Bags of cash and opaque channels… new details emerge in a German investigation into the Muslim Brotherhood
The French newspaper Le Journal du Dimanche revealed in a report published on Saturday new details concerning German funding worth millions of euros provided to an organization linked to the Muslim Brotherhood through obscure channels.
According to the documents and information disclosed, nearly €15 million was paid over several years to “Islamic Relief Germany,” despite repeated warnings regarding its alleged links to the Muslim Brotherhood. The newspaper noted that a damning report issued by the German Federal Court of Auditors exposed serious shortcomings in the conduct of the German government.
The report states that the Federal Court of Auditors sharply criticized the German Foreign Ministry for granting €15 million in subsidies to “Islamic Relief Germany.”
According to Die Welt, the German state funded the association for several years under the justification of implementing aid projects in Syria.
Between 2013 and 2016, approximately €8.5 million was transferred from the Foreign Ministry to the organization, followed by several million more in subsequent years.
The controversy stems from allegations that the organization maintained links with the Muslim Brotherhood, particularly through certain members of its staff.
In its report, the Federal Court of Auditors strongly criticized the lack of financial oversight by the Foreign Ministry, noting that funds were transferred “blindly” without verifying expenditure reports submitted by the association. It also accused the ministry of violating government directive “AARES 55-1,” which is intended to prevent public funds from financing extremist organizations.
Cash transfers difficult to trace
The case has been known for years, but the report prepared in December 2019 remained confidential until recently. Following a lawsuit filed by lawyer Seyran Ateş, known for her opposition to radical Islam, the Federal Administrative Court ruled in February 2026 that the report should be declassified, stating that the refusal to publish it was based on “irrelevant considerations.”
German media outlets, along with Ateş and Islamic networks expert Sigrid Herrmann, revealed the first details of the case. Herrmann had been warning about the issue since 2016 and stated that her suspicions had been “remarkably confirmed,” criticizing what she described as a “structural failure” that benefited “questionable actors.”
She also criticized the role of current German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who served as Foreign Minister at the time, arguing that it is difficult to imagine officials ignoring instructions without political approval, particularly since he publicly supported the organization in 2013.
According to the report, cash was transported from Germany to Turkey. In a letter dated January 2015, the organization informed the Foreign Ministry of difficulties in transferring money because banks refused to process transactions related to Syria and proposed carrying the funds in cash instead. Despite initial objections from an official, the ministry later granted customs authorization.
An official memorandum indicates that approximately €240,000 in cash was transported during five flights between 2014 and 2015.
The state was aware
The first warnings date back to 2009, when the Baden-Württemberg Office for the Protection of the Constitution pointed to links between the international organization “Islamic Relief” and circles associated with the Muslim Brotherhood.
In 2017, the German government acknowledged the existence of “close ties” between the organization and the Islamic Community in Germany, which is regarded as one of the most prominent supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood.
In 2018, the Syria division of the Foreign Ministry warned of the risk that funds could reach “Brotherhood-affiliated charitable structures” inside Syria.
It should be noted that the international organization “Islamic Relief” has been banned in Israel since 2014, as well as in the United Arab Emirates, due to suspicions regarding alleged links to and financing of Hamas.
Despite this, the German Foreign Ministry continued funding the organization’s projects until 2019, before suspending subsidies following a parliamentary inquiry while acknowledging the existence of “significant personal connections” with the Muslim Brotherhood.
The German government later refused to disclose details of financial transfers between the German branch and the international organization, citing oversight by the Federal Court of Auditors.
For his part, the lawyer representing “Islamic Relief Germany” denied the allegations, asserting that his client has “absolutely no connection” to either the Muslim Brotherhood or Hamas, and emphasizing the independence of the German branch.
However, this denial did not convince Sigrid Herrmann, who stated that “millions of euros are transferred annually from the German branch to the parent organization in Birmingham.” She argued that the relationship between the two entities constitutes “official cooperation” under the organization’s statutes and noted that the head of the German branch also holds a leadership position within the international organization.
Any implications for France?
Although the case has gained significant attention in Germany, the organization operates in several other countries as well. French researcher Florence Bergeaud-Blackler considers it a “persistent phenomenon” that has received public funding in various countries, albeit on a smaller scale.
She stated that its members continue their activities by establishing new associations under banners such as combating racism or supporting humanitarian work.
In France, the researcher noted that the organization is present but does not receive government funding, arguing that the principle of secularism constitutes “a fundamental safeguard” preventing such entities from being financed with public money.
