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The Muslim Brotherhood is quietly invading Europe, hollowing out Western democracy - opinion

From Jerusalem Post · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

Opinion Named sources Context piece
  • The Muslim Brotherhood is accused of a "quiet march through the institutions" in Europe, aiming to undermine democracy from within.
  • Intelligence suggests Hamas, ideologically linked to the Brotherhood, has established weapons caches in Germany for potential large-scale attacks.
  • The Brotherhood's strategy, termed "tamkeen" or "institutional entrenchment," reportedly involves using Western legal frameworks to dismantle societal foundations, as outlined in documents like "The Project."

While Hamas engages in overt conflict, the Muslim Brotherhood is allegedly pursuing a more insidious strategy in Europe: a "quiet march through the institutions" designed to hollow out Western democracy from within. This invisible approach aims to transform Western civilization without overt violence, according to the article.

quiet march through the institutions

— Alleged Muslim Brotherhood StrategyDescribing the Brotherhood's method of infiltrating and influencing European institutions.

European intelligence reports indicate that Hamas's ambitions extend beyond the Middle East, with cells in Germany reportedly instructed to establish weapons caches for attacks on sites like the Ramstein military base and the Israeli embassy in Berlin as early as 2019. However, the Brotherhood's primary tool in the West is not violence but "tamkeen," a doctrine of "institutional entrenchment."

This strategy allegedly involves operating within the framework of Western law to undermine its foundations. A 1982 document discovered during a raid on Youssef Nada's home in Switzerland, titled "The Project," reportedly outlined a 100-year plan to achieve this transformation by "sabotaging" Western institutions. A subsequent 1991 document, the "Explanatory Memorandum," allegedly described the mission as a "grand jihad in destroying Western civilization."

The Project

— 1982 DocumentA document reportedly outlining a long-term plan to transform Western civilization from within.

The article traces the Brotherhood's intellectual roots to Hassan al-Banna and Sayyid Qutb, who are said to have legitimized physical warfare as offensive jihad. Yusuf al-Qaradawi is mentioned for globalizing this ideology, allegedly advocating extreme views on his Al Jazeera program and expressing ambition to "convert Europe to Islam."

grand jihad in destroying Western civilization

— 1991 Explanatory MemorandumA document allegedly detailing the mission of the Muslim Brotherhood in the West.

Despite these alleged radical roots, the Brotherhood is described as adept at presenting a facade of "moderate Islam." This is contrasted with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's reported statement that "there is no moderate Islam; Islam is Islam," suggesting a fundamentalist core beneath the surface.

The term ‘Moderate Islam’ is ugly and offensive; there is no moderate Islam; Islam is Islam

— Recep Tayyip ErdoganTurkish President's statement on the concept of 'moderate Islam,' contrasting with the Brotherhood's alleged presentation.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Jerusalem Post. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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