Source: European Parliament
Priority question for written answer P-001946/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Silvia Sardone (PfE)
As many newspapers[1][2] have pointed out, the European Research Council has allocated around EUR 17 million to projects relating to Islam, the Qur’an, Sharia and Islamophobia. Among the various studies on Islamophobia, I would mention ‘Nativism, Islamophobia and Islamism in the Age of Populism’ (Istanbul University), ‘Understanding the Past to Address Present-Day Islamophobia’ (La Sapienza University of Rome), and ‘Avenues to the inclusion of Muslims in democracies’ (Bergen University). I would also like to mention the projects ‘Mapping the evolution of Sharia law, from revealed law to legal system’ (CNRS France), ‘Animals in Islamic philosophy’ (University of Munich), ‘Beyond Sharia law: the role of Sufism in the creation of Islam’ (University of Utrecht), ‘Beyond Sharia law: the role of Sufism in the creation of Islam’ (University of Erfurt). There are numerous studies linked to research initiatives that promote Islam in a positive light and, in a questionable manner, fuel the idea that there is an Islamophobia emergency in Europe.
Can the Commission therefore say:
- 1.How does it justify the substantial disbursement of public funds for studies, of questionable utility, all focused on Islam?
- 2.Have the risks of involvement by entities or associations linked to radical Islamist ideologies been assessed?
- 3.How are these research projects chosen and on what basis is funding approved?
Submitted: 14.5.2025