Germany rings alarm over dangers posed by Muslim Brotherhood

Nahla Abdelmonem

There are growing fears in Europe from the agenda of the Muslim Brotherhood, years after this Islamist organization succeeded in forming a major network of economic and social institutions.

Europeans are spotting links between terrorist attacks taking place in their countries and cultural and religious centers affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood.

This is bringing anger to the organization, especially in Germany which works to eradicate terrorist ideologies.

Intelligence warnings

There is growing concern within political and media circles in Germany over the impacts of Muslim Brotherhood thinking on European and civilian values in this European country.

According to the Constitution Protection Office in the North Rhine-Westphalia state in June this year, the Muslim Brotherhood follows a strategy that demonstrates respect for the constitution in public, but secretly spreads radical ideas and uses the internet and social media to gain presence among youth.

The report adds that the Muslim Brotherhood also has branches across Germany, especially in the North Rhine-Westphalia state.

This rings the alarm over security in the state and portends the presence of Islamic State of Iraq and Syria fighters hardened by years of war in other countries in it, the report says.

It expressed fears from possible violent attacks at the time the Salafis also grow in numbers in the state.

The German Interior Ministry said in July this year that the number of people joining the Muslim Brotherhood keeps increasing year after year.

In 2018, there were 1,040 affiliates of the group, the ministry said.

In 2019, the number increased to 1,350, which means that this group is becoming influential in Germany, it added.