end with this positive note also history teaches us that as democracies, we have won before we can do it again.
Thank you very much
YouTube
Patricia Teitelbaum
Moderator
Bio
Patricia Teitelbaum is President of the International Movement for Peace and Coexistence (IMPAC). Has an MA in Politics & International Relations from the University of Brussels. She is a key member of the Alliance for Peace in the Middle East which has been running the Antwerp and Brussels shalom festivals since 2013. Patricia is also an accredited trainer against antisemitism and a trained coach in conflict resolution.
Abdulaziz Al Marzooqi
Keynote Speaker
Bio
Abdulaziz Al Marzooqi is Deputy Head of TRENDS’ Global Sector and Director of the Global Offices Department at TRENDS Research & Advisory, where he leads international expansion and global engagement. He holds a Bachelor’s in Electrical Engineering with a minor in Sociology from Arizona State University and an MBA from the Abu Dhabi School of Management. His career includes roles at Deloitte and Emirates NBD, where he was instrumental in launching the bank’s Entrepreneurship Incubator and driving leadership development initiatives for UAE Nationals. Passionate about innovation and global collaboration, he advances TRENDS’ mission of fostering evidence-based research and international dialogue.
Read speech
Good evening esteemed colleagues, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen. I am honoured here to be with you today at the European Parliament to discuss some of the most pressing challenges of our time. Polarisation and radicalisation among Europe’s youth.
It is a topic that not only demands our attention, but also our collective action. At the heart of these challenges lies the rising influence of certain groups, extremist political movements. Particularly those linked to the Muslim Brotherhood, and their operations to various political NGOs across Europe.
These groups have consistently sought to foster division within our societies, manipulating narratives and exploiting vulnerable communities for their own gain. It is essential that we understand how these structures operate, often disguised under the guise of progressive or work ideologies, and the far-reaching consequences they have on the social fabric in Europe.
Through financial support, strategic partnerships, and radical propaganda, these groups are contributing to the radicalisation of youth and the undermining efforts towards interrogation. As highlighted in our Trends reports and symposia, it is crucial that we identify the sources of their power and funding, by understanding how the Muslim Brotherhood and its affiliated NGOs work.
We can better combat their insidious influence and safeguard Europe’s values of unity and inclusion. Moving forward, it is equally important to address the role of education in combating radicalism. As per emphasized and highlighted by the Shaping Minds and Shaping Society report, education is not just a tool for academic development, but a means to empower youth with critical thinking skills and resilience against malign influences. We must advocate for educational reforms that foster open mindedness, dialogue, and deeper understanding of diverse perspectives.
Through international collaborations such as the Brussels Roundtables, we have seen the success of initiatives that promote deradicalisation curricula. The aim must be built to education ecosystems that does not merely focus on academic success, but nurtures well-rounded, tolerant individuals who are resistant to extremist ideologies.
Lastly, let us look at the lessons learned from the case studies around the world. One of the most notable examples comes from the UAE, where successful radicalisation models have been implemented.
These models offer valuable insights into how governments, communities, and institutions can work together to counter radicalsation, particularly in Europe. And this book with mean that I have brought – the Policy Paper 16 – explains thoroughly the UAE model. And thank you for emphasising our conference as a brother in Montevideo.
However, we must also acknowledge the failures in some regions. The influence of brotherhood-linked NGOs has only deepened polarization. Rather than fostering a unified society, it is essential that we learn from both successes and failures and use data-driven insights to share policies that counter the diverse forces at play. In conclusion, it is evident that tackling polarisation and radicalisation is not a task for any one institution or country.
It is a global challenge that requires cooperation, vigilance, and unwavering commitment to the values of peace, tolerance, and interrogation. By addressing these issues head-on, we can ensure that the future of Europe’s youth is one of unity, understanding, and progress. And as I usually say, if you want to disrupt the growth of a nation, disrupt the education system. And once again, thank you, everyone.
[Thank you, Mr. Al-Marzooqi I take away from here that we have to work all together. It’s a global problem, and we will have only a global answer. That’s why I commit myself with IMPAC to work with all of you, and work with MEPs to change our world to a better world. Thank you very much.]
YouTube
His Excellency Imam M. Tawhidi
Keynote Speaker
Bio
Imam Muhammad Tawhidi known widely as the Imam of Peace, is a Muslim theologian and peace advocate, currently serving as a Governing Member of The Global Imams Council (GIC). Born in Iran to Iraqi parents who later emigrated to Australia to escape persecution, he represents the third generation of his family to serve as an Imam.
He received his ordination and certification from the seminaries of Qom and Karbala. He has combined traditional Islamic teachings with academic studies, holding a Graduate Diploma in Strategic Leadership, a Master of Islamic Studies, and a Master’s in Counter-Terrorism, and is currently specialising in jurisprudence for his PhD. I
Imam Tawhidi is dedicated to addressing contemporary challenges within Islam, particularly through media engagement and advocacy. His work focuses on eradicating extremist ideologies, promoting human rights, fostering interfaith dialogue, and building stronger relations between Muslim communities and Western societies.
He has spoken at major international events, including the World Alliance of Religions for Peace Summit (2016), a European Parliament conference co-organised by the EPP and the Interparliamentary Coalition for Global Ethics (2025), and the 5th TRENDS Annual Forum on Political Islam in Abu Dhabi (2025). In 2019, he became the first Shia Imam to pay respects at Auschwitz, marking a significant step in interfaith reconciliation. With a strong global presence, Imam Tawhidi has built an online following of more than 1.5 million people across his platforms.
Read speech
Thank you very much. Firstly, I’d like to acknowledge and thank the honourable Sabrina Repp as well as his excellency Antonio Lopez-White. I always try to memorise your name. But thank you very very much for hosting and for your time and attention at this time of the day.
