Cairo, Egypt – The international organization of the Muslim Brotherhood in Europe has been facing deep existential problems for years, amid internal conflicts that divide it into two fronts, one in London and the other in Turkey.
Amidst internal divisions within each of the two fronts, in addition to recent European pursuits and threats,
This is done by following the United States’ lead and moving towards classifying the group as a terrorist organization.
London wing divisions
The London branch of the organization, which constitutes the most important face of the group in the West,
is currently experiencing one of its most complex periods due to internal conflicts
between the central administration and the branches in the rest of the British territories.
This raises serious questions about the organization’s ability to reposition itself within Europe.
Or will it face a violent phase of disintegration and division,
with new fronts emerging on the scene, making it difficult to contain the crisis
London: From leadership to wealth
The current crisis facing the organization’s front in London, led by the Muslim Brotherhood member Salah Abdel-Haq,
stems from his desire to control economic entities, centers, and Islamic associations.
Which is considered a huge economic empire for the group throughout Britain and not just London,
including: the Muslim Council of Britain, Islamic Relief and the Muslim Association,
Likewise, the Palestinian Relief and Development Fund, which was founded
by Issam Yousef in the 1990s and alone owns 11 branches in Britain, and other large economic institutions.
These entities are known to represent the most important economic pillars of the international organization.
The conflict between the London and Turkey fronts is no longer about resources or leadership as it was in the past.
It has now extended to become an internal struggle over money on the London front,
and signs of the contagion have begun to spread to the group’s coffers in Istanbul.
This is a dangerous indication of a shift in priorities from political and ideological activity to maintaining the organization as a sustainable economic entity.
Expected US ban on the organization
This internal conflict comes in the context of increasing international pressure,
most notably the growing talk of a potential US ban on the organization.
This prompted the group to reorganize its structures in Britain by creating new entities,
such as the “Islamic Organization of Britain”.
As a proactive step to overcome potential financial constraints,
and to maintain funding channels and activity.
The British arena, which for decades had been a center of gravity
for international organization in Europe, has been transformed.
This leads to an open internal conflict, reflecting weak leadership cohesion.
The ability to manage internal disputes within the group has eroded,
in light of the decline in the political and security cover it previously enjoyed.
Germany… The final curtain
No sooner had the internal crisis of the international organization in London ended
than another crisis emerged in Germany, amid the anticipated threats.
This concerns the consequences of classifying the group as a terrorist organization
in the United States, and the expectation that this will spread to Europe.
In parallel with London’s crises, Germany is currently witnessing a radical shift in
its approach to the Muslim Brotherhood, after years of soft containment.
Last November, the German Interior Ministry announced a ban on the Muslim Interactive group.
This move was described as a severe blow to what could be called
the digital face of the Muslim Brotherhood on social media platforms.
Fears of political Islam
German authorities launched a wide-ranging raid campaign targeting several locations in Hamburg,
Berlin and the state of Hesse, accusing the group of threatening the constitutional order.
Promoting anti-Semitism, discrimination against women and minorities,
and hostility towards the German constitution with the aim of undermining it in the long term.
The ban came after a demonstration organized by the group in Hamburg in early 2024,
in which they called for the establishment of a caliphate in Germany, sparked controversy.
This caused widespread shock within German society and reinforced fears
of the growing influence of political Islam among groups of young people.
Towards a complete ban on the Muslim Brotherhood
The Muslim Brotherhood in Europe has faced escalating crises in recent years, and not only in Germany.
Last January, the German parliament opened a broad debate on
a draft law to permanently ban the Muslim Brotherhood.
This is an unprecedented move within a major European country.
The Alternative for Germany party has put forward a bill to ban organizations linked
to the Muslim Brotherhood, most notably the German Muslim Community Association.
With calls for stricter oversight of mosques, imam training programs, and external funding sources.
Germany cuts off the group’s funding sources
Official reports in Germany indicate increased surveillance of dozens
of educational centers linked to the Muslim Brotherhood ideology.
And redirecting millions of euros of public funding away
from organizations suspected of having links to the group,
This is part of a strategy aimed at drying up sources of funding and propaganda.
Individuals were not immune from such persecution by the German authorities.
A German court convicted Saad El-Gazzar, head of the Marwa El-Sherbini Cultural Center in Dresden,
on charges of embezzling donations.
This is in a case that was considered an indication of the beginning
of the dismantling of the group’s internal funding networks.
