(Euronews) The European Commission has countered criticism from far-right political groups for allocating EU research funds over the past years on projects focused on subject matters like Islam, the Qur’an, Sharia, and Islamophobia.
The controversy began after Italian hard-right MEP Silvia Sardone questioned the value of the projects, describing them as “studies of questionable utility, all focused on Islam,” and demanding that the Commission justify the use of public funds.
Similar concerns were raised by French far-right MEP Jean-Paul Garraud. Both lawmakers, who sit in the Patriots for Europe group in the European Parliament, suggested the projects unfairly promoted Islam or exaggerated the existence of Islamophobia in Europe.
