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Granada Hosts the HATEDEMICS Final Conference: A European Response to Online Hate and Disinformation

The Faculty of Political Science and Sociology at the University of Granada hosted the final conference of the European project Hatedemics last Thursday, March 26. After two years of international cooperation, the event served to present technological tools and innovative pedagogical strategies designed to shield democratic societies against the growing threat of harmful online content.

The inaugural session—moderated by Sara Afendi, project coordinator at ALDA—highlighted Granada’s role as a bridge for dialogue. Antonio Sánchez Ortega, Executive Secretary of the Euro-Arab Foundation, emphasized the project’s relevance for social cohesion:

“One of the main dangers to democracy is the hatred of speech and disinformation. This project is fully aligned with our goals of fostering collaboration between the two shores of the Mediterranean, the European world, and the Arab world,” stated Sánchez Ortega, who further stressed that Hatedemics is, above all, “a tool for democratic defense that connects research with public action.”

Along the same lines, the Vice Dean of the Faculty, Guadalupe Martínez Fuentes, warned that affective polarization is the ideal breeding ground for hate, while Antonella Valmorbida, Secretary General of ALDA (European Association for Local Democracy), described the current digital landscape as a “perfect storm” eroding the foundations of institutional trust.

The session featured a special intervention by Martin Sacleux (via online), Policy Officer at the European Commission (DG Justice), who reaffirmed the Union’s support through the CERV program (Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values): “Regulation is not enough; success depends on empowering civil society with practical tools and training like those we are presenting today.”

From the Lab to Social Action

One of the key moments was the panel “The Hatedemics Trajectory: From Research to Action,” moderated by the Director of Public Research at the CENTRA Foundation, Tristán Pertíñez Blasco. In this space, experts such as Javier Ruipérez Canales (Director of Research and International Projects at the Euro-Arab Foundation and Director of Strategic Communication at the European Commission’s EU Knowledge Hub), Marco Guerini (Fondazione Bruno Kessler and project coordinator), and Arije Antinori (Sapienza Università di Roma) debated the need to adapt social research methodologies to the breakneck pace of the digital ecosystem. The speakers agreed that online polarization and social reality are communicating vessels that require coordinated responses.

Another strategic axis of the day was the debate on “Building a Safer Digital Public Sphere,” a panel that analyzed global challenges in network security and extremism prevention. The panel included international leading voices such as Zahed Amanullah from the Institute for Strategic Dialogue (ISD), Andrew Staniforth from SAHER (Europe), Lucía Alonso, researcher at the Euro-Arab Foundation, and Francesca Capoccia from FACTA.

The speakers agreed that digital security is not just a technological challenge, but a democratic imperative. During the session, it was emphasized that, given the sophistication of hate campaigns, it is essential to strengthen civil society resilience, protect the work of journalists, and provide institutions with rapid response capabilities that protect fundamental rights without compromising freedom of expression.

The final conference also focused on the presentation of the Hatedemics Platform, an AI-based solution designed to detect and neutralize hate narratives. The unveiling of this tool—currently in the pilot phase—featured Eladia Illescas, Deputy Director of Research and Knowledge Transfer at CENTRA, alongside European partners such as Maryna Manchenko (CESIE), Jan Dąbkowski (CEO), Racheal Scicluna (SOS MALTA), Helena Bonaldi (FBK), and Vivian Rangel (Maldita.es), moderated by José Luis Salido Medina (Euro-Arab Foundation).

A Consortium of European Impact

The day concluded with a recognition of the efforts of the consortium led by Fondazione Bruno Kessler, which includes key partners such as the Euro-Arab Foundation for Higher Studies, the Center for Andalusian Studies (CENTRA), Maldita.es, ALDA, and various organizations from Poland, Italy, and Malta.

The conclusion of Hatedemics in Granada does not mark an end, but rather the beginning of a new stage of collaboration to integrate new voices and perspectives in the defense of a safer and more resilient digital public sphere.

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Inclusive Digital Repository by VicTory to Centralise Knowledge on Support for Victims of Hate Crimes and Extremism

The consortium of the European project VicTory, coordinated by the Euro-Arab Foundation for Higher Studies in Granada, has launched its Information Repository (information-repository.victoryproject.eu) on its website to support victims of hate crimes and extremism. This digital platform was created with the mission of becoming a leading resource library in Europe for the protection and support of victims of violent extremism and hate crimes.

