A vast Brotherhood-linked network siphons millions: investigation reveals Sweden’s largest embezzlement scandal
Sweden is witnessing one of the most significant cases of Muslim Brotherhood infiltration in Europe, a scene reminiscent of the organization’s repeated strategy across various countries.
The group advances through quiet penetration, exploiting democracy, freedoms, and social systems to build parallel structures. These are then used to divert public funds under the guise of religion and social work and channel them toward transnational ideological projects.
In a major revelation, an investigation by the Swedish newspaper Expressen has uncovered one of the largest Brotherhood infiltration operations in Europe—not an isolated case of corruption, but the systematic construction of parallel systems within the state. These were run by schools, preschools, and imams linked to the Brotherhood who exploited Sweden’s generous welfare model to siphon more than one billion kronor (around 100 million dollars) into private accounts and foreign activities.
According to the newspaper, a sprawling network of imams and Brotherhood-connected figures ran a parallel financial and educational system for ten years, embezzling millions intended for schools, preschools, and educational grants. The money was transferred to private accounts, external fronts, and cross-border political projects. Several suspects fled Sweden before legal proceedings were completed.
The scandal emerges as Sweden enters a decisive political shift toward confronting Brotherhood infiltration in educational and social institutions, following official warnings about the rise of “parallel structures” threatening the liberal democratic model.
A network stretching from preschools to political bodies
It began with the closure of small schools and preschools in Gothenburg, Gävle, Umeå, and northern regions. Initially presented as isolated cases of failed management, Expressen’s investigation revealed that they were part of two interwoven networks led by imams linked to the Brotherhood, supported by accountants and financial advisors skilled in falsifying expenses, inflating accounts, and diverting school grants to shell companies.
The Swedish Economic Crime Authority described the case as a “double loss”: the theft of public money and the deprivation of children from education for which the funds were intended.
Authorities soon discovered that most schools closed for extremism or financial fraud were connected through a single family-religious network using methods similar to organized crime groups.
Schools turned into gateways for embezzlement
The scandal began when police raided an apartment in Gävle searching for Rabih Karam, a major figure involved in founding the Nya Kastets school and a financial partner in other institutions. He was later convicted of financial manipulation in 2024.
Recordings surfaced in which he claimed to be ill, destitute, and living in an Arab country, refusing to return to Sweden and accusing officials of “fabricating accusations.”
As investigations progressed, it became clear that the closures were not isolated events but part of a unified network run by Brotherhood-linked individuals operating through intertwined companies to move school funds abroad.
Abderrazak Waberi
Former MP and director of the Romous school network, he is among the key figures. His schools received 462 million kronor (about 44 million USD) in public funding. Investigations showed that around 12 million kronor (1.14 million USD) were siphoned off using fake IT invoices. Some funds were transferred to Islamists in Somalia, others to Southeast Asia and Nairobi.
He is currently serving four and a half years in prison, with debts and bankruptcies amounting to 6.1 million kronor (580,000 USD).
Abdel Nasser Al-Nadi
A central figure in the network, he managed schools such as Vitenskapsskolan and recruited former ISIS members into the educational system. Declared a national security threat in 2019, he transferred 4.2 million kronor (400,000 USD) to an investment account in Malta. He owes more than five million kronor in taxes and fled to an Arab country.
Abu Raad
A prominent imam in Gävle, arrested in 2019 for posing a security threat, he fled before deportation and was later spotted in Turkey before disappearing. He was closely linked to the Nya Kastets school, which was shut down for radicalization, fraud, and recruitment activities.
Hussein Al-Jabouri
Imam of Umeå and treasurer of the Bilal preschool network, he was convicted of serious accounting crimes after transferring millions to unverified recipients. He is serving two years in prison and owes more than one million kronor in taxes.
Mohamed Al-Qatran
An accountant and son-in-law of Abu Raad, he is considered the chief financial architect. Despite a ban on commercial consultancy, he continued managing around twenty companies. Known for violent behavior, he once smashed a bottle over a board member’s head during a financial dispute before fleeing to an Arab country.
Front organizations
The investigation identifies several institutions used to divert funds, including the Ler och Lek preschool, which received more than 30 million kronor between 2016 and 2020. A large portion of the money was transferred to the Andalous sports association and then to the Swedish Muslim Union, classified as extremist.
Sweden on alert
In May, the government established an expert committee to study the influence of political Islam. The Minister of Employment warned of “parallel structures” undermining democracy. The Prime Minister stated that Sweden will not allow the Brotherhood or any foreign entity to manipulate its democratic system.
But despite the authorities’ strong measures, the scale of the stolen funds, the fugitives abroad, and the continued restructuring of the network indicate that Sweden’s confrontation with the Brotherhood is only beginning.
