ZARA and the Muslim Brotherhood: New Details Emerge on Funding for the Hidden Network in Austria
New information released by the Austrian government has revealed that public funding reached an organization linked to the Muslim Brotherhood, reopening a highly sensitive issue.
In a government memorandum submitted to Parliament, Austria’s Minister of Housing, Culture, Media and Sports, Andy Babler, stated that the association “ZARA”, which has ties to the Muslim Brotherhood, received €150,000 from his ministry in 2026. The allocation was listed in the budget under the category of “media funding.”
Babler also acknowledged that a meeting took place between the deputy head of the ministry’s Grants Monitoring Department, whose name was not disclosed, and representatives of ZARA. The meeting was held at the organization’s request to discuss its strained financial situation.
On April 30, 2026, ZARA submitted an application to the ministry requesting €300,000 in funding to continue its online hate counseling activities. The application included the relevant supporting documents, particularly a project description, cost estimates, and a financial plan.
Commenting on the matter, Babler said, “The funding became possible thanks to the available budget surplus.” He added, “The final amount was determined in close coordination with the Ministry of Finance, Science and Research, taking into account the financial resources available within the budget.”
According to observers, the ministry’s response to the parliamentary inquiry regarding this matter is highly problematic because it raises numerous questions about how ZARA may have misled government institutions and how similar loopholes can be prevented in the future.
Suspicions and Connections
According to the parliamentary inquiry submitted a few days ago by the Freedom Party of Austria, the association ZARA, known as “Civil Courage and Anti-Racism,” receives public funding from several Austrian government ministries.
At the same time, several aspects require closer political and administrative scrutiny. ZARA cooperated within the framework of the so-called “Alliance Against Anti-Muslim Racism,” established in May 2021, in which individuals linked to the Muslim Brotherhood, including Farid Hafez, have been active.
Farid Hafez was among those targeted during Austrian police raids against the Muslim Brotherhood in 2020. His name has also appeared in the ongoing investigations into the group’s activities in Austria.
Furthermore, Farid Hafez appears as a contributor to ZARA’s 2022 annual report, making him directly involved in the organization’s published work, according to the parliamentary inquiry.
In a resolution adopted on April 29, 2021, the European Parliament expressed regret that the organization had repeatedly received European Union funding despite allegations concerning its links to the Muslim Brotherhood.
Organizations Linked to the Muslim Brotherhood
Within the framework of the alliance, ZARA also cooperated with several organizations, including the “Muslim Youth of Austria” (MJÖ) and the “Documentation Center on Anti-Muslim Racism and Islamophobia,” both of which are described as being linked to the Muslim Brotherhood.
Regarding the Muslim Youth of Austria, security assessments and academic research have repeatedly identified the organization as belonging to circles associated with the Muslim Brotherhood, according to the parliamentary inquiry.
In studies conducted by extremism researcher Lorenzo Vidino, the organization is classified as being ideologically influenced by the Muslim Brotherhood.
Analyses carried out by Austria’s government-run Documentation Center on Political Islam, as well as various university research projects, also point to organizational links and overlapping personal networks between the organization and the Muslim Brotherhood.
Particular concern has also been raised over the cooperation between ZARA and the Documentation Center on Anti-Muslim Racism and Islamophobia. According to the parliamentary inquiry, actors associated with political Islam use anti-Muslim racism as a political narrative to advance their own objectives.