The repository is a key infrastructure for facilitating victims’ rapid access to specialized contact points and support services, as well as ensuring that the knowledge generated during the project is easily accessible to legal professionals, law enforcement agencies, academics, and third-sector organizations across Europe. The platform has been designed to provide a smooth user experience, allowing users to filter information by country, types of crime, and professional profiles.

Among the core contents of this repository are an up-to-date compilation of legal frameworks and case law on victims’ rights at both European and national levels, as well as best-practice guides featuring examples of successful interventions in restorative justice and psychosocial support. The platform also provides direct access to specialized training materials, including the technical manual Manual of Best Practices and Promising Practices (in English) and informational flyers specifically designed to guide the work of justice professionals and social sector workers.

The VicTory project, funded by the European Commission’s Justice Programme, recognizes that mitigating violent extremism necessarily requires proper support for its victims. The repository not only documents the past, but also offers tools for prevention and awareness-raising to help avoid the escalation of violence and to protect social cohesion in vulnerable communities.

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News Projects SHIELDed EN

Women from Diverse Faiths advocate Feminism as a Transformative Axis of Belief at the Euro-Arab Foundation

The Euro-Arab Foundation in Granada held, on March 17, the participatory roundtable “Faith and Feminism: Interreligious Dialogues among Women.” The event, organized by the Euro-Arab’s Chair of Gender Studies under the SHIELDed project, brought together nine experts and leading figures from various spiritual traditions to discuss identity, power, and women’s resistance within spaces of faith.

Introduced by Euro-Arab researcher Rascha Albaba Acosta and moderated by the institution’s project coordinator, José Luis Salido, the event was structured around three cross-cutting themes: intergenerational dialogue, feminist reinterpretations of religion, and the building of alliances in the public sphere.

The right to spirituality and autonomy

During the session, the speakers agreed that faith and feminism are not only compatible, but that their union is a tool for empowerment. Shankari Shaktini, a lecturer in Vedic philosophy, was unequivocal: “Spirituality is mine; if I want to belong to another religion, it is my freedom as an individual,” also denouncing how institutionalized dogma has historically stigmatized the feminine.

For her part, young Christian activist Valentina Pérez Cerezo (Mag+s and Women’s Revolt in the Church) highlighted the internal diversity of Catholicism and the struggle to overcome the “secondary role” to which women are relegated: “We are still Christian and feminist.”

Re-reading texts to reclaim dignity

One of the central points of the debate was the distinction between the original spiritual message and later patriarchal interpretations. Zoraida Alí Morell, a graduate in Philosophy, recalled that “the first believers were women” and that sacred texts, in their essence, dignify the female figure. In this vein, Paloma Medina and Rowan Aly emphasized that the problem lies not in the texts themselves, but in biased readings that reinforce male power structures.

From the perspective of Islam in Europe, lawyer Omayma Boughlala offered a critical reflection on the paternalism of certain sectors of Western feminism: “There are feminists who do not include me because they think I have no voice. How can I participate if it is assumed that I need to be ‘liberated’?”—thus asserting the autonomy of Muslim women to decide on their own symbols and practices.

Education against extremism

The event concluded with a call for religious literacy as an antidote to hatred and exclusion. Susana Lorente, from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, stated that “knowledge is freedom” and proposed integrating religious diversity into educational curricula. Lola Parras Chica (Tibetan Buddhism) and Medha Tyagi (Vedic tradition) stressed the need to unlearn patriarchal models and restore women’s central role in the transmission of values.

The meeting closed with a shared commitment: the need for women not only to practice their faith, but to become its interpreters and creators of inclusive spaces, transforming religion into a tool for social justice. Read the full post on our blog dedicated to this event.

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News PARTES-COM EN

Free Training for Leaders of Religious Communities on Security and Incident Prevention in Granada (Spain)

Participation in the training is free of charge, although places are limited. Interested individuals can register through the following form:
https://forms.gle/Z11YACeySvFV2RxT8

The Euro-Arab Foundation for Higher Studies will hold a free training session on 16 April at its headquarters in Granada (C/ San Jerónimo, 27). The session is aimed at leaders of religious communities and will focus on preventive security and incident management. The activity is organised within the framework of the European project PARTESS-COM and is open to representatives of all religious denominations.

