Euroviews. Islamism will continue to pose a threat to liberal democracies in Europe. This is why

Friday evening: a knife attack at the town festival in Solingen. Saturday morning: an arson attack on a synagogue in southern France. Sunday morning: the beginning of the long-anticipated major offensive by Hezbollah against Israel.

It is a sad weekend marked by Islamism and Islamist hatred. What all three events have in common: Islamist-inspired hatred against liberal democratic values and against Israel.

Given the increasing far-right extremist threat, the focus of politics has recently been on efforts to combat right-wing extremism.

Civil society has also loudly demonstrated its determination to fight racism, hostility towards people, and ethnic nationalism through countless demonstrations and various actions (from concerts to social media campaigns).

At the same time, there has been a noticeable silence from politics and civil society on the topic of Islamism.

On the contrary, many scientists, experts, authors, or journalists deliberately avoid the topic of Islamism out of fear because the public pressure on social media or the threats against themselves, friends or family are almost unbearable.

Especially since the terrorist attack by Hamas and its allied Islamist groups on 7 October of last year, any statement about Islamism, Israel, and Palestine feels like walking through a minefield.

Given the years of unchanged Islamist threat, however, this silence is the worst option imaginable. Because it either suggests approval or is a sign of cowardice. Both are existential threats to liberal democracies.

It is even more important that we finally address Islamism and its consequences, not just legally and criminally, because the world has been a different place since 7 October.

Even though investigations in Solingen are still