I believe this is my fourth or fifth event with your excellency. But I’m always honoured to be in Europe and to contribute, with the little that we have, to make this continent a blessed, safe, secure, harmonious place for all. IMPAC – thank you very much, President Patricia, my good friend Nigel.
Thank you once again for the invite and your speech about antisemitism reminded me to wish our brothers and sisters – or cousins shall I say – from the Jewish faith a blessed, good and sweet new year. Shana Tova to you all. Honourable members of the European Parliament, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen (two genders!).
I come before you today not to me not to merely warn but to but to sound an alarm. What you are witnessing across your continent is not the benign growth of civic activity. It is a patient, strategic, and increasingly dangerous campaign by a transnational Islamist network to infiltrate and subvert the institutions that hold the European democracy together.
This campaign has a name, the Muslim Brotherhood, an organisation designated as a terrorist entity by the majority of Muslim states. For 100 years, the Muslim Brotherhood has perfected a two-fold playbook: conceal its political aims behind the language of education, charity, and civil society. Then use those legal footholds to build influence within parties, unions, media, and policymaking circles. This is not accidental and it is not by luck. It is deliberate, disciplined, and designed to exploit the very freedoms that make Europe strong.
The first vector of penetration is the NGO and charity sector. Across Europe, we have seen associations and community organisations, so-called community organisations that present as humanitarian or integration partners, but which act as conduits for ideological indoctrination, recruitment and foreign funding. These are not isolated incidents at all. They form a pattern, a pattern that is 100 years old. organizations with front-facing social services that simultaneously push an exclusionary political narrative and cultivate activists for longer-term political projects. The result is the hollowing out of genuine civic life and the creation of parallel networks that answer to an ideological agenda rather than to European democratic norms.
Second, the Brotherhood’s political penetration is systematic and sophisticated. It cultivates political allies, leverages voter blocks, and lobbies institutions while presenting itself as the voice of Muslims. Again, the Muslim Brotherhood presents itself as the voice of Muslims and their name is very problematic and racist. To call yourself the Muslim Brotherhood, these two terms are the most sacred in Islam.
One Muslim hijacks the religion and the name of the religion and brotherhood. You have hijacked the collective identity of Muslims regardless of your denomination, school of thought, ethnicity, gender or background. And Christians and Jews and Muslims, we look at each other as brothers in faith. To hijack that name is not just racist, it is dangerous. And that is why you will notice that I will just refer to them as the brotherhood, not the Muslim Brotherhood because they are brothers in terrorism.
In reality, the Muslim Brotherhood seeks to replace representative Muslim leadership with proxies who advance a political Islam agenda. When these proxies enter advisory roles, advisory councils, and I remind you all that the Muslim Brotherhood was given a platform in the White House during the era of Barack Hussein Obama and President Biden. They were advisers under the organisation by the name of CAIR, the Council on American Islamic Relations that is designated as a terrorist entity by the UAE. for them to become advisers to the United States president is the ultimate victory for the Muslim Brotherhood.
When these proxies enter advisory roles, as I said, advisory councils or become regular interlocutors for governments and EU bodies, they tilt policy debates toward positions that erode secular governance, freedom of expression, and equal citizenship. This influence, this is influence, not integration. It is political warfare under the cover of democracy.
Third, the Brotherhood leverages labour governments and unions to legitimise itself by embedding operatives within grassroots campaigns on workplace rights, education, education, education. Again, if you take a look at universities today, the leading professors that are being funded by governments that rely on the Muslim Brotherhood as its front militia without mentioning any names, it is very important that we take note that not every Muslim academic is genuinely acting for the sake of Islamic academia and for the sake of the humanities within universities, the books and the studies they publish and they push forward. If they smell Muslim Brotherhood, then they are Muslim Brotherhood.
By embedding operatives within grassroots campaigns and workplace rights, education or anti-racism causes, it gains moral credibility and shields its ideology under the cloak of social justice. Can you imagine that? Hamas’s mother organisation talking about diversity and social justice. Once inside your organisations, dear members of parliament, these actors reframe public debates, mobilise sympathisers, and pressure institutions to accept leaders and narratives that are hostile to pluralism. What do I mean? The regime in Iran has a dictator sitting on top, Ali Khamenei.
Can you believe that Ali Khamenei was talking to the students protesting in American and Canadian universities – a direct line of communication via social media. Ali Khamenei can be speaking to your students and your children too – directly. There needs to be measures and I’m not speaking about sanctions, not a politician, but there needs to be security measures towards terrorist dictators who is the head of the IRGC that you mentioned, your excellency. To be communicating with European citizens directly through a tweet (or a post on ‘X’ as they call it today). So they pressure institutions to accept these leaders and narratives that are hostile to pluralism. This is an exploitation of social solidarity to mask an authoritarian blueprint. Fourth, control of narrative is central to the brotherhood success. Satellite channels, social platforms, and sympathetic media outlets amplify grievances, narratives, and stoke identity politics and sanitise extremist positions under more palatable language.
The goal is to normalise political Islam and delegitimise those who resist it. When media becomes a weapon, it shapes policy by bending public opinion, not by transparent debate. We must also be blunt about the security dimension. The Muslim Brotherhood, the Brotherhood is not a monolith. It has branches. I want you to pay careful attention to this. They have branches, sister organizations, affiliates and offshoots. You designate one, you ban one like a mushroom, they rise with another logo, another name. And that’s why we need to thank the UAE for highlighting the terrorist entities eight that were designated in the United Kingdom just next door. It’s a real issue when it comes to the Muslim Brotherhood escaping terrorist designation and sanctions. Some offshoots have resorted to violence.
