European Parliament passes resolution targeting Muslim Brotherhood influence

The European Parliament has voted to adopt a resolution condemning the Muslim Brotherhood and what it terms "Islamist entryism" into democratic institutions. The measure, sponsored by French member Céline Imart, passed with an overwhelming majority following recent U.S. sanctions against the group. Imart described the outcome as a historic first for Europe in addressing the network's influence.

The resolution was led by the European People's Party, the largest center-right coalition in the Parliament. Lorenzo Vidino, director of the program on extremism at George Washington University, noted that French and Austrian governments had pushed for such action for nearly a decade. He observed that the vote highlighted a political divide, with the right voting almost entirely in favor and a significant portion of the left voting against, though with some exceptions. Imart acknowledged working with negotiators from other groups but excluded socialists and the far left, who boycotted the text.

A press release from the Parliament stated that the resolution targets networks that seek to weaken European values from within. It emphasized that while Europe must remain open, it can no longer fund or legitimize organizations that use its procedures to undermine its principles. The text also stressed that anti-discrimination policies should not shield Islam from criticism or legitimize organized Islamist networks. The resolution called for full traceability of EU funding and an overview by the European Commission of funds awarded to entities suspected of links to the Brotherhood or political Islam.

Edmund Fitton-Brown, a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, characterized the resolution as the beginning of a pushback against Islamist entryism. He argued that non-violent Islamism is not an antidote to violent terrorism but rather a gateway to it. Fitton-Brown suggested that Europe has historically failed to prioritize subversion as a threat, unlike during the Cold War, and often adopts policies that inadvertently protect Islamist networks from criticism.

Vidino explained that the European approach differs from the U.S. strategy, which has designated the Muslim Brotherhood and four of its branches as terrorist organizations. In Europe, the group is viewed primarily through the lens of subversion and a threat to democracy, with many of its individual activities remaining legal. He expressed skepticism about the resolution's immediate tangible impact, noting that Islamist groups are skilled at camouflaging their activities and often leverage funding cuts to play the victim card.

ENAR, a pan-European anti-racism network, condemned the resolution as racist and Islamophobic. The group rejected allegations linking it or its members to the Muslim Brotherhood, calling the vote a stain on the European Parliament. ENAR argued that the resolution casts Muslim communities and civil society organizations as inherently suspect.

The resolution asked the European Council to assess whether entities linked to the Muslim Brotherhood should be added to the EU list of terrorist organizations. It also called for stronger scrutiny of foreign funding from actors linked to Qatar or Turkey and greater use of Schengen tools. Imart stated that while the vote is a victory, it is only a starting point, and she intends to ensure that the Commission and Council take further action.