FEMYSO (Forum of European Muslim Youth and Student Organisations) is a group representing 32 Muslim youth organizations across 22 European countries. FEMYSO is a member of the European Students' Union, which considers it the de facto voice of Muslim youth in Europe.
Smear campaign
FEMYSO has been the target of a smear campaign, aimed at linking the group with the Muslim Brotherhood. FEMYSO has categorically denied any such links. In 2023 it was revealed that the campaign, commissioned and financed by the United Arab Emirates, was orchestrated by a Swiss company named "Alp Services" specializing in "dark PR", damaging and often destroying the reputation of hundreds of prominent European Muslims by spreading baseless rumours.
Baden-Württemberg Constitution Protection Report 2022
On June 22, 2023, Interior Minister Thomas Strobl, together with the President of the State Office for the Protection of the Constitution, Beate Bube, presented the Baden-Württemberg Constitution Protection Report 2022.
This report highlights the link between FEMYSO and the Muslim Brotherhood:
The umbrella organization for the youth work of the Muslim Brotherhood (MB) is the "Forum of European Muslim Youth and Student Organizations" (FEMYSO) in Brussels, which operates in close cooperation with national Muslim student and youth associations, serving as a broad talent pool for the European MB. However, most members of such organizations are likely unaware of the personnel connections with the MB.
References
- Joseph Hammond (8 November 2021). "European diversity campaign celebrating Hijab ended after French backlash". Religion News Service. Retrieved 7 July 2023.
- "Forum of European Muslim Youth and Student Organisations". European Students' Union. Retrieved 7 July 2023.
- "FEMYSO responds to false allegations on links to Muslim Brotherhood". FEMYSO. 8 March 2019. Retrieved 7 July 2023.
- David D. Kirkpatrick (March 27, 2023). "The Dirty Secrets of a Smear Campaign". The New Yorker. Retrieved July 7, 2023.
- Wilmer Heck and Andreas Kouwenhoven (July 7, 2023). "Dit schimmige bedrijf vernietigde reputaties van Europese moslims" [This shadowy company destroyed the reputations of European Muslims]. NRC Handelsblad (in Dutch). Retrieved July 7, 2023.
- "Innenminister Thomas Strobl und Präsidentin Beate Bube stellen Verfassungsschutzbericht 2022 vor" [Interior Minister Thomas Strobl and President Beate Bube present the Constitution Protection Report 2022]. Verfassungsschutz Baden-Würtemberg (in German). June 22, 2023. Retrieved July 14, 2023.