Many governments around the world treat aspects of this network as a security threat. Several states have banned, restricted or labelled branches as illegal or extremist and lawmakers in multiple democracies have formally debated designation and listing. That is very cute that you would like to have a debate whether or not to designate a terrorist entity. What are you waiting for? You see, democracy is beautiful. However, when a terrorist is in broad daylight using democracy to weaken democracy, then the dignity and the honour that one has for their own country and their children needs to step in. And that is when you already have the laws in place. By the way, it’s a matter of enacting on these laws and applying them on the extremists when required.
These are not trivial matters where intelligence and prosecution have exposed links between actors in civic organisations and violent actors or illicit financing. The evidence has compelled national action. You ignore that reality at your own peril. Let us be clear. This is not an argument against Muslims or against civic associations that do vital work. It is an argument against an organised political project that weaponises religion to advance an illiberal agenda. Europe must protect its pluralism while cutting off space for organisations that operate hypocritically to undermine the very freedoms that allow them to grow. What does this mean in practice? I propose a decisive European response with three clear pillars.
Firstly, require full transparency for organisations that receive public funds or represent communities to EU institutions. Condition European and national funding on audited traceable finances and prohibitions on foreign political funding that mask ideological agendas. Commission a Europewide inquiry to map brotherhood networks. Very, very necessary. As I speak now, you’re all imagining what could this look like? I can tell you what it looks like. Very sophisticated, very complex.
You’re talking about a community that was here first before the good people arrived. You’re talking about the most lavish mosques and the biggest minarets and Islamist extremist pro-terrorists who enter this parliament in LV and Gucci and Prada and in suits and ties. They no longer look like me, right? (That was a joke by the way. You were supposed to laugh!). Very important that we can identify them. Now where evidence of illicit activity, support for violence or subversive political aims exists, member states must act swiftly and in coordination. Three, support and resource representative independent Muslim organisations that unequivocally reject political Islamism.
Promote civic education that strengthens integration and civic loyalty rather than identity segregation. On the 16th of this month, I had the absolute pleasure of participating on a panel held by in an event organised by Trends Research and Advisory on political Islam. That was the fifth annual event, and I invite you all to join these annual events in Abu Dhabi. Furthermore, Trends Research and Advisory has the only encyclopaedia that is comprehensive and academic on the Muslim Brotherhood and I believe now it’s reaching nine volumes if I’m right. Nine volumes in multiple languages, rich in resources, a must for every academic library. And if the European Parliament can host that encyclopaedia, I’m sure that trends can arrange that for you. It covers every threat within the Muslim Brotherhood, including education.
Honourable members, complacency is no longer an option. The Brotherhood’s method is patience and concealment. Patience and concealment. You have to run for elections. Honourable members of parliament, the Muslim Brotherhood don’t have to think about four-year terms, eight-year terms.
They think in 50 year terms, if not 100 year terms. The seed that was planted 100 years ago is now destroying Europe and has already destroyed many democratic societies. Its goal is influence and transformation. If you allow unchecked penetration of your NGOs, unions, education, media, and political institutions, you will awake to a Europe where your own laws and liberties are reshaped from within. That is not a prophecy. It is a preventable trajectory. I ask this parliament to treat this issue not as a partisan slogan, but as a cross-party institutional security priority.
Commission the mapping, tighten transparency rules, and uphold the principle that access to your institutions must be matched by loyalty to democratic values. Let us be unequivocal. Europe will not be hollowed out from within. You will defend the equal rights of all citizens to live free from the imposition of an authoritarian religious project and against the dark and dangerous agendas of the Muslim Brotherhood and the regime in Iran. and we stand with you in that. Thank you for your attention.
YouTube
Francisco Joaquin Gaztelu
Keynote Speaker
Bio
Francisco Joaquin Gaztelu Mezquiriz is a seasoned European Commission official and Director of the North Africa Directorate within the Directorate-General for the Middle East, North Africa and the Gulf (DG MENA), where he oversees EU policies and partnerships in the region, including migration, regional integration, and cooperation initiatives.
An engineer and microeconomist by training, he has built an extensive career in EU external relations and migration policy, serving as Head of Unit for Migration in DG NEAR from at least 2020 to 2023, managing irregular migration, returns, and partnerships with North African and Middle Eastern countries.
In December 2023, he was appointed Director for Neighbourhood South and Türkiye at the Directorate-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations (DG NEAR), before transitioning to his current role. Based in Brussels, Gaztelu Mezquiriz has participated in high-level forums on EU-Africa relations, digital connectivity, and countering racist violence, contributing to strategic dialogues on trade, investment, and sustainable development in the Mediterranean.
His expertise includes team leadership, business strategy, and European Union affairs, making him a key figure in fostering EU’s southern neighbourhood policies.
Read speech
YouTube
Nigel Goodrich
Speaker
Bio
Nigel Goodrich was born in England and has been secretary general of IMPAC since 2019. He has degrees in Theology, Judaism and Islam, and Educational Management. In 1983 he wrote an MA thesis “Islamic epistemology and British educational praxis” considering effects on society of state-funded Islamic educational institutions. He is a former school principal, national curriculum developer (emphasising critical thinking), senior examiner and educational consultant.
Read speech
In 1948, when Israel was founded, many Palestinians fled or were expelled, the expert said, but there’s nothing about the context of seven Arab nations attacking Israel and telling Palestinians or rather telling Arabs to leave so that the Jews could be wiped out and then they could return to their homes.
None of this is included and I mentioned this not to be an advocate for Israel but to be an advocate for critical thinking, because only one side is heard in these materials. So what impression will children have of the Jewish state or of Jews? No wonder one of the worksheets that we that we analysed on a state-funded educational website asked this question. “Why are the Jews not loved?” and ” Will you take part in a demonstration to support Palestinians?” and being against Israel.
