BQ 822 – 02/2025
Political Islam as Hybrid Actor in Europe

8. January 2025

Christine Schirrmacher speaks at the International Security Forum Bonn

(Bonn, 08.0.2025) Prof. Dr. Christine Schirrmacher, an expert in Islamic Studies, spoke at the International Security Forum Bonn of the Henry Kissinger Professorship for Strategic and Integration Studies at the Center for Advanced Security, Strategic and Integration Studies (CASSIS), which was held in cooperation with the Aca­demy of International Affairs NRW at the University Forum Bonn. The topic of the full-day event was “Political Islam as Hybrid Actor in Europe – activities, means and strategies”.

During the event © Evelyn Bokler-Völkel

Schirrmacher emphasized that the topic of Islamism is by no means limited to the violent spectrum of Islamic extremism, which is usually at the forefront of public perception. Rather, it is also important to shed light on the area that security authorities refer to as “legalistic Islamism”. She says it refers to the political ideology of those who, with reference to the “original” Islam of Muhammad, want to restore this original Islamic society, reject Western societies and their civil rights, and consider Sharia law to be indispensable for building a just society. This political Islam uses the means of democracy to ultimately abolish democracy.

For many years, the International Security Forum Bonn has served as a platform for renowned international experts and specialists in security and foreign policy to come together to discuss the future of transatlantic relations and the most pressing challenges in international politics. The aim is to identify ways and means for a successful German, European and transatlantic foreign and security policy and to develop and discuss comprehensive strategic solutions for pressing security challenges.

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