France: Number of Muslim Brotherhood members has doubled since 2019, from 50,000 to 100,000

For some time now, various voices in France have been warning of the increasing number of Muslim Brotherhood members in the country, highlighting the significant threat this poses to security, stability, democracy, and even demographics.

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In a report, French researcher Hélène de Lauzon revealed that the number of members of the Islamist organization has doubled from 50,000 in 2019 to 100,000, based on data from a French intelligence expert relayed by Le Journal du Dimanche, as reported by the Arab Center for Extremism Studies.

The researcher warned about the growing infiltration of the group into French society, which is increasing almost daily. Over the past ten years, the proportion of Muslim women wearing the veil has doubled, representing a “clearly coordinated” cultural Islamization.

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Among the facets of this cultural Islamization are the growing importance of Islamic clothing such as the abaya, religious demands in workplaces and swimming pools, and the rise of so-called “halal commerce.”

Amid this situation, and recognizing the danger, French President Emmanuel Macron has tasked two senior government officials with preparing a report on political Islam and the Muslim Brotherhood to be submitted in the upcoming fall. The researcher clarified that this work is being overseen by a diplomat who has held various positions in Arab countries.

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The French government justified the report in a press release from the Ministry of the Interior, citing concerns about the role of the Muslim Brotherhood and its ideology, which is seen as incompatible with the principles of the French Republic.

In the statement, Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin spoke of a “race against time” and a “cultural/institutional battle against a malevolent organization.” Darmanin viewed the growing influence of the Muslim Brotherhood as a “challenge,” noting that the organization does not use terrorism but relies on softer methods while working effectively to gradually convert all segments of society into the Islamist camp.

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The minister warned the public about the gravity of the situation, particularly regarding “those who collaborate with the Muslim Brotherhood without knowing it, especially public sector actors” such as judges, elected officials, and academics.

Darmanin also revealed his intention to take inspiration from Austria’s policy towards the Muslim Brotherhood. In 2021, Vienna placed the organization on a blacklist, labeling it a “radical group linked to religiously motivated crimes.” Since then, Austria has banned the wearing or distribution of the group’s symbols, making it the first European country to adopt such a strict stance against the Islamist group.

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France has more than 250 Islamic associations across the country, including 51 organizations working for the Muslim Brotherhood. According to the European Center for Intelligence and Counterterrorism Studies, these groups “engage in political activities and work for extremist groups,” with the aim of expanding their influence among French Muslims and establishing a caliphate.