So texts without context are surely pretexts. We found pervasive politicised anti-Jewish, anti-Israel propaganda in the majority of those materials. Materials that play on the emotions of young people and their sentiments to reinforce hostile feelings, intolerance that leads to polarisation and is likely to lead to radicalisation.
So in summary, there are six takeaways. Number one, the Directorate General of Overseas Development and its agencies have funded biased materials via NGO – political NGOs – and they have politicised Global Citizenship Education [GCED] as advocacy to achieve their ends as, to quote themselves, “political advocacy and mobilisation amongst young people” – but only for one political agenda.
Secondly, state funding for ideologically based content raises concerns about perpetuating prejudices and violating educational principles.
Thirdly, early exposure, and Sabrina mentioned this again, in primary schools deepens polarisation, intolerance, and antisemitism – it has no place in primary schools – looking at a complex conflict in a bipolar way.
And fourthly, media must separate opinions from facts in their content, and not impose their own agenda.
Number five, there’s an urgent need for evaluation of content providers here in Belgium to achieve or ensure neutrality and objectivity.
And finally, the regional ministers in Belgium must control and take responsibility for what is taking place in their classrooms and the federal ministers must instigate an urgent review of state funding of political NGOs.
Thank you, ladies and gentlemen.
YouTube
Shannon Seban
Speaker
Bio
Shannon Seban is a French politician, activist, and author renowned for her advocacy against antisemitism and discrimination, currently serving as Director of European Affairs for the Combat Antisemitism Movement (CAM) in Paris, where she leads outreach and engagement efforts across Europe to promote interfaith dialogue and combat hatred.
Born and raised in the multicultural suburb of Seine-Saint-Denis northeast of Paris to parents of Moroccan and Algerian origin, she holds master’s degrees in management and law as well as European public affairs and has professional experience with European institutions and French government ministries.
She was elected as a city council member in Rosny-sous-Bois in 2020, where she oversees initiatives on secularism (laïcité) and anti-discrimination. On May 21, 2025, she published her first book, Française, juive… et alors ? (French, Jewish… So What?), a powerful personal and political essay that addresses the alarming rise of antisemitism, the erosion of France’s universalist ideal, and the growing threat posed by the Muslim Brotherhood’s influence in French society.
Read speech
Thanks a lot Patricia for your invitation. Thanks a lot Nigel as well. I’m really happy to be here today with you all. Thank you to MEP Sabrina Repp and Antonio López-Istúriz White for their participation.
Tonight is really important to have some MEPs involved in this fight against radicalisation, extremism and antisemitism especially across Europe where we all know that the threat is quite high. And it’s always a pleasure to meet with my friend HE Imam Muhammed Tawhidi, the Imam of Peace. I’m deeply grateful for your commitment for being so brave and for telling the truth all around the world. All around the world sorry.
So I just would like all of us to thank him once again because he’s doing a wonderful job and in this time period it is really brave of him to be able to speak this way and to tell the truth. So thanks a lot for being here. So I will stick to the instruction of Patrica and I will try to be quite brief. There is definitely a link between antisemitism and radicalisation and I will tell you an experience which is coming from the ground.
Last year one month ago I was running for the European Parliament, after that I was running for the French Parliament in France, and I was facing Mathilde Panot. Mathilde Panot is the leader of La France Insoumise [LFI] the far left in France at the National Assembly. And during this political campaign which was quite brief to be honest (like only two weeks in order to try to win this area) after one week of campaign I have been attacked in the streets by some of the people who were working with Padot under shouts of “move from here dirty Zionist”. So what’s happening at that time period of course I had been put under police protection unfortunately. But what happened is that because I am Jewish – because my name is Shannon Seban – I was definitely deemed to be in support of what’s was going on in Gaza, ie in support of Benyamin Netanyahu, that I was supporting a genocide, and that I was a killer of babies.
That was basically what they told me about. So of course I decided to file a complaint. But what I am telling you about this story is not just to tell you about the story, but to bring a message that this was basically radicalisation and extremism.
In the area where I am elected in Rosny-sous-Bois in Seine-Saint-Denis 40% of the population is age less than 25 years old, and what I can see on a daily basis is that hate, radicalisation extremism are coming from ignorance. And all the groups that are now trying to radicalise and to use radicalisation – whether they are political or religious – they are playing with ignorance and especially among youth.
And what’s urgent at the moment is of course to play and to act on education and I’m really happy that you guys decided to address the topic of radicalisation and extremism through the specific topic of youth because they are the future generation – they will build the future. And what’s really urgent is of course to act on education to be very clear in order to unveil cliche and stereotype, and also to reconsider consider the commitment into politics.
We now have the feeling (and I’m telling you this from France but of course across Europe and across all around the world) that when you would like to be involved into politics you have to be extremist otherwise it doesn’t make sense. And you are kind of seen as some someone who is naive and disconnected from the reality. But of course, there is a path for peace. There is a path for tolerance.
There is a path for coexistence. There is a path in order to fight antisemitism. But also any kind of racism and discrimination in the middle. But to this we need to be brave. We need to try to make our education stronger. We need to take to take like deep measures when it comes to our legal system , and of course we are speaking about education, but we need also to be very firm and very strict when it comes to the legal systems. I can see in, I can see it in France, unfortunately, anti-Zionism is now becoming the new form of antisemitism at some point . When you deny the very right of a people to have their own territory for me is the red line – it is like the red line is crossed – and it’s a part it’s a kind of antisemitism.
