With its "complex structure" strategy, how large is the Muslim Brotherhood's presence in Europe?

 

The Brotherhood in Europe The Brotherhood in Europe

With its "complex structure" strategy, how large is the Muslim Brotherhood's presence in Europe?

Observers confirm that the Brotherhood relies on a dual strategy that combines a public presence in official institutions and organizations with undeclared networks of associations and ideological ties. This allows them to gradually consolidate their influence, taking advantage of the disparity in European policies toward them and the scope for freedom available within the continent.

How did the Brotherhood reach Europe?

According to the Center for the Study of Extremism, the Muslim Brotherhood's presence in Europe dates back to 1960, when Hassan al-Banna's son-in-law established a mosque in Munich. Since then, the group has established organizations in most European Union countries, before unifying into an EU-wide pressure group known as the Federation of Islamic Organizations in Europe (FIOE ). This group later changed its name to the Muslim Council of Europe ( MCE). Based in Brussels, the group includes approximately 26 European Muslim Brotherhood organizations.

Germany is considered one of the Brotherhood's most prominent strongholds in Europe , where the "Islamic Community in Germany" was founded, serving as the organization's main front. Meanwhile, Austria is a key center for the organization's foreign relations, where Brotherhood leader Youssef Nada established a broad financial and media network. Nada was responsible for managing the Brotherhood's finances abroad and established its "financial empire."

France is among the countries that have witnessed a significant expansion of the organization. The Union of Islamic Organizations in France (UOIF) was established, comprising approximately 200 member organizations. Reports indicate that there are 147 mosques and centers and 18 Islamic schools linked to the Brotherhood in Paris, which has launched a new confrontation in recent months with a comprehensive review of the group's presence on its territory.

The TRENDS Research and Advisory Center noted that the United Kingdom is among the countries that provide a free environment for the Brotherhood's activities, with organizations such as the Muslim Council of Britain and the Muslim Association of Britain having been established. Despite the Brotherhood being classified as a banned organization in some countries, London has remained an open arena for its intellectual and organizational activities.

In recent years, the organization has intensified its presence in Eastern European countries, such as Bosnia and Herzegovina, with the aim of providing safe havens for its members and activities, particularly in light of security persecutions in Western European countries.

Seat structure for organization

From Paris, French academic and professor of international relations Frank Farnell, in an exclusive interview with Sky News Arabia, stated that " the Muslim Brotherhood in Europe operates through a complex and decentralized structure, radically different from its formal party models in the Middle East."

Farnell explained that "this structure is based on a central coordination body, the European Council of Muslims, headquartered in Brussels since its founding in 1989. It oversees several affiliated organizations that provide religious and social services to Muslim youth and communities in Europe, including the European Council for Fatwa and Research, the Forum of European Muslim Youth and Student Organizations, the European Institute for Human Sciences, as well as the Europe Fund and the European Council of Imams."

He pointed out that "the group also operates through local networks that include mosques, schools, and community organizations in countries such as France, Germany, Belgium, Austria, and the United Kingdom. These entities often operate under neutral names, making it difficult to trace their direct connection to the Brotherhood."

Regarding the size of the group's membership, Farnell noted that "it is difficult to determine the exact number of Brotherhood members in Europe due to its decentralized nature and the absence of official membership lists." However, he explained that the group's membership in France alone doubled from approximately 50,000 in 2019 to approximately 100,000 by 2024.

Regarding its influence, the French academic noted that "European countries differ in their approach to the group. While Austria and France have adopted strict policies that include bans and increased surveillance, countries like the United Kingdom, Belgium, and Sweden have been more lenient, focusing on combating terrorism rather than political Islam." He emphasized that "the Brotherhood's strategy in Europe focuses on long-term societal influence through legal and institutional means, which presents it with a challenge for the continent's governments."