Background

The first Europe-wide meeting of Muslim youth organisations took place in Sweden in 1995, when the Foreign Ministry of Sweden in co-operation with the Swedish Muslim youth organisation SUM (Sveriges Unga Muslimer), organised an international conference on Islam in Europe.

The participants at this conference felt the need to establish better communication between the organisations and undertake steps for greater co-operation and co-ordination. The JMF (Jeunes Musulmans de France),
The YMUK (The Young Muslims UK) and The SUM (Sveriges Unga Muslimer) were given the responsibility to look into this. In June 1996 the FIOE (Federation of Islamic Organisations in Europe) joined these organisations and invited them to a meeting in Birmingham, UK to facilitate this process. The Islamic Foundation, Leicester, also became involved.

It was agreed that a further meeting would be held in 1996 in Leicester. 35 Participants attended this meeting from eleven countries, representing 19 youth / student organisations. This meeting helped to create a bond between those present and the FEMYSO was launched.