And we need also to try to make our legal system all around the world to be adapted to these kinds of new threats. What’s really important to me at the end is also to support interface dialogue on my daily life, when I’m trying to fight antisemitism, I’m also I’m going in schools I’m going to give conferences and speeches. But to me the most important is this is: inter-faith dialogue. I’m Jewish, you are not, and we are always promoting peace and trying to make people understand that there are no differences between Jewish,
Muslims and Christians. To me, this is the key for peace, especially in the national and international situation that we know. I know it’s difficult and you know those who are using radicalisation in extremism in order to gain voters among a certain community – and I can see it in France – they are not clever at all. They are stupid basically. And I know it’s difficult but we need to denounce again and again. They will not win but we need to be united in this fight.
So antisemitism of course today is a nightmare, but it’s the same as any kind of racism and discrimination. And in order to bring peace we need to denounce, to punish, to prioritise education, and everything will be okay. Let’s bring hope. Thank you.
YouTube
Gülden Hennemann
Speaker
Bio
Gülden Hennemann is a political scientist specialising in extremism, radicalisation prevention, and counter-terrorism, focusing on Islamism, left- and right-wing extremism, and prison radicalisation. Born in Munich in 1980, she earned a Master’s in Political Science, Oriental Studies, Turkology, and Modern History from Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich. Since 2020, she has headed the Operational Unit Countering Extremism (OpEEx) and Central Coordination Office for Measures against Extremism (ZKE) at Nuremberg Prison in the Bavarian Prison System. From 2015 to 2020, she led similar units at the Bavarian Ministry of Justice, and from 2009 to 2015, she served as a Scientific Associate in Islamism and Foreigner’s Extremism at the Bavarian Intelligence Service, acting as a prison liaison. An advisory member of the Working Group “Political Islam” since 2019, she participated in the U.S. International Visitor Leadership Program on “Countering Violent Extremism” in 2017. Native in German and Turkish, fluent in English, with basic French, her publications appear in Hanns-Seidel-Stiftung, Forum Strafvollzug, Nomos, and opinion pieces in Euronews, WELT, FAZ, and Süddeutsche Zeitung
Read speech
Coming soon …
YouTube
Saïd Oujibou
Speaker
Bio
Saïd Oujibou is a socio-religious mediator, urban prevention consultant, and committed author. Born in Morocco and arriving in France as a child, he has been working for over 20 years to build bridges between cultural, religious, and institutional communities.
A specialist in interfaith dialogue and inclusion in sensitive environments, he assists local authorities, associations, and prevention organisations in resolving urban tensions. He also works as a trainer on issues of secularism, identity, radicalization, and coexistence. Founder of the Montalembert Institute for Ethics and Politics (IEPM), he advocates for mediation based on listening, faith, and living together.
His approach combines knowledge of the field, personal commitment, and spiritual awareness. He is also the author of the book Fier d’être Arabe et chrétien (Proud to be Arab and Christian) and depicts his journey in plays such as Liberté, Égalité, Couscous. Saïd Oujibou builds bridges between worlds that too often ignore or clash with each other.
Read speech
Good evening to everyone, good evening to everyone. I am very pleased to speak this evening on this issue of radicalisation and violent extremism.
I would simply like to say that words have much more force than violence. On November 13, 2015, I was confronted with the greatest difficulty of my life, since one of the Bataclan terrorists, Mostefay Ismail Omar, who blew himself up at the Bataclan, is a member of my family.
So I found myself at the anti-terrorist cell interrogated for two hours, since I was in mediation, not even 1000 meters from the Bataclan.
And my family was arrested for almost a week. And I had to do a lot of work on restorative justice for a year. I fundamentally, completely reject this simplistic and binary vision of radicalization, not to mention violent extremism.
To focus tonight only on a single perspective in order to simplify the excess of profoundly complex issues, we really need to talk about the why, but also the how.
There are many reasons tonight. They encompass of course a historical, political, socio-economic dimension of identity, but at the same time, they are also religious. Violent extremism stems from multiple causes.
Although dogmatic interpretations can feed it, pushing individuals towards sectarian, shouting and divisive mentalities, we must really examine, perhaps re-examine these various factors to understand the paths that lead to such a radical posture.
In France there is a deficit of history and an excess of memory. The historical events of September 11, through November 13 to… Zattaque, Hamas’ audieur on October 7.
We are showing how urgent we are. In France, integration policies and incoherent immigration have deepened feelings of abandonment.
They have aggravated social and generational bills and this exclusion, combined at the same time with socio-economic insecurity, has encouraged a withdrawal into identity.
The rejection, also exacerbated by the tensions around secularism, perceived by certain constrained municipalities, the malaise of our suburbs. Today, we have lost these territories, I would say of the Republic, the world conflicts, the Gulf War, the Western interventions, Iraq, Libya, Syran, and the eternal Israeli-Palestinian conflict, we feel this identification both political and social.
By repeating these same mistakes, without taking political responsibility, we finally reap the terrorists we deserve, when young people feel humiliated, rejected, ostracized, they are of course looking for an ideology that legitimizes their protest, and the violence against the environment that they blame for their allyship.
We often talk about it, and we attack, of course, the consequences without going into the root causes. We cannot accept the reassuring assertions today by certain political and religious authorities that Islamism has no relation to Islam.
This denial is untenable. The reality is raw. Some Qur’anic texts will be theraditic, serving as a direct justification for extremists who rely on religious references to legitimize calls for war, hatred against infidels.
The violence, sometimes perpetrated, by countries such as Wahhabism in Saudi Arabia, the Brotherhood in Egypt, whether it is Turkey, Pakistan, Afghanistan, they have actively, actively spread this Islamism, financing networks exporting radical preachers.
Organizations like Hamas, like the Muslim Brotherhood, let me tell you tonight that they don’t get their source from the fables of the fountain.
There is a bass that is ideological, there is a base, without scolding you, without shocking you, while respecting you. Some today, we are faced with a reality where some young people are mentally and psychologically raped.
