How do the economic crises of the Muslim Brotherhood affect the group in Europe?

The European continent is facing numerous economic crises related to governments’ inability to fulfill promises to their citizens. At the same time, there is a significant presence of elements of the terrorist Muslim Brotherhood group who have fled from Egypt and invested in various European countries.

Simultaneously, the terrorist group possesses major economic and financial institutions, particularly in economically challenged countries like Germany and England.

Britain and Decisive Measures

Recent actions by the British government, which is considered a major hub for the Muslim Brotherhood within Europe, involve reviewing the organization’s activities and ideas. This is despite increasing security and intelligence warnings about the potential terrorist risks associated with the group’s activities within the European continent.

Nevertheless, national interests may guide the decisions, especially since the group has significant economic power in countries experiencing economic challenges.

Safe Haven and Group’s Funds Investment

According to a recent study from the European Center for Counterterrorism and Intelligence, both London and Ankara still provide a safe haven for elements of the Muslim Brotherhood who have fled Egypt since 2013. These two cities serve as the largest strongholds of the organization within Europe.

However, the group’s economic investments rely on penetrating through charitable, social, civil, and economic institutions that operate in a decentralized manner. They don’t adhere to a unified or fixed organizational or political framework. The group consistently denies any affiliation and refuses to acknowledge ownership. Nonetheless, the presence of known leaders with Brotherhood ties might hint at these relationships.

The group’s economic network in Europe is currently facing consecutive crises. This includes crackdowns and blockades imposed by certain countries on Brotherhood slogans and institutions. Examples of these countries are Austria and Germany. Additionally, internal divisions among the leadership further complicate matters.

Group’s Funds Controlling Since the Era of Hassan al-Banna

Tarek Al Bashbishi, a political researcher specializing in terrorist groups, says that the Brotherhood possesses significant funds. Rich countries like Qatar financially support the group, and wealthy businessmen in some Gulf countries also back the Brotherhood. Furthermore, Western countries like Britain, Germany, and America enable the international organization to thrive economically, allowing the Brotherhood’s workforce to persist.

Al Bashbishi adds that money has been pivotal to the Brotherhood since the era of Hassan al-Banna. It is the core of their ideology and the most important tool ensuring their existence. As a result, I believe that the Brotherhood is not suffering financially and uses money to buy loyalties both within and outside the organization.

Meanwhile, Mustafa Hamza, a political researcher specializing in terrorist groups, believes that the Brotherhood’s funds in Europe hold control, especially as European countries are facing economic challenges. Nevertheless, the group’s funds are present in managing financial resources and monthly donations.

Hamza adds that the Brotherhood used to provide monthly stipends to families in Turkey and England. However, these payments were cut and reinvested in the Brotherhood’s private companies within Europe.