EU Parliament Votes to Target Muslim Brotherhood Links
European Parliament approves resolution to counter Islamist influence and restrict funding to Brotherhood-linked groups.
2 min read
The European Parliament has voted to support designating Muslim Brotherhood-linked organizations and individuals as terrorist entities, marking a significant step in the EU’s effort to combat Islamist influence. The resolution, passed with a vote of 381-167, calls for a coordinated strategy to address what lawmakers describe as ‘Islamist entryism’ and the growing influence of Brotherhood networks within European institutions and civil society.
Coordinated Strategy to Counter Islamist Influence
The measure urges EU member states to provide information for the Council of the European Union to assess whether Brotherhood-linked individuals and organizations meet the criteria for terrorist designation. It also calls for scrutiny of alleged front organizations, financial networks, youth groups, and other entities associated with the movement. Although the vote does not itself designate any organization as a terrorist group, it places political pressure on EU institutions and national governments to consider such action.
EU Commission to Investigate Funding Links
The resolution also calls on the European Commission to investigate whether EU funding has reached Brotherhood-associated organizations and to strengthen safeguards against public money being directed toward Islamist networks. The initiative was spearheaded by the center-right European People’s Party (EPP), the Parliament’s largest political group, and drew support from conservative and centrist lawmakers.
Support from Political Groups and Advocacy Organizations
French EPP lawmaker Céline Imart, who led the group’s efforts, emphasized the need to distinguish between religious freedom and political extremism. ‘We need to make sure Europe doesn’t fund Islamists. Islam as a faith and political Islam as an ideology must not be conflated,’ she stated. ‘We must protect both democracy and religious freedom.’
Broader Context and Previous Actions
The vote follows similar action by President Donald Trump’s administration, which designated three Muslim Brotherhood chapters as terrorist entities in January after a review of the movement’s branches. The European Parliament’s resolution now leaves EU institutions and member states to determine whether to pursue similar designations and implement the proposed restrictions on funding and institutional cooperation.
Source: Breitbart
