Individuals Archives - Bridge Initiative

20 May 2025 | Individuals

Factsheet: Björn Höcke

Björn Uwe Höcke is a German politician. He is a member of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party and leads its chapter in the state of Thuringia. In 2024, this chapter won the state election, the first time a far-right party won in an election since the Nazi era. Höcke has echoed Nazi language, described the Holocaust Museum as a “monument of shame,” has a record of making anti-Islam statements, and argued that Muslims are not welcome in Germany. read the complete article

Factsheet

04 Apr 2025 | Individuals

Factsheet: Alice Weidel

Alice Weidel ist die Co-Vorsitzende der Alternative für Deutschland (AfD), einer rechtsextremen politischen Partei in Deutschland und der ersten nationalistischen Rechtspartei, die seit dem Zweiten Weltkrieg in den deutschen Bundestag eingezogen ist. read the complete article

Factsheet

26 Mar 2025 | Individuals

Factsheet: Marlène Schiappa

Marlène Schiappa is a French author and former politician who has served in multiple ministries of the French government (2017-2023). She has supported laws and programs that use the idea of “separatism” to target Muslims and immigrants and repress people who speak out against Islamophobia. read the complete article

Factsheet

14 Mar 2025 | Individuals

Factsheet: Alice Weidel

Alice Weidel is the co-chairwoman of the Alternative for Germany (Alternative für Deutschland, AfD), a far-right political party in Germany and the first far-right nationalist party to enter the German parliament since World War II. Under the leadership of Weidel, the party has become the second strongest force following the national elections in February 2025. Weidel has a long history of anti-Muslim statements and support for discriminatory policies targeting Muslims. She argues that Islam is incompatible with the German constitution and European values, and is also connected to several anti-Muslim actors. read the complete article

Research

05 Mar 2025 | Individuals

Factsheet: Mathias Döpfner

Mathias Döpfner is a German businessman and journalist. He is the CEO and 22% owner of one of Europe’s largest and most influential media groups, Axel Springer SE. He is also president of the Federal Association of Digital Publishers and Newspaper Publishers. In published pieces, he warns against “Islamism,” and “Islamic fundamentalism,” conflating Islam with violence. A wealthy and highly influential personality, leaked information revealed anti-Muslim sentiments that align with several of the media outlets associated with him. read the complete article

Factsheet

24 Feb 2025 | Individuals

Factsheet: Tomio Okamura

Tomio Okamura is a far-right Czech politician who founded the anti-elitist and anti-Muslim party, Freedom and Direct Democracy (Svoboda a přímá demokracie, SPD). He has made comments that promote anti-Muslim tropes and demonize Muslims and actively advocates for the Czech Republic to exit from the European Union. Following the 2024 European Parliament elections, Okamura joined the right-wing group, Europe of Sovereign Nations, which includes several political parties that support discriminatory policies targeting Muslims. read the complete article

Factsheet

19 Feb 2025 | Individuals

Factsheet: Jordan Bardella

Jordan Bardella is the party chairman of the French far-right National Rally (Rassemblement National) and also the leader of Patriots for Europe (PfE) for the legislative period of 2024 – 2029. In 2024, he ran for the office of the French Prime Minister. Bardella wants to “curb immigration” and warns “against Islamization.” read the complete article

Factsheet

17 Feb 2025 | Individuals

Factsheet: Elon Musk

Elon Musk is a billionaire entrepreneur and the CEO or top executive of multiple high-profile companies, including X (formerly Twitter), Tesla and SpaceX. He has a documented history of amplifying anti-Muslim tropes, supporting individuals and organizations that promote Islamophobia, and making statements that minimize or dismiss concerns about anti-Muslim racism. His actions and influence have contributed to the normalization of Islamophobic rhetoric in public discourse. In 2024, U.S. President Donald Trump appointed Musk to lead the newly-created Department of Government Efficiency. read the complete article

Factsheet

14 Feb 2025 | Individuals

Factsheet: Tom Trento

Tom Trento is an American conservative activist who has a history of making anti-Muslim statements, including promoting a narrative that constructs Islam as a major threat to America. He is the founder and executive director of The United West, described by the Southern Poverty Law Center as an organization “stoking anti-Muslim hate for over a decade.” read the complete article

Factsheet

28 Jan 2025 | Individuals

Factsheet: Pete Hegseth

Pete Hegseth is a former Fox News political commentator, author, and former Army National Guard officer who served in Guantanamo Bay, Iraq, and Afghanistan. He has tattoos that are associated with white nationalism and has a history of making Islamophobic statements. Hegseth has also been accused of sexual assault and has had several incidences of alleged sexist behavior. read the complete article