They forget their conscience, they are capable of any madness, but where they get their source from. The crimes committed, in the name of Allah, are not fictitious.
Beheading, mutilation, crucifixion, and not to mention the young girls, yesidies sold as sexual booty. These atrocities, claimed as applications, have their source in a book.
How can we close, I would say, close our eyes today and repeat the same mistakes? The crucial question is, in the end, what do Muslims do to take back their religion?
Are they ready to recognize that certain texts have been ideologically instrumentalized? Are they prepared for a collective meculpas, a real, profound reform, a courageous relic of the Qur’anic texts?
We need a theological reform. The solemn appeals for peace are insufficient, I heard them this evening. We must address the problematic passages of the Qur’an, the Sonna, the Hadith, exploited to justify crimes, without discouraging theological criticism.
Islam will remain the high age of those who instrumentalize it and the texts of violence that go with it. The West, too, must end its guilty silence. Islamogogists in France do not serve the country.
There is an electoral potential in the Muslim community, just for some. We cannot forget the crimes that are perpetrated by the Islamists, nor ignore reality under the guise of superficial multiculturalism.
True reform must come from within Islam through a fearless examination of dogmas, their historical origins and their contemporary usages. The central question remains. Where do these dogmas come from? And what are they based on?
There are religious texts as an ideological basis. The answer is clear. Specific texts of the body, hadiths, Sharia, which constitute the basis for recognizing its realities and the first step to free us from violent extremism rather than finding all kinds of solutions that have not come to fruition for, I would say, a few years.
Surat 9, verse 5, the one of the thick syf, tells us verbatim, kill the politeists wherever you find them, capture the frozen and stalked ones in every ambush. The Jadis target this precisely to justify the murder of non-Muslims.
Often, ignoring its seventh-century context, there is a specific conflict. Surat 9, verse 29, fight those who do not believe in the until they pay the jeah in all humility. Use to legitimize the domination over Christians and Jews imposing a dimitule status today.
Surat 47, verse 4. When you meet those who have disbelieved, strike their blows. Extremists use this as a religious basis for beheadings. Surat 9, verse 111, Allah bought from the believers, their persons and their goods in exchange for paradise.
They fight in the way of Allah, they kill and are killed. It glorifies suicide bombers and attacks that promise a reward, let’s say, divine.
Haidid el-Bourrari. I have been ordered to fight people on what they say, that there is no God, invited to legitimize controlled war. Non-Muslim society and haidid, the last, on women.
Captive, we call it Sahih el-Muslim. The prophet is said to have approved relations with female prisoners, a reference used by Daesh to justify the sexual outburst of women, Yazidi.
There is a need for reform and a collective responsibility at the same time. These atrocities, these beheadings, crucifixions, rapes, and what the sex cow is rooted in existing texts.
The question today is no longer whether Islamism is linked to Islam. But when Muslims face these problematic passages with honesty, with truth, there must be an essential reform that truly requires a collective melaculpate, a critical and contextual reading of the Qur’an.
With hadiths and a clear distinction between spiritual faith and the violent prescriptions of the war context that dates back to the seventh century. Without this reform, Islamists will continue to brandish, pour out fear as a justification for the silent West.
People no longer fish out of fear in France, but also out of economic interest and not just out of ignorance. It’s easy to shout Islamophobia at us. Shalom to the icon. It’s all well and good to make the West feel guilty, I would say.
But at some point, we have to stop evading, we have to stop clearing our name, and we have to stop saying that it’s not the fault of the Americans, it’s not the fault of the Jews. And when the Jew is not there, it is your wife’s fault, and when it is not your wife’s fault, it is the dog’s fault.
Let’s be serious tonight. We’ve been touring for a few years now. There is no Islamic responsibility or internal questioning. Stories of victimization are enough. It leads to an endless escape. In France, being a Muslim, in France, is not enough. You have to be not in France, you have to be from France. I love France. This country taught me to read, to write, it loved me.
And some behave in France, Belgium, Europe. They would not behave in the same way in their country of origin. I’m tired of this France that writes history with an eraser. This heritage in France, he is also judo-Christian.
Integration, unlike simple integration, living side by side, we are told about living together, we are put to sleep with living together, there is also free together. It requires embracing the heritage, the history of a country,
The principles rejected to French. France, of course, has duties to its citizens, but residents also have duties to France. Benefiting without contributing is untenable in this criticism.
And it may bother some. Why exempt, why subtract, why clear Muslims? We must question this heritage, this very being, I would say, faithful to the questioning spirit of the Qur’an.
Adaptable to reason, to modern reality. The psychological roots of radicalization, intensified by social fractures, make individuals vulnerable to the hand of the population by regimes exploiting extremism for power.
Some Arab dictators say yes, work with me. It will save you from jihadism. And then, we realize how much we are being manipulated and we have been elected responsibility from somewhere. Radicalization is neither undestined, it is not inevitable tonight, it is neither a simple consequence of poverty nor of certain profiles who, supposedly, are psychologically fragile, they have not understood the same, they have understood it better than some.
It is an ideology that exploits vulnerability with specific religious texts and political strategies. Facing this truth without excuse is the first responsibility in radicalization and it will be the first fight to help polarization and help our youth who are in disarray in our neighborhoods, it is weakened. Thank you.
Thank you very much!
YouTube
Sara Alhosani
Speaker
Bio
Sara Alhosani is an Emirati author, political researcher and communications strategist specializing in digital diplomacy, narrative warfare, and the psychological dimensions of online extremism. With a background in media sciences and a deep commitment to global dialogue, she has emerged as one of the UAE’s most articulate voices in youth engagement and cross-cultural narrative building. A Zayed University graduate, she has contributed to high-level policy discussions with think tanks and diplomatic networks across the UAE and Europe.
