The Muslim Brotherhood in Europe (4): A View From France

Hat tip Francois DeSouche

This is the latest in our series of translations from European articles on Islamism in Europe, and the 4th concerning the European Union in general. This article comes from RFI in France and was cross-posted by the French blog, Francois DeSouche. I should note that the organization mentioned, Femyso, is also mentioned in numerous articles we have translated from individual European countries.

 https://www.rfi.fr/fr/europe/20261008-les-d%C3%A9put%C3%A9s-europ%C3%A9ens-adoptent-une-r%C3%A9solution-pour-lutter-contre-l-entrisme-islamiste

European Deputies adopt resolution to fight against Islamist infiltration

On Thursday, October 8, the European deputies called for a European strategy to fight against Islamist infiltration and the influence of the Muslim Brotherhood, which, in particular, should guarantee that affiliated associations are not funded. The Parliament adopted a resolution by the PPE* group (right) to this effect with 381 votes in favor, 167 against, and 15 abstentions during the plenary session in Strasbourg. It was an initiative very much marked by politics during the middle of the presidential campaign in France.

Posted October 8, 2026 at 14:34, updated October 8, 2026 at 14:36 

Caption: General view of a plenary hall of the European Parliament at Strasbourg in France on January 20, 2026

Celine Imart wants to sound an alarm. For the French deputy of the Republicans PPE group, the European Union is turning a blind eye to the Islamist menace. "Infiltration doesn't always begin with the sound of guns. It begins with a smile, the neatly-knotted tie, the distorted language of human rights. It kills when it can. When it can't, it infiltrates," she asserts.

When speaking of "the smile and the tie," Celine Imart is making reference to representatives of associations that operate behind masks, explains our special envoy to Strasbourg, Julien Chavanne. She particularly cites Femyso, the Forum of European Muslim Youth and Student Organizations. They are identified as closely tied to the Muslim Brotherhood, yet, for years, have received public funding from European governments.

According to the PPE, one of the principal objectives of the resolution is aimed to demand traceability of funds given to Islamist entities and to cease all funding.

The resolution was supported by the extreme right. Nicolas Bay is an ECR** deputy and member of the party of Marion Marechal. "We have a historical and vital opportunity to put an end to years of naivete and complacency in regards to the Muslim Brotherhood," he states.

The centrists of Renew also supported this resolution. But the left, generally kept their distance, partly judging it "Islamophobic". The European Deputy of the Socialist Party, Chloe Ridel denounced a stigmatization of the Muslim religion. "With your vague arguments, your obsession for just one form of infiltration, and your silence, or I should say, your complacency towards others, it is nothing more than a deflection of your desire to always point the finger at the same scapegoats," she argues.

While the objective of the authors of this 100% French resolution is to shine the spotlight on the subject, it especially shows that the French presidential campaign is also playing (a role) in the European chambers. 

* PPE: European Peoples Party

** ECR European Conservative Reformist Party