Sweden and the Muslim Brotherhood – is Islamism a natural part of a multicultural society or is it a threat to our civilization? Cover Image

Sweden and the Muslim Brotherhood – is Islamism a natural part of a multicultural society or is it a threat to our civilization?
Sweden and the Muslim Brotherhood – is Islamism a natural part of a multicultural society or is it a threat to our civilization?

Author(s): Björn Herstad
Subject(s): Politics / Political Sciences, Politics, Political Sciences, Sociology of Religion
Published by: Fundacja Instytut Nauki o Polityce
Keywords: Muslim Brotherhood; Sweden; EU; Multiculturalism; Islamophobia; Islamism; political Islam; Integration

Summary/Abstract: A historical parallel of the mood of operation by the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt to the way the organization is operating in Europe is identified. The organization has a very pragmatic ideological view allowing it to align with the political elite in EU and countries such as Sweden. It uses multiculturalism, the fight against Islamophobia and a claim of being representative for all Muslims as the three main bases to leverage influence. The Islamism it represents must be regarded as fundamentalist because it is advocating Islam as a total system encompassing all areas of life and demanding long-term subjugation. In Sweden individuals from Muslim Brotherhood associated groups have entered high-ranking political positions and managed to channel significant governmental funds to build schools, mosques, relief services and “educating” newly arrived immigrants and prison inmates. Due to the fact that the Muslim Brotherhood is trying to create an Islamist parallel structure it controls, and at the same time try to facilitate governmental support for these efforts and lastly due to the fact that it advances an ideological position in conflict with core Western values, it must be considered a threat to Europe and civilization as we know it.

  • Issue Year: 3/2017
  • Issue No: 4
  • Page Range: 31-100
  • Page Count: 70
  • Language: English