Read speech
Thank you, Patricia and your excellency Antonio Lopez. Honorable members, esteemed guests, ladies and gentlemen, it is an honour to address you today.
I do not stand solely as a researcher or an expert in communication strategies. I speak to you as part of the generation that we are trying to protect. as a young woman who has witnessed firsthand how dangerous the digital space can be when it falls into the wrong hands. And as someone directly involved in shaping responsible media narratives, this perspective allows me to see clearly how extremist ideas spread and more importantly how they can be stopped. We face a growing global challenge.
The deliberate targeting of young people by extremist groups operating across borders. These groups use digital platforms to spread hatred, misinformation and division. And as uh his excellency Antonio also mentioned, they seek out young people who feel isolated, overlooked or frustrated and turned that frustration into hostility. I remember meeting a teenager during one of my visits. Smart, curious, but increasingly withdrawn from the world around her. She showed me her phone, a constant stream of content. Some of it is inspiring, but much of it designed to provoke anger, fear, or isolation.
Her feed did not care who she was. It did not recognize whether she was Arab or European. It did not know if she lived in Paris, Dubai, or Florida. The algorithm did not care. It just pushed what got clicks. And unfortunately, what got clicks was hate. This is exactly what I warn about in my upcoming book where I explore how social platforms manipulate attention and emotion. I introduce a concept I call fake dopamine.
The short-term emotional spikes that algorithms use to keep young people scrolling, reacting, and slowly accepted accepting distorted views of reality. If we want to build stable, resilient societies, we must start by safeguarding the minds of young people. And if we want to build a stable Brazilian society, let me briefly share how my country, the United Arab Emirates, has responded to this Fed with proactive strategy. First, the SWAB Center, a joint US UAE initiative, counters extremist narratives in real time in multiple languages. Its campaigns have reached over 15 million engagements, promoting tolerance and coexistence rooted in the UAE’s national values.
Second, we have the Haya Center. Through its international training program, it has equipped over 14,000 experts from more than 100 countries. These practitioners are trained to recognize early signs of extremism in schools, communities, and digital spaces. And through my own work at R11 AI, I lead a program focused on monitoring radical trends using AI technology because we cannot deny that AI plays a defining role in shaping what people see, believe, and act on. In Europe, the challenge takes a different shape. Some extremist voices operate with legal boundaries, presenting themselves as activism or free speech.
Meanwhile, many young people feel disconnected from the institutions that once gave them a sense of identity. When they go online looking for answers, they often find simplified angry messages and not real solutions. This is where action is urgently needed not just from governments but across education, civil society and media. So how can Europe respond to this effectively? I offer three strategic solutions.
First, develop unified messaging platforms across member states. We must deliver clear fact-based values driven content not only during crisis but as part of long-term engagement with the youth. Second, integrate digital literacy into education systems. Young people must be taught to question what they see online to recognize manipulation and to build respectful dialogue.
And third, support youth led initiatives, which in my view is the most important. Young people trust each other uh more than they trust institutions. Give them the space to lead and support them with tools and trust. In the UAE, youth councils offer real platforms for dialogue, education, and leadership. They’ve proven effective in building informed, resilient young minds. This challenge will not be solved by policy alone. It requires consistency. It requires collaboration. It requires care. Digital platforms are not the enemy, but silence is. And if we leave a vacuum, others will fill it. And unfortunately, they are good at that.
As Audrey Azouli, director general of UNESCO, once said, when young people are given the chance to learn, to speak, to create, they do not choose violence. They choose hope. And that is the responsibility that we all share because this is not a regional issue. It is a borderless challenge. One that requires more than shared policies. It demands shared values. In every digital space, in every classroom, we are either building resilience or leaving the door open to radicalization.
So I leave you in one with one question. Who do we want shaping the minds of our next generation? Thank you very much.
YouTube
Erik Van Den Berghe
Speaker
Bio
Erik Van Den Berghe is a Brussels native dedicated to education, public service, and fostering understanding across cultures. A father of two, he holds a master’s degree in religious sciences from KU Leuven and is pursuing research in Political Sciences at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel. As a teacher of ‘Project Religion, Ethics and Cultural Diversity’ Erik inspires students to explore the role of faith in society, through the lens of critical thinking. Beyond the classroom, he gives conferences on Islam and religious co-existence, promoting dialogue and mutual respect. Serving as President of the council of Ganshoren, Erik combines his academic insights with practical leadership to build an inclusive and harmonious community.
Read speech
Good evening, honourable members, distinguished guests.
I am Erik Van Den Berghe, an educator and local politician from Brussels, shaped on the vibrant streets of Molenbeek. As a child, I played football with Jewish, Muslim, Christian, and atheist friends, bound by laughter, not by labels. My grandmother’s Judaism, my father’s Christianity, and the hospitality I found in the homes of my Muslim friends gave me a deep connection to all three Abrahamic faiths and to the power of our shared humanity.
Today, I draw on these roots to confront a pressing challenge: the radicalisation of Europe’s youth.
Freedom of identity
Polarisation fractures our communities, radicalisation fuels hatred, and extremism turns toxic ideas into violent acts. We must act before such division destroys us.
Freedom of speech is the cornerstone of European democracy. But let us be clear: incitement to violence or hatred has no place within it.
We should not teach our youth to erase themselves in the name of harmony. Instead, we must encourage them to search, to question, to embrace their identity and to grow into individuals who can stand tall in a society that values both unity and difference.
The goal is not sameness. The goal is mutual respect: a world where I can honour who you are without losing who I am. Teaching our democratic values means teaching equality between men and women, freedom of religion, freedom of political opinion, etcetera.
