Today's fourth episode of our series on blasphemy will focus on the worldwide protests against the Danish cartoons of the Muslim Prophet, also known as the case of Jyllands-Posten. Lucinda speaks with author of The Cartoons that Shook the World,  Dr. Jytte Klausen, who will be able to offer a distinct perspective and unique insight into her experience of freedom of expression. Together they explore her book in more detail and discuss the parallels between the current trend of Quran burnings in Denmark and the Jyllands-Posten affair from 2005. Dr. Jytte Klausen is the Lawrence A. Wien Pro ..read more

Today's third episode of our series on blasphemy will focus on the Quran burning incidents that have occurred in Scandinavia recently. Lucinda speaks with distinguished counterterrorism expert Dr. Magnus Ranstorp to try to understand the reactions as well as the political and social impact the incidents have had thus far.  Magnus has been researching counterterrorism and CVE issues for almost thirty years. He was the first author to seriously map out the Lebanese Hizbollah movement and its connection to international terrorism and relationship with Iran and Syria. Currently, he is the Re ..read more

Today's second episode of Fighting Terror's new series will shed light on the concept of blasphemy in Islamic theology and its significance within the religion. Lucinda speaks with Professor Jocelyne Cesari who will offer insights into the concept of blasphemy and its historical roots and how some Islamist extremist groups use blasphemy to further their agendas and mobilise followers, as well as the implications for societal cohesion.  Professor Jocelyne Cesari holds the Chair of Religion and Politics at the University of Birmingham (UK) and is a Senior Fellow at the Berkley Center for Re ..read more

What is blasphemy and blasmphemy violence and what drives violence against perceived blasmphemers? Who are the main victims and perpetrators of blasmphemy violence? How did the Salman Rushdie affair shape perceptions and discussions around blasphemy in the Western world and are there risks associated with curtailing freedom of expression? The first episode of Fighting Terror’s new series on blasphemy will aim to provide our listeners with a deeper understanding of free speech and blasphemy affairs in Western Europe. Lucinda speaks with Liam Duffy, Strategic Advisor to CEP and together they di ..read more

In today's final episode of CEP’s Eye on Antisemitism, Lucinda turns to the EU and looks at what they are currently doing to combat antisemitism. She speaks with Katharina von Schnurbein who is the European Commission Coordinator for the EU strategy on combatting antisemitism and fostering Jewish life. Katharina was appointed the first European Commission Coordinator on combating antisemitism in December 2015. Her mandate includes liaising closely with the Jewish community on behalf of the European Commission, proposing and implementing European Commission policy to prevent and fight antisemi ..read more

Today marks the two-year anniversary of the Taliban takeover and the fall of Kabul. In this episode, Lucinda and CEP Senior Director Hans-Jakob Schindler discuss the past, present and future of Afghanistan, the Taliban takeover, women's rights, and EU recommendations. From 2001 until 2005, Hans headed the federal government of Germany's team investigating al-Qaida in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Central Asia. Between 2005 and 2011, Hans held the position of First Secretary Political Affairs and Liaison to the Security Forces at the German Embassy in Tehran. Acting as a special advisor to the amb ..read more

What are some of the key factors contributing to the rise of antisemitism in France? How is the dynamic between the Jewish and Muslim communities in Toulouse, and what efforts have been made to address and bridge these divides? Why are Jews leaving France and does that have an impact on the Jewish community and the broader society? In today’s fifth episode of CEP’s Eye on Antisemitism series, Lucinda explores the resurgence of antisemitism in France with Deputy Mayor Nicole Yardeni from Toulouse. Nicole's previous position as President of the Representative Council of Jewish Institutions of Fr ..read more

In today's fourth episode of CEP's Eye on Antisemitism series, Lucinda speaks with Fiyaz Mughal about antisemitism among native-born immigrant communities in the United Kingdom. They discuss Fiyaz's work in the field of preventing extremism and working towards racial equality and Fiyaz shares his expert insights into how to create meaningful connections between Muslim and Jewish communities. Fiyaz is the founder of Faith Matters and Tell MAMA (Measuring Anti-Muslim Attacks), focusing on social cohesion and work on anti-extremism projects.  Working on faith related issues in the two organ ..read more

In today’s third episode of CEP’s new series Eye on Antisemitism, Lucinda will delve into how antisemitism manifests among right-wing extremists in Germany with guest Marina Chernivsky. How does the growth of right-wing political movements in Germany influence the prevalence of antisemitic sentiments? Are there any connections between antisemitism and broader issues like nationalism, xenophobia, or Islamophobia? What kind of support or resources do mental health professionals need to effectively combat antisemitism? Marina is the initiator and director of the Competence Center for Prevention ..read more

In today's second episode of the Eye on Antisemitism, Lucinda delves into the complex issue of antisemitism among the left-wing extremists in the United Kingdom (UK), specifically looking at the UK political landscape. How has the Labour Party, which is historically associated with left-wing politics in the UK, addressed or failed to address the issue of left-wing antisemitism within its ranks? And how does it affect Jewish communities, both in terms of their safety and sense of belonging? What steps can be taken to effectively combat and counter left-wing antisemitism in the UK? Lucinda speak ..read more