Israeli Report Warns of Expanding Muslim Brotherhood Network Across Europe, Raising Alarm Over Security & Antisemitism

By: Fern Sidman 

A sweeping new report issued by Israel’s Ministry for Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism is sounding the alarm about what officials describe as a deeply entrenched and sophisticated network of Muslim Brotherhood–linked organizations operating throughout Europe. The analysis, which identifies dozens of activists and institutions tied to the Islamist movement, argues that the Brotherhood has succeeded in embedding itself across European civil society through a complex web of ostensibly moderate organizations while quietly advancing ideological goals hostile to liberal democracy and Jewish communities.

The findings, reported and analyzed on Friday by The Algemeiner, portray the European Muslim Brotherhood as a decentralized but highly coordinated ecosystem of political, religious, and financial institutions that together function as an ideological infrastructure. According to Israeli officials and the ministry’s researchers, this network serves not only to promote Islamist doctrines but also to radicalize segments of Europe’s Muslim population, legitimize extremist narratives, and support movements that undermine Israel and Western democratic norms.

Avi Cohen-Scali, the director general of Israel’s Ministry for Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism, emphasized the deceptive nature of the Brotherhood’s strategy in Europe. Speaking about the report’s conclusions, he said the movement’s success has depended on presenting itself as moderate and pragmatic to Western audiences while advancing a radically different ideological agenda internally.

“The Muslim Brotherhood operates in Europe through deceptive methods that project an outward appearance of moderation and pragmatism,” Cohen-Scali said in remarks cited by The Algemeiner. “This front is used to advance dangerous ideological goals. Despite its external ‘moderation,’ the movement consistently rejects liberal democratic principles and Western values, which conflict with its radical aspirations — including efforts to Islamize Europe.”

The report’s publication comes at a moment of growing concern among European and Israeli policymakers about the intersection between Islamist political activism and rising antisemitism. Israel’s minister for diaspora affairs and combating antisemitism, Amichai Chikli, warned that the stakes extend far beyond academic debate.

“Those who close their eyes today will pay tomorrow — with the security of their citizens and with Jewish lives,” Chikli said in a statement quoted in coverage by The Algemeiner.

The Muslim Brotherhood, founded in Egypt in 1928 by schoolteacher Hassan al-Banna, has long been regarded as one of the most influential Islamist movements in modern history. Created in response to the collapse of the Ottoman Caliphate four years earlier, the Brotherhood’s original mission was to restore Islamic governance and societal structures guided by religious law. Over the decades, the organization evolved into a sprawling international movement that blends political activism, social outreach, and—in some cases—support for militant groups.

As The Algemeiner report noted on the ministry’s findings, the Brotherhood’s ideological descendants include some of the most powerful Islamist organizations operating today. Chief among them is Hamas, the Palestinian terrorist group responsible for the Oct. 7, 2023, massacre in southern Israel that killed more than 1,200 people and marked the deadliest attack on Jews since the Holocaust.

Despite its historical association with terrorist groups, the Brotherhood’s presence in Europe has largely taken a different form. Rather than operating through overt terrorist networks, the movement has developed what European security services describe as a “legalist Islamist” model. Under this approach, affiliated organizations participate in civic life, establish charitable foundations, and engage in political advocacy while promoting ideological goals aligned with the Brotherhood’s worldview.

According to the Israeli ministry’s research, five core organizations constitute the backbone of the Brotherhood’s European infrastructure. These institutions perform distinct but interconnected functions ranging from political representation to religious scholarship and financial management.

At the center of the network is the Council of European Muslims, formerly known as the Federation of Islamic Organizations in Europe. The group rebranded in 2020 as part of an effort to present a more modern public image, a move overseen by longtime Brotherhood figure Abdallah Ben Mansour. European intelligence officials cited in the report say that in many countries, the organization affiliated with the council effectively functions as the central coordinating body for the Brotherhood’s activities.

The ministry’s analysis noted that these national affiliates frequently occupy influential positions within Muslim community organizations and advocacy groups. This positioning allows them to shape discourse on religious identity, political participation, and relations with Western governments.

Another central institution is the European Council for Fatwa and Research, which provides religious rulings intended to guide Muslims living in Western societies. The body was led for more than two decades by the late Sheikh Yusuf al-Qaradawi, widely regarded as the Brotherhood’s spiritual authority. Qaradawi’s controversial legacy includes outspoken support for Hamas and the defense of suicide bombings against Israeli civilians.

