The Muslim Brotherhood in Italy (3)

This is the latest in our series on translations of news articles on the Muslim Brotherhood in Europe and the third such translation from Italy.

This is a fascinating article featuring an interview with the President of the Conference of Imams in France, Imam Hassen Chalghoumi, who is also the Imam of a mosque in the Seine-Saint-Denis suburb of Paris.

Contrary to what you might assume, Chalghoumi is a critic of the Muslim Brotherhood and the spread of Islamism. The interview is a warning to Italy on the dangers of the Brotherhood. In addition, Chalghoumi just led a delegation of Europe-based imams to Israel to show support for the Jewish state. For that effort, the Al Azhar Islamic Institute in Cairo has condemned Chalghoumi and issued a fatwa on him. Thus, Chalghoumi's life is in danger.

The article below is written by Giulia Sorrentino in Il Tempo on July 27, 2025, and is translated by Fousesquawk.

Alarm from the head of Imams in France: Italy, beware- the Muslim Brotherhood wants to subjugate you"

"Italy should beware: Political Islam and the Muslim Brotherhood have a precise design; they want to subjugate and conquer the West in the name of anti-democratic principles using the weapon of victimhood. But this is the antechamber of terrorism". Analyzing the French intelligence report and the secret meeting held in Brussels on the danger of Islamic fundamentalism is Imam Hassen Chalghoumi, President of the Conference of Imams in France.

Is the fear of the Muslim Brotherhood in Italy real?

"If Italy does not react, it risks becoming like France and Belgium. Political Islam and the Muslim Brotherhood are strategists; they work in a way of collaborating with the State to infiltrate the institutions and steal as much information as possible. I know what the risks are; because of this, I say to Italy be very careful. They know very well how to surpass the limits and break down the democratic barriers."

How do they operate?

"The mosques and the fake cultural centers are just the beginning, but then they go on to sporting associations, the desire to run education, especially through courses and books in private schools, then associations, travel, an entire system that operates in silence, waging a cultural battle that wants to take the place of the State. Slowly, slowly, all the way up to politics.  Praying in the streets should be banned, strictly control the mosques, and don't allow places of worship to be built anywhere, but rather in authorized places that respect urban planning criteria and security. Then make the associations responsible, physically and morally, for the behavior of their faithful, so that if the imam crosses the line and gives a sermon against Italy or against Jews, they will be responsible. But if you are not conscious of their desire for conquest, you will be conquered."

How crucial is it to restrict immigration?

"It is fundamental. Many of them are importing fundamentalism. For this (reason), repatriation should be allowed and in a more rapid manner. What are those who don't want this waiting for? For an attack to happen? But Giorgia Meloni and Minister Piantedosi know the gravity of political Islam."

Speaking of the (Italian) government, what do you think of the migration policy?

"I support the Premier's (Meloni)  policy on immigration. It is excellent, but behind her, she has an immobile Europe that does not want to combat Islam, and if it doesn't wake up, we will pay a very heavy price. It is necessary to be even more severe because, due to the silence of Brussels, we have already had many victims. The process of integration is not as easy as some want to make us believe." 

Why?

"There are those who don't truly want to integrate. The Islamist project tries to start with the children, brainwashing them, convincing them to pass from theory to action, often violent, inserting Koranic teaching in the schools and very hard precepts, a very rigorous vision, and in stark contrast with the values banned even in some Muslim countries. They instill a sense of victimhood to drive them to (take) revenge on the West; hence, teachers, police, and institutions. The schools must be controlled; they are a nest of fundamentalism because they make them consult dangerous internet sites and submit texts that give you chills. It is right that in Italy, the Lega (League party) has decided to focus on this." 

What scares you about their method?

"The widespread recruitment. Influencers, including Italians, today are being used to make propaganda. Islamism has a concrete project, especially regarding women, forced to wear the veil. Do not listen to those who say they are happy to wear it; it's not true. Forced into a condition of inferiority, they try to take them out of school to make them marry young and lock them up at home, and it is they that the Italian policy needs to care for (because) they are defenseless."

You are an imam-why do you think like this, going against the majority of your colleagues?

"I have a vision that is based on real integration, not based on subjugation. We set examples, and we cannot impose unhealthy rules. Interreligious dialogue exists, and it must be this way both with the Christians, as well as the Jews, victims of a pervasive anti-Semitism, whose origins are precisely in the spread of radical Islam."