(Bonn, 20.05.2026) A high-level conference titled “Safeguarding Europe: Exposing the Growing Threat of the Muslim Brotherhood” was convened at the European Parliament. Hosted by MEPs Bert-Jan Ruissen (ECR) and Thomas Zdechovský (EPP) brought together security experts, human rights defenders, and representatives of persecuted Middle Eastern minorities to analyse the strategy of the Muslim Brotherhood of institutional infiltration. Central to the conference was the report Unmasking the Muslim Brotherhood, which details how the group utilises “entryism” to influence academia and political institutions. Unlike peaceful Islam, which focuses on individual worship, the Brotherhood pursues a strategic political agenda aimed at establishing a supremacist, Sharia-governed state.
Nigel Goodrich, a lead organiser of the symposium and advocate for persecuted minorities, highlighted the 2014 genocide of the Yazidi people by ISIS—noting the shared ideological DNA between ISIS leadership and the Brotherhood—and listed the diverse groups currently under threat, including the Shhites from Iraq, Jews, Yezidis, Druse, Alawites, Syriac Orthodox Christians, Kurds, Ahmadiyya Muslims or Baha’is in Iran, while most of those groups for represented at the conference or even gave a short report. He reminded the assembly that the fight is a collective one: “Today collectively we stand with them … we stand together against the ideology that would seek to destroy your life, remove your freedom and enslave you.”
Mainly due to Islamist threats and jihadist terror the Christian population in Iraq fell from 1.5 million (pre-2011) to ~120,000 (2025), in Syria from 1.5 million to 300,000. In Nigeria 52,000+ Christians have been killed since 2009 by Boko Haram and related groups. Polls show, that 59 % of young Muslims in France favour Sharia law over secular law. A government sponsored research in Germany, shows that 44 % of Muslims are open to Islamist messages and 9 % agree with Islamists and want to see a Muslim state installed in Berlin.
Dr. Florence Bergeaud-Blackler proved that the Muslim brotherhood exploits democratic strengths—such as tolerance and guilt—to subvert institutions from within. It has established a sophisticated EU presence via front organisations like the Council of European Muslims (CEM) and FEMYSO. Conference statements revealed that the EU has awarded millions in grants to this network—including over 40 million euros previously provided to Islamic Relief. Speakers warned that these “front” organisations exploit a lack of stringent oversight to secure financial support for separatist ideologies. Dr. Tommaso Virgili and MEP Charlie Weimers raised alarms regarding “taxpayer-funded subversion” and the phenomenon of “lawfare”. They argued the Brotherhood has effectively weaponised the term “Islamophobia” to frame any critique of political Islam as racism. This “fraudulent” framing prevents legitimate debate and silences genuine Muslim reformers.
Imam Mohammad Tawhidi
According to Archbishop Thomas Schirrmacher, the highlight of the conference was the a powerful public address delivered by Imam Mohammad Tawhidi, widely recognised as the Imam of Peace, issued a stark warning against the Muslim Brotherhood, portraying it as a pervasive threat to global peace and democratic values. He accused the organisation of masquerading as a charitable and religious group while systematically infiltrating communities, NGOs, universities, and even government advisory roles across Europe and North America. According to Tawhidi, this infiltration serves to advance a supremacist political Islam that undermines secular governance and pluralistic societies.
Tawhidi elaborated that the Muslim Brotherhood, founded nearly a century ago, has evolved into “the mother of modern jihadist terror,” directly spawning groups like Al-Qaeda, ISIS, and Hamas—entities universally condemned as terrorist organisations. He pointed out that nations such as Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain have long designated it a terrorist group and banned its activities, citing it as an existential danger, yet Western democracies remain alarmingly tolerant. “They replace authentic Muslim voices with proxies who advance political Islam, weaponising faith to sow division,” Tawhidi stated verbatim, emphasising how the group exploits legal loopholes to radicalise youth and promote its agenda under humanitarian pretenses.
Through his leadership of the Global Imams Council, which unites Shia and Sunni scholars in the fight against extremism, Tawhidi called for immediate global action. “Islam is a faith of personal devotion, not a political tool for domination; Islamism is the enemy we face,” he declared word-for-word, urging governments to formally designate the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist ideology. He stressed the urgency of reclaiming the true meaning of “brotherhood” for harmony and compassion, warning that silence enables further encroachment. “The time for silence is over; together, we must build a future of peace,” Tawhidi concluded, rallying moderate Muslims and allies to stand united against this ideological cancer.
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- Photo 1: Imam Tawhidi during his speech © BQ
- Photo 2: Imam Tawhidi, Matthias Böhning, Thomas Schirrmacher and the moderation team © BQ
- Photo 3 and photo 4: The hall of European Parlament during Imam Tawhidis speech © BQ
- Photo 5: Imam Tawhidi with the moderation team © BQ
- Photo 6 and photo 7: Imam Tawhidi, Matthias Böhning, Thomas Schirrmacher © BQ
