Do the EU financing islamist terror groups ?
Roni Alasor – 4 August 2022 - Middle East Diplomatic - According to a newly investigation report publicized in July 2022 by the Switzerland-based Global Influence Operations Report (GIOR), the European Union and member states accused to funds Islamist Groups, especially the Islamic Relief Worldwide Defunded by Former Arab Sponsors.
The investigations shows that “Islamic Relief Worldwide, condemned by the U.S. for "horrifying anti-Semitism and glorification of violence," received almost €33.4 million from the EU.”
The GIOR report concluding that “the European Union and numerous other government institutions are promoting Islamism by funding charities with roots in the Muslim Brotherhood. In so doing, officials are supporting a movement that prominent leaders in the Middle East have abandoned. They are also supporting a movement that poses serious threats to civil society in Europe, including "the hindering of the integration of minorities, inciting conflict between ethnic groups, fostering hatred, and incubating terrorism”.
GIOR investigates "non-transparent" attempts to influence public opinion in democracies by state actors such as Turkey, or transnational organizations such as the Muslim Brotherhood. GIOR`s recent report, which focuses on organizations founded or led by activists from the Muslim Brotherhood, dubbed the "Global Muslim Brotherhood (GMB)," states that governmental entities have given approximately €80 million to such organizations since 2004.
Dexter Van Zile, managing editor of the Middle East Forum publication Focus on Western Islamism saying that this money is going to a movement that governments in the Middle East, such as Turkey, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
GIOR saying that EU sources did not answered the questions regarding the accusations concluding that European governments, with the EU being the worst offender, having given €50 million to GMB organizations in France, Germany, Ireland, Italy and the United Kingdom between 2004 and 2020.
Islamic Relief Worldwide, which was condemned by the U.S. State Department in 2017 for "horrifying anti-Semitism and glorification of violence" on the part of its leaders, is the largest recipient of EU largesse, having received almost €33.4 million from the organization between 2007 and 2020, despite its well-known connections to the MB.
The EU, which has not responded to a request for comment, also gave €15 million to the European Network Against Racism (ENAR) between 2007 and 2012, even though its director, Michael Privot, acknowledged in 2008 he was a one-time member of the Muslim Brotherhood and "has served in leading positions in several organizations tied to the GMB," GIOR states.
One of the organizations Privot led was the Forum of European Muslim Youth and Student Organizations (FEMYSO), which received almost €290,000 from the EU. One of FEMYSO`s past leaders is Ibrahim Zayat, a prominent Muslim activist in Germany who has close ties to Muslim Brotherhood leaders in Egypt.