Seminar "European Muslims facing radicalisation and the challenge of de-radicalisation" in the EP in Brussels. Statements by Antonio TAJANI (EPP, IT), EP Vice-President, Tokia SA&Iuml;FI (EPP, FR) and Malika HAMIDI, European Muslim Network, Director General.

Brussels

TAJANI, Antonio (EPP, IT)

speech

seminar

fight against radicalization (T)

SAÏFI, Tokia (EPP, FR)

Seminar "European Muslims facing radicalisation and the challenge of de-radicalisation": extracts from the opening speech by Antonio TAJANI (EPP, IT), EP Vice-President

Arrivals and atmosphere at the meeting (4 shots)

SOUNDBITE (Italian), Antonio TAJANI (EPP, IT), EP Vice-President, Being a Muslim means belonging to a religion that asks all its followers to respect one another, to respect others. The ISIS criminals are hi-jacking our religion. Their main aim is in fact Muslims. These were the words of King Abdullah II.

SOUNDBITE (Italian), Antonio TAJANI (EPP, IT), EP Vice-President, Islamic terrorism is something that we are familiar with it is not a new phenomenon. First of all, before ISIS and DAESH we had Al Qaeda, and now all sorts of acronyms, groups, factions, infighting, at war against Europe. Many of these terrorists were born here in European housing estates, not always the most run down and not necessarily the poorest. However we have to be bold enough to also tackle the most deprived neighbourhoods in cities where terrorists can exploit the vulnerability of young people there.

SOUNDBITE (Italian), Antonio TAJANI (EPP, IT), EP Vice-President, Our objective today is to open up a platform to muslim communities in Europe to talk to one another and talk to the EU institutions. As to the best way to tackle this scourge of radicalisation, repeating strongly that islamist terrorism has nothing to do with the peaceful basis of the islamic religion. Anyone shooting in the name of God is actually shooting against God.

SOUNDBITE (French), Tokia SA&#207;FI (EPP, FR), The first combat,against radicalisation is to is for those who are close to the victims, close to young people to prevent indoctrination. This is why it is appropriate to reflect further on the role of women in this combat. By being women and mothers, they are first to recognize and first affect these events and it is therefore extremely important to raise more awareness among women about this topic.

SOUNDBITE (French), Malika HAMIDI, European Muslim Network, Director General, We can really see nowadays that it is becoming much more common for women to be involved in combatting extremist violence, this was something which was a very masculine role to date. We see the presence of women which is changing the image of muslim women. It is changing very much the way Western people are looking at muslim women, because we're viewing muslim women no longer as victims of terrorism, instead of being seen as motors for change.