On November 23rd in The Hague, more than 70 European and international experts gathered outside the International Criminal Court with a message Europe can no longer afford to ignore: the Muslim Brotherhood has become one of the most destabilizing forces operating within the continent’s borders. Their warning did not arise spontaneously. It reflects years of intelligence findings, parliamentary investigations, and a pattern of radicalization that has already reshaped the social and political landscape of major European cities.
The Muslim Brotherhood presents itself as a civil society organization committed to democracy and inclusion. But behind this veneer lies a political movement with a well-documented long-term strategy: transforming Europe from within through ideological infiltration, institutional penetration, and the gradual normalization of political Islam as an alternative to democratic governance.
European intelligence agencies in France, Belgium, Austria, and Germany have detailed the same pattern: Brotherhood networks use charities, cultural centers, mosques, community associations, youth clubs, and political organizations to shape local politics, influence policy debates, and recruit the next generation of activists. Their goal is not integration — it is transformation.
Former Dutch politician Henry Van Bommel summarized this strategy precisely at the Hague gathering:
A “civilizational-jihadist process” aimed at eliminating Western civilization from within through ideological influence and political engagement.”
This is not a conspiracy theory. It is documented in classified intelligence reports, parliamentary inquiries, and court proceedings across Europe.
Speakers in The Hague emphasized an important distinction that must guide European policy: the Muslim Brotherhood is not Islam, and it does not represent Europe’s Muslim communities. It is a political project. As Ramon Rahangmetan warned, the issue is not religion but a movement that threatens democratic cohesion.
Across the continent, evidence of the Brotherhood’s presence is visible: parallel societies, foreign-financed NGOs, youth indoctrination, and extremist protests targeting Jews, women, LGBTQ communities, and democratic institutions. Interpol has documented over 100 jihadist attacks in Europe over the past decade — many ideologically linked to the Brotherhood’s worldview. Dr. Julio Levit Koldorf noted how “woke progressives” have unwittingly enabled a movement fundamentally opposed to European values.
EU investigations have revealed another alarming pattern: EU taxpayers indirectly financing Brotherhood-aligned organizations, while foreign governments — especially Qatar and Turkey — serve as major sponsors. Belgium-based activist Fahimeh Il Ghami stressed the need to designate both the Muslim Brotherhood and the IRGC as terrorist entities, given their transnational destabilizing roles.
Europe’s legal systems — built to protect freedom — have become vulnerable to exploitation. The Brotherhood uses religious rights, NGO protections, and democratic mechanisms to build legitimacy even as it advances an agenda contrary to those very principles. Tarana Faroqi rightly argued that when an organization engages in covert financing, intimidation, public-institution infiltration, or extremism promotion, the law must respond decisively.
Europe must no longer hesitate. The Muslim Brotherhood is designated a terrorist organization in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, and parts of Austria. The United States categorizes its affiliated networks as extremist threats. Europe cannot remain the exception.
A coherent European strategy must include: full financial transparency on foreign funding, designation of extremist networks, oversight of political-Islamist organizations, support for liberal Muslim voices, and EU-wide intelligence coordination.
This is not a battle against a religion — it is a defense of Europe’s democratic identity.
Europe is at a crossroads. Ignoring the Muslim Brotherhood’s influence will not buy stability. It will deepen polarization, undermine social cohesion, and embolden extremist actors. The choice is stark but simple.