The training will be delivered by the specialized organization Enhancing Faith Institutions, which has extensive experience in training on community security and the protection of religious institutions. The event will be conducted in English and Spanish, with simultaneous interpretation to facilitate the participation of all attendees.

During the session, participants will address several key aspects related to the security of places of worship and community centers, including:

  • Concepts of preventive security
  • Development of crisis communication plans
  • Basic vulnerability assessment
  • Practical application of security resources
  • Reporting security incidents through a new digital platform
  • Exchange of good practices among religious communities

The objective of this session is to strengthen prevention and response capacities regarding security incidents, while also fostering cooperation between religious leaders, local communities, and security specialists.

The PARTESS-COM project (“Participatory Approaches to Protect Places of Worship, Schools and Community Centres”), in which the Euro-Arab Foundation participates, works to prevent hatred, extremism, and terrorism by collecting good practices in preventive, protective, and reactive security. It also promotes the training of community representatives and law enforcement officers in their practical application.

As part of this initiative, the project has developed a European digital platform that brings together security resources, facilitates exchanges among religious leaders from different countries, and enables citizens to report security-related incidents in places of worship.

Participation in the training is free of charge, although places are limited. Interested individuals can register through the following form:


https://forms.gle/Z11YACeySvFV2RxT8

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EUKH EN News Projects RADICALIZACION EN

New Yearbook on Jihadist Terrorism: A Key Analysis of the Global Threat’s Evolution

On February 27, the Euro-Arab Foundation for Higher Studies participated in the presentation of the Jihadist Terrorism Yearbook 2025, a benchmark publication edited by the International Observatory for Studies on Terrorism (OIET). This edition once again features the contribution of Daniel F. Pérez, researcher and project coordinator at the Euro-Arab Foundation.

The report, which consolidates monitoring data from the past year, reveals a significant transformation in radicalization dynamics and a shift in violence hotspots—with a particular impact on the African continent and the persistent threat within digital environments.

In this edition, Daniel F. Pérez-García provides a fundamental academic and strategic perspective, examining the complex relationship between Jihadism and the Far Right. The core of Pérez-García’s contribution focuses on the phenomenon of “reciprocal radicalisation,” where both extremisms operate as “rhetorical allies” that feed into each other in a vicious cycle of hatred. According to the researcher, although their ultimate goals are antagonistic, these movements converge through a shared architecture of nostalgia, existential threats, and utopias of purity.

The study highlights a concerning “mirror effect”:

  • Supremacist racism is instrumentalised by Jihadism to denounce an alleged crusade against Islam.
  • Radical Islamist rhetoric is used by the Far Right to justify a threat to national identity.

Ultimately, both ideologies target democratic institutions and social pluralism.

From Reaction to Resilience

As a response to this challenge, Pérez-García advocates for a transition from the current “culture of reaction” toward a “culture of resilience” based on strategic communication. He proposes an operational roadmap utilizing advanced tools, such as Artificial Intelligence for early detection and the creation of hyper-personalized counter-narratives.

“The goal is to connect emotionally with younger audiences in the digital environment before a cognitive fixation on extremist discourses occurs, thereby strengthening social cohesion against the polarization that defines the current geopolitical landscape,” states the Euro-Arab researcher.

Yearbook Links:

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EN Hatedemics News Projects

The Euro-Arab Foundation takes part in the HATEDEMICS Conference “Internet in 2026: Disinformation, Polarisation and Hate”

Last Thursday, February 19, the conference “Internet in 2026: Disinformation, Polarisation and Hate” took place at the Palacio de la Prensa in Madrid. The event, held within the framework of the European project HATEDEMICS, was organized by Maldita.es (MALDITA), the Centro de Estudios Andaluces (CENTRA), and the Euro-Arab Foundation for Higher Studies.

The conference brought together journalists, academics, analysts, and representatives of civil society organisations with the aim of reflecting on the current state of the Internet, (mis)information processes, and the rise of hate speech in the digital environment.

The event was opened by representatives of the three partner organisations involved in the project. Speakers included Clara Jiménez, co-founder of the Maldita.es Foundation; Eladia Illescas, researcher at CENTRA; and José Luis Salido, researcher and project coordinator at the Euro-Arab Foundation.

