"The Slow Meltdown": How the Muslim Brotherhood's Danger Infiltrates the Heart of Europe?

 

Muslim Brotherhood

"The Slow Meltdown": How the Muslim Brotherhood's Danger Infiltrates the Heart of Europe? 

The Muslim Brotherhood is trying to reposition itself within Europe after the bans imposed on it in more than one country.
French experts specializing in political Islam and extremist organizations considered that the gathering organized by elements affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood in France in the French city of Le Bourget could not be considered merely a periodic religious gathering, but rather represented a strategy that combined electoral mobilization, targeting of youth, and European ambition.

From religious gathering to political platform

Bernard Rogier, a professor of political sociology and contemporary political Islam at the Sorbonne Nouvelle and Paris 3 universities, told Al-Ain News that what is happening in Le Bourget cannot be separated from a broader European strategy pursued by the Muslim Brotherhood networks.
Rogier explained that the Muslim Brotherhood in France "no longer operates as a traditional organization, but rather as a transnational network of influence that invests in civil associations, educational institutions, and human rights discourse."

The transition from advocacy to civic influence

The French researcher added: "The most dangerous change is the shift from religious discourse to a rights-political discourse, which allows these networks to re-present themselves as a legitimate partner within European democracies."
Rogier warned that this model gives the Brotherhood the ability to infiltrate EU institutions, turning them into an informal but influential political actor.

Rogier pointed out that this phenomenon reflects a shift from "traditional advocacy" to what is called "the engineering of the public sphere," where networks are no longer satisfied with religious influence, but seek to reshape social and political balances through legitimate tools.
For his part, French researcher Laurent Bonnefoy, who specializes in political Islam, told Al-Ain News that what is happening in Europe is a soft reproduction of the Muslim Brotherhood project by different means.

slow melting

Bonnefoy explained that the Brotherhood relies on what he calls a "phased adaptation strategy, where the discourse is changed without changing the goals."
Bonnefoy pointed out that "the Brotherhood in Europe does not present itself as a religious movement, but rather as defenders of minorities and rights, while working to gradually build a parallel identity."
Bonnefoy said: "The danger lies not in confrontation, but in the slow dissolution within the system, where the distinction between civic action and ideological project becomes more difficult."

The French magazine “Le Point” reported that in the French city of Le Bourget, networks linked to the Muslim Brotherhood relaunched their mobilization after a six-year hiatus, with the “Annual Meeting of Muslims of France” attracting large crowds and outlining a strategy that combines electoral mobilization, targeting youth, and European ambition.

The French magazine explained that the event almost did not take place, after the Paris police, at the request of the Interior Minister, issued a decision to ban it on the grounds of “significant terrorist risks targeting the Muslim community.” However, the administrative court ultimately allowed the event to take place, which gave it unexpected media attention.

According to the French magazine, this phenomenon is called the "Streisand effect," where the attempt to ban it led to an increase in demand, with queues that were longer than what would have happened under normal circumstances.
The event is being organized by Makhlouf Mamache, head of "Muslims of France" (the new name for the Union of Islamic Organizations in France, which is affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood).
During the event, Abdullah bin Mansour, a former leader in the Union and head of the European Muslim Council in Brussels, announced the organizers' intention to give the event a European character starting next year.

Political mobilization

The event, which was claimed to be merely a book fair, opened last Saturday with a seminar entitled "The Law of Separatism: Is the Rule of Law in Danger?", with the participation of figures including Bernard Godard, a former advisor to the Ministry of the Interior, lawyer Sivan Guiz Guiz, as well as the director of the Averroes school in Lille, according to the French magazine.

The session saw criticism of government policies since French President Emmanuel Macron’s 2020 speech, including the dissolution of associations and administrative raids described as “futile and shocking.”
But the most prominent message was a clear call for political participation, as the principal of Ibn Rushd School urged those present to get involved in the elections, saying: "We are in a democratic system, so let's use the ballot," while pointing out the possibility of changing the balance of power in 2027.

Escalation of rhetoric

During the meetings, sociologist Raphael Leuget called on Muslims to move beyond what he described as "excessive conservatism," urging them to "take to the streets in large numbers" and to benefit from the culture of protest in France.
He also called for a "crossroads of struggles" using rhetoric inspired by leftist literature, with the aim of unifying collective mobilization.
These journalistic arguments were reinforced by Faiza Ben Mohammed, who criticized the weak media presence of Muslims compared to other institutions, pointing to the absence of a “central religious structure” that unifies the discourse.

Indirect presence of the left

The researcher François Burgat concluded the discussions, downplaying the concept of "infiltration" before calling for local political engagement, praising some left-wing figures, especially the "France Unbowed" party.
The organizers focused on the younger generation, "Generation Z," by using social media influencers, engaging active figures, and providing content aimed at children and young people, according to the French magazine.
Burgat saw what happened in Le Bourget as a clear example of a new phase, where networks no longer operate only in the religious sphere, but seek to reshape the public sphere itself.

He explained that the activities are no longer just preaching, but rather multi-functional platforms (political, social, economic), explaining that the use of the law gives these activities institutional legitimacy, and that the accumulation leads to building long-term influence within society.
The French researcher warns that this path represents a change in French society from influence to the gradual reconstruction of the public sphere according to parallel references.

Reports suggest the Muslim Brotherhood is attempting to reposition itself across Europe 🇪🇺
Recent gatherings in Le Bourget, France are being seen by analysts as more than religious events, pointing to broader political ambitions.#Europe #France #Politics #News #Analysis pic.twitter.com/swUOzqTF4J

— Heather Adrien (@AdrienHeat8981) April 7, 2026