What I have seen in Brussels
In Brussels, I have seen young people flirt with extremist ideologies, from rigid interpretations of faith to anti-democratic rhetoric. One young man, eyes blazing with defiance, told me: “Sir, democracy is just a Western trick.”
I did not silence him. I invited him to debate, to question, to listen. Months later, he led an interfaith project, bringing pupils together to discuss their shared values.
What transformed him? Not punishment or investigation, but dialogue, trust, and education.
Across Europe, I hear similar cries from young people searching for identity. By engaging them, we guide them toward inclusion, not division.
My approach to countering radicalisation
My approach rests on two pillars: critical thinking and ethics.
First, I teach pupils to think critically. They analyse extremist propaganda—videos, posts, slogans—learning to uncover the flaws in its logic. This empowers them to resist indoctrination and to engage constructively in diverse societies. In doing so, we foster informed, resilient citizens who uphold Europe’s values of freedom, tolerance, and mutual respect.
Second, I teach ethics: the conviction that responsibility begins with recognising the humanity of others—whether Muslim, Jewish, Christian, atheist, Hindu, Buddhist, Sikh, etcetera. Every encounter becomes a lesson in dignity.
But to scale this, we need teachers trained to foster these skills, embedding critical thinking and ethical dialogue in every classroom.
At the crossroads
Europe stands at a crossroads: fear or courage.
We must build schools where pupils discover purpose, develop moral compasses, and contribute to a shared European identity. An identity that thrives on our multi-ethnic, multi-religious, and multi-linguistic diversity, but only if we nurture dialogue.
Radicalism that rejects Europe’s openness and inclusivity breeds polarisation, not progress. To counter it, we need:
- Schools that prioritise dialogue over rote learning, creating spaces for difficult conversations that challenge misinformation and prejudice.
- Teachers equipped not to avoid conflict, but to navigate it—trained to recognise and address radicalisation early.
- Curricula enriched with philosophy, ethics, and cultural literacy, helping pupils understand themselves and others.
- Intercultural exchanges that broaden perspectives and build empathy.
These are not luxuries. They are necessities. Without them, we risk losing our youth to division.
Closing
Let me close with a story. A quiet girl in my class, her hijab framing a shy smile, once whispered: “Sir, on the street, people look at me like I don’t belong.”
I asked: “Do you feel you belong here?”
She nodded: “In this classroom, yes.”
That is where de-radicalisation begins: in relationships, in recognition, in dignity.
Honourable members, I appeal to you, those with the power to shape Europe’s schools and policies: invest in our youth. Invest in dialogue that empowers critical minds. Invest in education that builds a diverse, democratic Europe.
Our young people are ready to lead. Let us equip them with the means to do so.
Thank you.
YouTube
Mohamad Wehbe
Speaker
Bio
Mohamad Wehbe, 26, is of Palestinian descent and was born in a refugee camp in Lebanon. He immigrated to Belgium with his parents, where they built a new life and embraced opportunities to thrive as free citizens. Wehbe studied Islamic Studies and Arabic at KU Leuven. During his secondary education in Brussels, he delivered mini-conferences on the Palestinian-Israel conflict. Following the Islamist attacks in Belgium, he enlisted as a reserve soldier in the Belgian army. He now conducts conferences on de-radicalisation and critical thinking in schools and at PXL University College in Hasselt. Appointed by the Belgian bishops as a member of ROMC (Relatieopbouw Moslims en Christenen—Relationship Building between Muslims and Christians), he considers this role an honour.
Read speech
Honourable Chair, distinguished colleagues,
It is an honour to present to you today a method I use in education to foster dialogue on sensitive issues such as the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. My aim is not only to convey knowledge, but above all to create a safe environment where students learn to think critically, listen respectfully, and engage constructively with one another.
Today, I would like to present a method I use to engage students in dialogue about the conflict between Israel and Palestine. This approach is not only about transferring knowledge but, above all, about creating a safe space in which students learn to think, listen, and reflect.
I always begin by providing historical context. Students need a basic foundation of information in order to follow the discussion. We then briefly address the internal challenges of both countries, to make it clear that no conflict is ever purely black and white. Next, I introduce religious and moral perspectives. I draw on the Islamic tradition – with an emphasis on love and peace – and discuss a timeline of prophets and messengers as a framework for connection. I then link current events to this as metaphorical examples, helping students understand the close connection between history and the present.
A key element in this process is that students are given the floor themselves. They bring in their own sources – texts, images, videos – which we analyze together. This allows them to develop a critical approach to information and to distinguish between those who merely repeat opinions and those who think independently. We also discuss sources of hatred, so that students become aware of how opinions and emotions can be influenced.
At the end of each discussion, I provide a moment of self-reflection. Students reflect on what they have learned, and I also evaluate whether I have sufficiently dared to address sensitive topics. Collaboration with colleagues plays an important role here: it demonstrates that adults support one another and provide a shared example. In addition, I emphasize that dialogue is not only about rights but also about responsibilities. I encourage students to understand that multiple perspectives can be valid, as long as they are treated with respect. Building trust is essential: by supporting students in what matters to them, they feel heard and acknowledged.
In practice, I often work with small groups to ensure that weaker students remain engaged. Outside of dialogue sessions, I provide support with schoolwork and involve parents in conversations. In this way, teachers and parents together contribute to shaping the students’ future.
Finally, during these sessions, I pose questions that stimulate reflection. The goal is not only listening, but active thinking. I emphasize that mistakes do not always lie solely with others; we must also look at ourselves. After discussing smaller topics, we move on to more complex issues, where groups collaborate and present their insights to one another. This fosters genuine, open conversation.
In short, my conviction is that dialogue not only enhances knowledge but also fosters respect, critical thinking, and connectedness. When teachers and students share a belief in positive values, we can gradually build towards a better future.
YouTube
In the media
Quotes
