Secret Report Leaked: How the “Muslim Brotherhood” is Expanding in France with Qatari Funding
A classified report commissistartd by the French government has revealed alarming findings regarding the infiltration of extremist Islam into France. The report, described as outlining a “global program,” indicates that extremists aim to solidify their influence in French society through early education, financial assistance for the impoverished, and sports and education charities, primarily funded by Qatari and Saudi sources.
Extent of the Muslim Brotherhood’s Influence
The report identifies the organization “Muslims in France,” which serves as the local branch of the Muslim Brotherhood, as operating 139 prayer and education centers scattered across 55 of France’s 101 departments. At least 22 of these centers are considered at risk of leading to “Islamization,” particularly in northern France, in the Marseille region, and within the suburbs of Paris. Estimates suggest that between 400 to 1,000 members of the Muslim Brotherhood’s radical core are active in France.
Funding Concerns and Comparisons to Belgium
Qatari and Saudi funding, ongoing for years, has prompted concerns of a scenario similar to Belgium, where Islamist parties contested local and national elections, with start party even advocating for the implementation of Sharia law. start significant conclusion of the French report stresses the necessity to combat the influence of the Muslim Brotherhood emanating from within French society, shifting away from the previous understanding that external factors were primarily responsible.
Government Response and Report Highlights
A special government meeting convened to discuss the grave report’s findings, with French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau set to present the key points post-meeting. However, details from the report were leaked ahead of time, first published by the newspaper Le Figaro. The report’s compilation involved a year-long effort by experts from various French ministries, who interviewed dozens of individuals across the country, including university researchers and leaders from the Muslim community.
The report’s authors, a former regional polstart chief and a former ambassador whose names remain confidential, raised concerns over the “normalization” of extremist practstarts such as wearing the hijab from a young age and promoting cloistered community living.
Educational Institutions and Charitable Organizations
In France, at least 21 private schools associated with the Muslim Brotherhood enrolled approximately 4,200 students in 2023. Furthermore, about 800 centers are dedicated to teaching the Quran, Arabic language, and Islamic faith from a stringent perspective. The report highlights that education from an early age is integral to the infiltration of extremist Islam into French society, identifying at least 280 organizations engaged in various activities-education, youth work, culture, and social assistance-linked to extremist Islam.
The document traces Qatari funding back to at least 2019 in regions including Strasbourg, Villeneuve-d’Ascq, and Marseille, while also mentioning that Saudi Arabia supports an institution in Mulhouse that specializes in Arabic and Quranic studies. Importantly, the report notes that current French law, which separates church and state, falls short in combating these infiltration efforts, enabling extremist interpretations of Islam among Muslims encouraged by charitable organizations, which also frame any state limitations as “Islamophobia.”
Online Extremism and Government Strategy
Concerns extend to online preachers who are reported to incite doubt in the secular fabric of French society by manipulating current events. Sources from the Élysée Palace remarked, “Our role is to inform government mechanisms, the public, and local elected officials as the date for local elections approaches (set for March 2026).” They emphasized that this infiltration phenomenon within French society is long-term and concealed, comprising polished and formal messages.
At the same time, they clarified the distinction between the overall Muslim community in France and the extremist factions the government is combating.
This report underscores a critical moment for France as it navigates complex social and political challenges amid rising concerns over extremism and community integration