The European Muslims League establishes a new unit to monitor Islamophobia, disinformation and the manipulation of sources concerning Islam
The European Muslims League (EML) announces the launch of EML Islamophobia Watch – European Monitoring & Response Unit, a new initiative dedicated to monitoring narratives about Islam and Muslims circulating through the media, websites, blogs and social networks.
Information about Islam now spreads increasingly rapidly across the public and digital spheres, reaching millions of people. Alongside accurate information and legitimate exchanges of ideas, however, inaccurate quotations, manipulated news, generalisations and interpretations presented as facts also circulate.
A verse attributed to the Qur’an that does not actually exist in the Qur’an. A hadith — a narration reporting words, actions or teachings attributed to the Prophet Muhammad — used without verifying its authenticity and context. The actions of one individual transformed into a representation of millions of Muslims. A news story that, through successive reposts and reinterpretations, becomes something very different from the original facts.
This is where EML Islamophobia Watch will intervene.
Monitor. Verify. Document. Respond.
The new unit will monitor media and digital platforms, identifying cases that warrant further examination.
When the Qur’an or the Sunnah — the body of Prophetic tradition which, together with the Qur’an, constitutes a fundamental reference in Islam — are cited, the text, authenticity, translation and context will be verified.
When data, statements or historical accounts are presented, the relevant sources will be researched and compared.
If a statement is correct, we will acknowledge it.
If it is false or manipulated, we will show the sources.
We do not intend to replace one form of propaganda with another.
We intend to counter disinformation through knowledge, culture and documentation.
Freedom and responsibility
EML Islamophobia Watch is not being created to compile lists of enemies of Islam, nor to restrict freedom of expression.
Dialogue, including between differing positions, belongs to an open society. But freedom of expression is strengthened when it is grounded in knowledge of the facts and respect for the truth.
We will respond to words with words, to claims with documentation, and to falsifications with verifiable sources.
With the same clarity, EML will continue to oppose those who use Islam to justify extremism, terrorism, religious hatred or the rejection of peaceful coexistence.
Credibility requires consistency.
A commitment that continues in the digital sphere
The European Muslims League has been working since 2010 to promote intercultural and interreligious dialogue and to prevent conflicts.
Today, this commitment is being extended more strongly into the digital sphere, where stereotypes, disinformation and the manipulation of sources can cross languages and national borders within hours.
Islamophobia is not solely a Muslim issue.
When false information and generalisations target a religious community, what is also at stake is the quality of information, social cohesion and the ability of our societies to understand one another without fear.
For this reason, EML Islamophobia Watch will be open to cooperation with institutions, universities, researchers, journalists, religious organisations and civil society, Muslim and non-Muslim alike.
Millions of Muslims are an integral part of European societies.
Asking that they not be represented through falsifications does not mean shielding Islam from public debate.
It means asking for something much simpler:
that the debate begins with facts.
From today, the European Muslims League strengthens its commitment in the digital sphere.
We will monitor. We will verify. We will document. We will respond.
Not with hatred.
With sources.
European Muslims League – EML
EML Islamophobia Watch – European Monitoring & Response Unit
We counter ideas with ideas.