Because of these views, several Western countries barred Qaradawi from entering their territory. Both France and the United Kingdom imposed bans on him after concluding that his statements constituted advocacy of violent jihad.

The youth dimension of the Brotherhood’s European network is represented by the Forum of European Muslim Youth and Student Organizations, known as FEMYSO. French intelligence services cited in the Israeli report describe the organization as effectively functioning as the youth branch of the Council of European Muslims. In that capacity, it plays a crucial role in cultivating future leaders of the movement.

Financial support for FEMYSO has reportedly included more than one million euros in funding from Qatar since 2016, according to the information cited in The Algemeiner report.

The ministry’s report also draws attention to the European Institute of Human Sciences, an institution that serves as a seminary for religious training. Previously led by Qaradawi, the institute continues to operate as an educational center shaping the next generation of clerics and religious scholars aligned with Brotherhood ideology.

Equally significant is the financial infrastructure supporting these organizations. The report identifies the Europe Trust as a key funding mechanism within the network. Through real estate investments and other financial assets, the trust generates revenue used to support the broader constellation of Brotherhood-affiliated institutions across the continent.

Beyond these central pillars, the Israeli ministry highlights a range of charitable organizations that have been accused of maintaining ties to Hamas or other extremist groups. Among them are the Union of Good, Islamic Relief Worldwide, and the Al Aqsa Foundation.

According to The Algemeiner report, Israel banned Islamic Relief Worldwide in 2014 after intelligence assessments linked the charity to financial support for Hamas. The United Arab Emirates subsequently designated the organization as a terrorist entity later that year.

Another organization examined in the report is Interpal, a British charity that has been designated as a terrorist entity by both the United States and the United Kingdom. The group’s leadership has drawn particular scrutiny. Its chairman, Ibrahim Hewitt, has been associated with Holocaust denial and extremist rhetoric, while its director-general Issam Youssef Mustafa has reportedly maintained connections to Hamas leadership.

The Israeli ministry argues that these organizations collectively form a dense network that enables the Muslim Brotherhood to exercise influence across European societies without relying on centralized command structures.

Indeed, the movement’s own leaders have openly described their decentralized model as a strategic advantage. Former Brotherhood General Guide Muhammad Akef once explained that the organization operates through shared ideology rather than rigid hierarchy.

“We do not have an international organization; we have an organization through our perception of things,” Akef said in a statement cited in the ministry’s report.

Similarly, former Brotherhood deputy chairman Muhammad Habib acknowledged the importance of decentralization in adapting to local circumstances. According to Habib, organizations in different countries share common ideological goals but function independently in response to specific political environments.

This approach, the Israeli ministry contends, allows the Brotherhood to evade legal scrutiny while continuing to propagate its worldview.

The report also underscores the significant role of Qatar in supporting Brotherhood-linked institutions. While the Gulf state has repeatedly denied direct sponsorship of the movement, Israeli researchers argue that Qatar’s financial contributions, diplomatic support, and media platforms have enabled the Brotherhood’s expansion.

Qatar’s state-funded broadcaster Al Jazeera is cited as an important channel for disseminating narratives aligned with Brotherhood ideology. Meanwhile, the country has also provided political refuge to senior Hamas leaders, further complicating its relationships with Western governments.

European security agencies have increasingly taken note of these dynamics. An Austrian government report published in 2021 concluded that while Brotherhood organizations may operate legally, their objectives conflict fundamentally with democratic norms.

“Although the Brotherhood is not involved in terrorism, its activity is legal but not legitimate,” the Austrian report stated.

Other intelligence services across Europe have reached similar conclusions, according to reporting highlighted by The Algemeiner.

For Israel’s leadership, the implications of these findings extend beyond the European continent. Officials warn that the spread of Brotherhood ideology contributes to rising antisemitism and hostility toward Israel within Western societies.

Minister Chikli summarized the ministry’s concerns in stark terms. “The Muslim Brotherhood is not a civil society movement; it is a conduit for extremism and terror in the heart of Europe,” he said.

“Behind a façade of ‘moderation’ lies a network tied to Hamas and foreign funding that destabilizes democracies from within.”

The report concludes with a call for European governments to reassess their engagement with organizations linked to the Brotherhood and to strengthen oversight mechanisms aimed at preventing extremist networks from exploiting democratic institutions.

As The Algemeiner has frequently documented in its coverage of global antisemitism and Islamist movements, the challenge of confronting such networks is likely to remain a central issue for policymakers in Europe and beyond.