Is France Moving Towards a Decisive Confrontation with the Muslim Brotherhood After the Intelligence Report?

9th June 2025

2 minutes read

Is France Moving Towards a Decisive Confrontation with the Muslim Brotherhood After the Intelligence Report?

Amid growing security and ideological concerns, the French government is preparing to launch a series of new measures aimed at countering the expansion of the Muslim Brotherhood within its borders. A recent French intelligence report has sparked widespread controversy over the Brotherhood’s activities in state institutions, particularly in the fields of education, charity, and politics.

Roland Lombardi, a French expert on Middle Eastern affairs, stated that the content of the report comes as no surprise to security circles. Warnings about the threat posed by the Brotherhood have existed for more than ten years. What has changed now, he explained, is the broader political and security climate, which is less tolerant of ideological infiltrations disguised under legal or cultural slogans.

The 73-page report, titled “The Muslim Brotherhood and Political Islam in France,” was presented at a Defense Council meeting on May 21, 2025. Many observers see it as a pivotal moment in the state’s official handling of the issue. The report thoroughly maps out how the Brotherhood has infiltrated civil society organizations, educational institutions, and even local political circles, exploiting legal frameworks to promote its agenda.

Despite the report’s clear warnings, Lombardi points out that the government has yet to announce a concrete action plan or decisive measures. However, he anticipates that upcoming steps may include dissolving certain associations suspected of links to the Brotherhood, restricting foreign funding, tightening customs and tax oversight, and activating European coordination mechanisms for intelligence sharing.

According to Lombardi, the biggest challenge lies not only in the technical implementation of these measures but also in France’s ability to withstand external pressure. Some countries politically, financially, and media-wise support the Brotherhood and may attempt to influence French decisions, particularly on issues like asset freezes or classifying the Brotherhood as an illegal entity.

He further notes that France’s previous soft approach has proven ineffective and that a comprehensive and flexible strategy is now essential—one that combines legal firmness, public awareness campaigns, a reassessment of integration policies, and stricter controls over how associations, schools, and local councils operate.

This French shift comes amid a changing international landscape, where several countries—such as the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt—have already adopted firm policies toward the Brotherhood and are calling for broader international coordination to counter its ideological discourse and funding sources.

France now stands at a crossroads: either continue with a hesitant approach or commit to a clear strategy that effectively blocks a movement still viewed by many experts as a serious threat to the core values of the modern nation-state.