The Muslim Brotherhood threat in Europe
The Islamist Muslim Brotherhood poses a threat to the UK and Europe, the European Counter-Terrorism and Intelligence Centre has reported. The institution's director, Jassim Mohamad, stressed the need for "constant vigilance and attention by security and intelligence services".
The Muslim Brotherhood is considered a terrorist organisation by some nations, such as the United States, Egypt and Russia. They are also linked to jihadist groups, according to analysts. Jassim Mohamad has warned of the possible influence of the organisation in the UK, highlighting the notable increase in suspicions of extremism in the country. Mohamad warned of activities carried out in religious centres or mosques with the aim of "creating parallel societies and isolation that contradict the democratic system".
However, the European Centre has also highlighted the UK's effective security measures, which have contributed to the reduction of terrorist activity in the UK. London has introduced the Emergency Act, which toughens penalties for terrorists and prevents their early release. The UK government has also given more powers to the Home Office, extending powers to the security and intelligence services.
The centre's report also praised the creation of a "cyber force". The internet is an essential tool in the process of recruitment and radicalisation, which is why shielding social networks from extremism has become a major UK objective. London is considering implementing a law that would prosecute hate crimes, such as supporting terrorist groups or publishing certain audiovisual content.
It is not only the UK that is experiencing a rise in radicalism. The European Union has recently passed legislation to combat the spread of terrorist content on the internet. France is one of the member states that has suffered the most from this threat. There have been 269 victims of attacks linked to Islamic fundamentalism in France since 2012. The latest high-profile case that shocked the entire country occurred six months ago. A teacher, Samuel Paty, was brutally beheaded by a young man of Chechen origin. The radical murdered the teacher for teaching an image of Mohammed.
In the wake of this violent event, France passed a law to combat "Islamist separatism", as French President Emmanuel Macron called it. Also, in early 2021, French authorities closed a dozen mosques for promoting radicalism.
Germany, in addition to having to deal with radicalism, has significant historical ties to the Muslim Brotherhood. In 1960, the organisation was first established in the city of Munich, under the control of Said Ramadan, son-in-law of the organisation's founder, Hassan al-Banna. Ramadan set up the Munich Islamic Centre in the Bavarian capital, which laid the foundations for the organisation's expansion on the continent.
The movement is currently not banned in Germany and can therefore spread its ideas and influence through its centres. However, organisations linked to the Muslim Brotherhood are under national security surveillance.
Another country cracking down on rising radicalisation is Austria. Last November the Austrian police carried out Operation Luxor, a series of raids that resulted in 30 arrests. The authorities were investigating several associations suspected of belonging to and supporting the "Muslim Brotherhood and Hamas terrorist organisations".
On the other hand, the Brotherhood has received a blow in Turkey after Ankara decided to come closer to the Egyptian government of Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, a great enemy of the organisation. The Islamist organisation is concerned about this decision by Erdogan, whom it considers one of its greatest allies. Turkey suspended its relations with Egypt after the overthrow of Brotherhood member President Mohamed Morsi. However, despite the rapprochement with Egypt, Ankara remains opposed to the Muslim Brotherhood being considered "terrorists". For Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, it is "a political movement that is trying to come to power through elections".
Cairo has been engaged in a confrontation with the organisation, which it has considered a terrorist organisation since 2013. Since the overthrow of Mohamed Morsi and his subsequent imprisonment, President Al-Sisi has focused on defeating the organisation. In early April, a court in the country sentenced Mahmoud Ezzar, the Muslim Brotherhood's acting general guide, to life imprisonment. Ezzar was accused of overseeing a series of attacks in Egypt in 2015 and 2019. Shortly after his arrest, nine Islamists were executed on charges of attacking a police station. This attack occurred during the unrest over the 2013 coup against Morsi and resulted in the deaths of 13 policemen.
