Horrified by the attacks, the European Grassroots Antiracist Movement – EGAM calls for us to face up to the war against democracy declared by Islamism.

Paris, Saturday the 14^th November

The European Grassroots Antiracist Movement – EGAM is profoundly horrified by the abominable terrorist attacks, which took place on the evening of this Friday the 13^th November in Saint Denis and Paris, where EGAM has its European seat, a few meters from some of the attacks.

From all around Europe we express our deepest sorrow and offer our condolences and our support to those close to the victims. Our thoughts also go to those injured, particularly those fighting for their lives at this very moment, and to their friends and family.
We offer our condolences and our total support to the mourning French nation and their authorities at the testing time.

The European Grassroots Antiracist Movement – EGAM is taking part, with the whole of Europe, in the three days of national mourning announced by the President of the French Republic.

Once again, France has been the target of islamist terrorism. France and Europe are at war. A war declared by Daech, by Islamism. A war against the fundamental values of democracy; a war which attacks the foundations of our societies.

After the freedom of thought, the forces of order and the Jews in January, Islamism has targeted youth, culture and sport : Places for meeting, exchange, mixing, debate, pleasure and happiness.
Among those injured or worse, many, most of them young, are supporters of the movement.

Faced with the hatred of which we are the target, with the war declared against our country, against our values, the response must be firm and without concession.

Our response must focus on security and allow, within the limits of the law, to neutralise terrorist individuals and organisations, destroy networks, stop them recruiting, arming themselves, and acting.

We must be firm in order to reinforce our democracy, which is being attacked by the terrorists. We must not let ourselves be tricked by ethnic, religious or national divisions, by Islamism, which finds in nationalism an ally in their effort to thrust our country and our continent into a “European civil war” – a European “clash of civilisations”.

The confrontation which has to be led is that against Islamism, terrorists and their supporters, with the goal of upholding democracy and its values, which are under attack.
The European Grassroots Antiracist Movement will continue its combat with new energy all over the continent, especially in France, through various actions in the weeks and months to come.

Benjamin Abtan
President of the European Grassroots Antiracist Movement – EGAM