During his speech, José Luis Salido stressed the need to promote initiatives such as HATEDEMICS, which aim to curb the proliferation of online hate speech through the use of technological tools, applied research, and civic education. He also highlighted the importance of cooperation among specialised organizations as an essential way to strengthen digital resilience and safeguard democratic quality in the face of polarization and disinformation.

Analysis and Proposals to Address Online Hate

The first panel of the conference addressed the challenges and possible solutions to online hate speech. The panel featured Mario Lara Delgado, Head of Section at the Spanish Observatory on Racism and Xenophobia (OBERAXE); Ángeles Blanco, Board Member for Cooperation and Hate Crimes at FELGTBI+; and Cristina de la Serna Sandoval, Director of the Department of Equality and Anti-Discrimination at the Fundación Secretariado Gitano. The session was moderated by F. Javier Montilla, representing the Euro-Arab Foundation.

Key issues discussed during the debate included the relationship between hate speech and hate crimes, the causes behind the increase of such discourse in digital environments, the consequences of discrimination both for those who experience it and for society as a whole, and the measures needed to combat this phenomenon. Particular emphasis was placed on the importance of existing legislation, its proper enforcement, and the fundamental role of prevention and education.

Project Presentation and Practical Training

The remainder of the conference included a presentation of the HATEDEMICS project by CENTRA, as well as several roundtables featuring journalists who shared their experiences in tackling online disinformation and polarisation. The challenges of accessing high-quality information in today’s digital ecosystem were also discussed.

The event concluded with a workshop presenting the platform and educational materials developed within the framework of the project. The aim was to provide practical tools for identifying hoaxes and fake news, recognising content generated by artificial intelligence, and understanding the cognitive biases that influence information consumption.

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News Projects victory

VicTory: First Exchange Event to Combat Hate and Extremism in Europe

The European project VicTory has successfully concluded its first Experience and Exchange Training Event, held from February 10th to 12th, 2026. Over three intensive days, professionals from five partner countries gathered to comprehensively address the worrying rise in intolerance and its impact on victimization.

The meeting brought together a multidisciplinary group composed of victim support professionals—specifically those working with victims of hate crimes—judicial authorities, and civil society prevention experts.

Support for Victims of Hate Crimes and Violent Extremism with a Rights-Based Perspective

Throughout the three-day program, participants discussed comprehensive strategies to support victims of hate crimes and violent extremism, highlighting the importance of a person-centered approach oriented toward restorative justice.

In a joint session led by Rascha Albaba, a researcher from the Euro-Arab Foundation for Higher Studies, and the Ararteko (Ombudsman of the Basque Country), it was emphasized that victims should not be reduced solely to their status as victims: they are human beings with fundamental rights, and all support services must guarantee their dignity and safety.

The sessions emphasized the implementation of a human rights-based approach, explaining how victims’ rights are protected under international frameworks and within the European Union. Professionals were provided with existing mechanisms through which they can indirectly reinforce this protection at an international level. Additionally, practical “dos and don’ts” guidelines for victim care were provided to avoid causing further harm (secondary victimization) during the reporting and recovery processes.

The Ararteko delved into the role of key institutions in protecting victims’ rights, presenting concrete examples of restorative justice that balance the reparation of harm with the safety and well-being of those affected.

Theory and Practice in Action

The sessions combined theory and practice, including a site visit to the Rete di Dafne project in Palazzolo. There, participants observed how community networks transform vulnerability into strength by providing support, validation, and security to victims. This holistic approach demonstrated how collaboration between professionals and communities can significantly improve the protection and accompaniment of victims of hate crimes and extremist violence. The event was characterized by its human focus, allowing participants to hear real testimonies from both victims of extremism and individuals who had caused harm.

Next Steps for the VicTory Project

VicTory is an international initiative that seeks to improve responses to hate and extremism through cooperation between judicial, law enforcement, and victim support actors. With an approach based on the victim and restorative justice, it promotes a safer and more resilient Europe.

This event in Brescia marks the beginning of a series of three exchange meetings planned within the project. The participation of the Euro-Arab Foundation in these forums reinforces its position as a leader in applied research and training regarding the prevention of extremist violence and the protection of human rights—even for the most vulnerable—proving that in the face of transnational challenges, the solution must be shared and coordinated.

