Germany’s Policy Towards the Muslim Brotherhood

 The government of Germany has tightened the screws on the international organization of the Muslim Brotherhood in Germany. Recently, the Supreme Council of Muslims in Germany expelled the Brotherhood’s fronts, including the Islamic Center in Munich and the Tabba Union of the Muslim Brotherhood, from the elections held on 18 September 2022.   Ibrahim Al-Zayat was also stripped from the council. 

Since the Muslim Brotherhood’s arrival in Germany in 1950, Germany’s policy towards the Muslim Brotherhood has taken several phases. After the 9/11 attacks, Germany started investigating the Brotherhood networks. 

In 2020, the German Interior Ministry said it stopped funding IRW (Islamic Relief Worldwide)  and Islamic Relief Deutschland (IRD) over ties to the Muslim Brotherhood.

This year, the Central Council of Muslims in Germany (ZMD) expelled the German Muslim Community (DMG) over extremist links. Reports claimed that several groups within the ZMD have ties to the Muslim Brotherhood. Youth revolutionary movements, women’s NGOs, and coalitions often criticize the Muslim Brotherhood for inciting violence. 

The DMG, a founding member of the ZMD, is dominated by the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood. The Muslim Brotherhood was founded in 1928. by Hasan al-Banna. The group started as a social movement seeking to re-Islamise Egypt. However, several reports claimed that the Muslim Brotherhood incited violence against Coptic Christians in Egypt.

Last month, Egypt’s Court of Cassation upheld sentences of imprisonment against 21 members of the banned group of Muslim brotherhood. They also faced charges because of carrying out terrorist acts against policemen, judges, and armed forces. 

During the human rights review of Egypt at the UN Human Rights Council in 2019, the head of the National Council for Women, said that under the rule of the Muslim Brotherhood, women faced discrimination. Reportedly, the group often criticizes women. 

A few branches of the Muslim Brotherhood—Hamas and Liwa al-Thawra—have already been designated as terrorist organizations. Saudi Arabia also banned the Muslim Brotherhood on their territory.