Politics · Germany · 8 hrs ago
Issa Remmo’s visit to EU Parliament event prompts political criticism
Issa Remmo attended a European Parliament event in Brussels focused on fighting Islamism and promoting interfaith dialogue.
Remmo is a member of a Berlin family, parts of which police associate with organized crime; that label is disputed because critics say it can stigmatize people based on their background.
The event was organized by French imam Hassen Chalghoumi and others, including conservative French lawmaker Céline Imart and the French branch of ELNET, an organization that supports closer European-Israeli ties.
The EPP group said it had not invited Remmo or paid for the event, and Imart said she learned of allegations about him only afterward and apologized to anyone hurt by his presence.
Left Party leader Martin Schirdewan called for an explanation, saying it was troubling that someone linked to the environment of organized crime might gain access to a parliament.
The controversy follows Remmo’s attendance at a Berlin Left Party election gathering in September, after which lawmaker Ferat Koçak apologized for friendly messages with Remmo’s son and left a parliamentary committee post.
The organizers’ account of how Remmo attended is now under scrutiny, but no further action is stated.
Issa Remmo attended an event at the European Parliament in Brussels, prompting criticism from a senior Left politician.
The event, held on Thursday, focused on democracies’ response to Islamism and was organized by Imam Hassen Chalghoumi and others.
Martin Schirdewan called Remmo’s attendance deeply troubling and urged the European People’s Party to explain how it happened.
The European People’s Party said Remmo was not invited by the co-organizing MEP or the party group, and that it did not fund the event.
MEP Céline Imart said she and Chalghoumi learned of allegations about a participant only afterward and apologized to anyone hurt by the person’s presence.
- Who
- Issa Remmo attended the event. It was co-organized by French MEP Céline Imart and initiated in part by Imam Hassen Chalghoumi.
- What
- Remmo’s attendance at an event in the European Parliament prompted political criticism and calls for an explanation.
- When
- Thursday; the articles were published on 13 November 2026.
- Where
- The European Parliament in Brussels.
- Why
- The event aimed to highlight interfaith dialogue in the fight against Islamism and radicalization. The sources do not state why Remmo attended.
Martin Schirdewan and the Left
European People’s Party
Remmo’s attendance
Martin Schirdewan and the Left
Schirdewan called it deeply troubling and said even the suspicion that people connected to organized crime could gain access to a parliament was highly problematic.
European People’s Party
The party group said Remmo was not invited by Imart or the group, and that it did not fund the event.
Response and responsibility
Martin Schirdewan and the Left
Schirdewan called on group leader Manfred Weber to provide an explanation.
European People’s Party
Imart said she and Chalghoumi learned of allegations about a participant only afterward and apologized to anyone hurt by the person’s presence.
Remmo attended a Left party election event in Berlin’s Neukölln district after the state election.
Ferat Koçak apologized over friendly chat messages with a son of Remmo and gave up his seat on the Bundestag’s Interior Committee.
The Left, Greens and Social Democrats agreed to avoid contacts with organized crime and sanction breaches.
Remmo attended the European Parliament event in Brussels.
- Location
- European Parliament, Brussels
- Event theme
- Democracies’ fight against Islamism
- Co-organizer
- Céline Imart, a French MEP from the European People’s Party group
- Critic
- Martin Schirdewan, chair of the European Parliament’s Left group
- Remmo’s party
- Der Weg zum Licht
- Published
- 13 November 2026
2 sources
What people are saying
That is quite something!
deeply troubling
very disappointed
to all those who may have felt hurt by this person’s presence
Posts on X
À l’initiative de @Imam1chalghoumi et de la Conférence des Imams Européens, avec @ElnetFr, des imams venus de toute l’Europe et des représentants juifs, chrétiens et musulmans se sont réunis au Parlement européen pour défendre les valeurs démocratiques et faire front face à