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News Projects

The Euro-Arab Foundation’s Participation in the ‘Mediterranean Progressive Academy’

The Mediterranean Progressive Academy is hosting a three-day meeting in Barcelona (from 18 to 20 February) focused on identity, cooperation, and the future of the Euro-Mediterranean region. The main objective of the program is to commemorate 30 years of the Barcelona Declaration, while also analyzing dialogue and shared challenges within the current geopolitical context.

In the panel “What Unites Us in the Mediterranean?”, which took place on Wednesday, 18 February , Jusaima Moaid-azm Peregrina, a researcher at the Euro-Arab Foundation for Higher Studies and professor at the University of Granada, offered a review of the Barcelona Process 30 years after the 1995 Declaration. During her intervention, she explained the foundational ambition of promoting a Euro-Mediterranean space of peace, prosperity, and cooperation through three pillars (political-security, economic, and social-cultural) and its subsequent evolution with the creation of the Union for the Mediterranean as a more operational framework.

Moaid-azm’s intervention highlighted key achievements—such as the consolidation of a common language of cooperation, dialogue networks, and a sustained Euro-Mediterranean agenda—while also analysing structural limits that have hindered regional integration, such as the persistence of the socioeconomic gap, challenges in governance and stability, and the need to adopt an approach centered on civil society.

In 2025, the Euro-Arab Foundation also celebrated the 30th anniversary of its creation, a milestone that coincides with the three decades of the Barcelona Process analysed during the conference. Through its research and academic work, the institution continues to consolidate itself as a strategic bridge for peace and shared prosperity in the region.

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EN Hatedemics News Projects

Final Conference of HATEDEMICS in Granada

On March 26, the final conference of HATEDEMICS will take place in Granada under the title “Strengthening Europe’s Response to Online Hate Speech and Disinformation.” The event will be held at the Aula Magna of the Faculty of Political Science and Sociology at the University of Granada, from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. It will be organized in a hybrid format (in person and online) and will bring together policymakers, academics, civil society organizations, technology professionals, young people, fact-checkers, and journalists, offering a unique opportunity to exchange perspectives and reflect on current challenges and future strategies at the European level.

This one-day conference represents a key milestone in the HATEDEMICS project’s efforts to address online hate speech and disinformation. By combining artificial intelligence and human expertise, the project has developed innovative tools to monitor, detect, and counter harmful narratives, while promoting ethical, inclusive, and democratic digital spaces.

The conference will present the project’s main results and will feature roundtables, presentations, and interactive workshops where participants will be able to test the AI-based tools created to detect disinformation and hate speech.

Registration to attend the event is now open and can be completed through this link.

Download the event agenda.

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News PARTES-COM EN

PARTESS-COM and EFUS present a series of European training sessions to strengthen security in public spaces

The PARTESS-COM project, in which the Euro-Arab Foundation participates, in collaboration with EFUS (European Forum for Urban Security) and with the support of the Brussels Police (PolBru) and safe.brussels, announces the launch of a series of European training sessions aimed at professionals interested in improving the security of public spaces and places of worship.

These training sessions aim to strengthen prevention, protection, and resilience capacities in the face of risks and threats that may affect gathering places and the public at large. The project promotes cooperation among local communities, authorities, and professionals to exchange promising practices and build effective strategies in the field of urban security.

The training series consists of three one-day in-person sessions to be held in Brussels throughout 2026:

  • From risk assessment to resilience: local crime prevention strategies for safer public spaces.
  • Protecting what matters: assessing and reducing vulnerabilities in places of worship.
  • Communication under pressure: managing communication before, during, and after a crisis.

The sessions will provide transferable tools and methodologies to develop approaches tailored to different environments and contexts, with particular attention to educational institutions and places of worship such as synagogues, mosques, or churches.

Practical information:

  • Session dates: April 14, May 20, and June 10, 2026.
  • Location: Brussels (Belgium).
  • Coverage: The project covers participants’ travel, accommodation, and subsistence costs.
  • Language: The sessions will be conducted primarily in English, with possible simultaneous interpretation into French.
  • Registration: Registration (via this link) does not guarantee participation. Final selection will aim to ensure balanced representation among stakeholder groups, geographical areas, and available places.

This training cycle represents a unique opportunity for local officials, law enforcement representatives, community leaders, and civil protection professionals to update their knowledge and share experiences in a European context.