Abstract
In the 1970s, members of the Muslim Brotherhood and their sympathizers turned their attention to Europe, gradually building a wide and well-organized network of mosques and Islamic charities in the West. Having failed in their attempts to seize power in Egypt, the "brothers" made the Old Continent their top priority. As a result, and thanks to funding from the oil-rich Gulf states, today Brotherhood members run a well-organized, centralized network covering almost all European countries. The role of the European Muslim organizations belonging to it can be defined as twofold:
"They present themselves as modern and contemporary, even as they continue to espouse the Brotherhood's radical ideology and maintain ties to terrorists. Their moderate rhetoric and good command of German, Dutch and French opens the doors of European governments and media for them... But when they speak in Arabic or Turkish to their followers, they throw off their masks and embrace radicalism. And although they call for interreligious dialogue and integration on television, hate is preached in their mosques, and worshipers are constantly told about the evils of Western society".
"They present themselves as modern and contemporary, even as they continue to espouse the Brotherhood's radical ideology and maintain ties to terrorists. Their moderate rhetoric and good command of German, Dutch and French opens the doors of European governments and media for them... But when they speak in Arabic or Turkish to their followers, they throw off their masks and embrace radicalism. And although they call for interreligious dialogue and integration on television, hate is preached in their mosques, and worshipers are constantly told about the evils of Western society".
Translated title of the contribution | Europe, the promised land of the Muslim Brotherhood |
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Original language | Other |
Article number | 1420 |
Journal | Геополитика |
Volume | 2010 |
Issue number | 4 |
Publication status | Published - Oct 2010 |