France Unmasks the Muslim Brotherhood: A Late but Decisive Battle

25th June 2025

3 minutes read

France Unmasks the Muslim Brotherhood: A Late but Decisive Battle

France is exerting significant pressure on the Muslim Brotherhood, both officially and through the media, following revelations about the group’s growing influence and threat within the country.

According to the French magazine Causeur, France has begun taking concrete steps to unmask the Brotherhood and curb its increasing presence in French society, after years of tolerance towards its infiltration.

While observers believe that the state has acted too late, French authorities insist that the battle against this ideological movement has already begun—a battle that they describe as existential to protect the foundations of the Republic.

The magazine has called for an outright ban of the Muslim Brotherhood in France.

Causeur notes that for a long time, France turned a blind eye to the activities of various associations on its soil, but now realizes that many of them were merely fronts for the Brotherhood—an organization labeled as terrorist in several countries.

In response to this infiltration, Paris has launched a broad campaign to “unmask” the group and neutralize its influence on financial, political, and social levels.

A Late but Crucial Awareness

Causeur reports that both French politicians and the public were shocked by the extent of the Brotherhood’s influence. An intelligence report titled The Muslim Brotherhood and Political Islam in France recommended the establishment of new mechanisms to curb the spread of radical ideology, particularly in certain Arab communities seen as fertile ground for the Brotherhood’s messaging.

The report also urged a full ban on the organization in France and the seizure of its assets.

In a surprising twist, the report suggested introducing Arabic language instruction in public schools as a way to undermine the Brotherhood’s influence, since studies showed that the group had monopolized Arabic teaching to spread its ideas among youth.

However, the government was cautious. Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau had previously stated that mastering the French language remains the top priority.

Despite Arabic being the second most spoken language in France—with about 4 million speakers—it is taught in only around 3% of secondary schools.

As early as 2018, the Montaigne Institute warned that the Brotherhood was using Arabic education as a recruitment tool and recommended integrating it into the official school curriculum.

Facing this quiet expansion, the French authorities have now opted for a firmer stance.

Official statements describe an ongoing “silent war” against the Brotherhood, seen as a secretive, clandestine, and subversive group that exploits democratic freedoms to undermine the Republic from within.

Macron Takes Action

On May 21st, following a Defense Council meeting, French President Emmanuel Macron tasked his government with taking concrete steps to reduce the Brotherhood’s influence.

The Élysée Palace issued a statement stressing the danger of this “ideological infiltration,” calling it a direct threat to national unity.

A package of additional measures is expected in June.

Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau stated that the Brotherhood “poses a direct threat to the Republic” and seeks to “dismantle the social fabric and undermine French values.” He noted the government’s intent to cut foreign funding to the organization and dry up its political and social support.

Though the official response is still recent, the battle against Brotherhood ideology is likely to be long and complex, given the group’s decades-long entrenchment in French societal structures.