Switzerland Faces Growing Pressure to Confront the Muslim Brotherhood

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From France to Switzerland, the campaign to counter the Muslim Brotherhood is gaining momentum across borders, ringing alarm bells about the need for stronger confrontation and possibly a ban on the organization.

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On Tuesday, the Swiss newspaper 24 Heures warned of the growing influence of the Muslim Brotherhood within Switzerland. The paper stated that the group’s presence is not limited to mosques but extends discreetly into educational, community, and financial networks—posing a subtle threat to the country’s social fabric and democratic values.

The French-language daily noted that a recent report from France had identified political Islam as a threat to national unity, a conclusion that has resonated strongly in Bern, Switzerland’s capital.

The report sparked widespread discussion in the Swiss Federal Parliament, prompting lawmakers from various political backgrounds to call for an official investigation into the Brotherhood’s penetration and societal influence.

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France as a Case Study

In France, the report revealed that 7% of Islamic places of worship are affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood, which is seen as a threat to national cohesion.

Although the debate in Switzerland has not yet reached the same intensity, the topic has started making its way onto the federal political agenda following France’s handling of the Brotherhood issue.

In response, Swiss MP Jacqueline de Quattro (from the Free Democratic Party, canton of Vaud) submitted a motion requesting a comprehensive federal report on “the presence, organization, influence networks, and methods of political Islamist movements, particularly those affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood, in Switzerland.”

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Her initiative has garnered significant support from a broad spectrum of political parties, including the Green Liberals (PVL), The Centre, the FDP, and the right-wing Swiss People’s Party (UDC). Notably, Socialist MP Estelle Revaz from Geneva also co-signed the motion.

Toward a Federal Assessment

According to 24 Heures, this cross-party support increases the likelihood that the motion will pass. If adopted, the Federal Department of Justice and Police (FDJP) will be required to conduct a detailed assessment of the Brotherhood’s presence across religious, educational, social, and digital domains.

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Should irregularities or risks be confirmed, the federal police will be tasked with proposing legal, regulatory, or operational measures to protect Switzerland’s social cohesion and the rule of law.

A Rooted Issue

This is not the first time MP Jacqueline de Quattro has raised concerns about the Muslim Brotherhood. In June, she questioned Federal Councillor Beat Jans regarding actions taken to prevent the risks highlighted in the French report. Jans cited Switzerland’s national strategy for preventing violent extremism and ongoing reforms concerning foreign funding of places of worship.

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However, De Quattro deemed these measures inadequate, stating, “It is in our interest to address this problem early, so we do not find ourselves in the same situation as France.”

Concerns about political Islam in Switzerland are not new. Last year, Saïda Keller-Messahli, a well-known expert on Islamic movements, warned about the Brotherhood’s influence in Switzerland. In an interview with Le Matin Dimanche, she remarked, “There is still a structural problem in Switzerland: the Muslim Brotherhood.” She added, “It’s surprising that there is no strong political will to address this issue.”

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