“If we continue to ignore these realities, we risk allowing radical Islam to reshape our societies in ways we may no longer be able to control,” warns Patricia Chagnon, an Arabist, expert on Islam, and former MEP for the French National Rally (RN). Chagnon is also the author of a book on Qatargate, a political scandal involving claims that EU MEPs and officials were influenced by Qatar, Morocco, and Mauritania, with accusations including corruption, money laundering, and organized crime. Chagnon’s book is downloadable free of charge in both English and French at qatar-gate.fr.
You always emphasize that Qatargate was only the tip of the iceberg. What do you mean by that?
When the Qatargate scandal broke out, everyone was outraged. Investigators found a couple of million euros in cash hidden in suitcases in Brussels. But let’s be logical—big players don’t take suitcases of cash. In today’s Europe, cash transactions are heavily restricted. The real deals happen elsewhere—through offshore accounts, real estate investments, and other discreet financial channels. The money found in Brussels was likely just small payoffs for minor favors, for influencing parliamentary committee decisions, or passing on inside information.
The real issue is much broader. Qatar and ICESCO (Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) have been implementing a strategy to spread their influence in Europe for over 25 years. In 2000, 54 Muslim countries signed the Doha Charter, which is essential reading for anyone trying to understand the foothold that radical Islam has taken in the West for the past quarter of a century.
ICESCO, which is often compared to UNESCO but for the Muslim world, originally focused on humanitarian efforts—education, healthcare, and aid for poorer populations. However, in 2000, it shifted its focus to Islamic populations outside the Muslim world.
This charter outlines in great detail how to unify and mobilize Muslim communities in Europe by promoting a specific version of Islam. It emphasizes the spread of Arabic language and culture, the construction of mosques, Islamic schools, and cultural centers—all promoting what they call “the right” version of Islam.
Their goal is clear: Muslim populations in Europe should not westernize; they should maintain a strong attachment to their history and their origins. However, this so-called “common heritage” is artificial—Pakistanis and Moroccans, for example, do not share a common cultural background. Unschooled Muslims who essentially speak their dialect have a very hard time communicating with each other. The real objective is to create a unified mindset among people of vastly different ethnic, linguistic, and national origins.
By focusing on these three elements—religion, language, and history—Qatar is, in effect, creating a new ‘nation’ by uniting the very diverse Muslim diaspora in Europe. This new virtual nation has its capital in Qatar.
The question is: why is the Doha Charter, signed by 54 muslim countries, readily accessible on the Internet, and translated to numerous languages, ignored by politicians and journalists alike? This is why I publish it at the end of my book. Don’t take my words for granted—check it out yourself.
Is Qatar’s main goal religious or political?
In the West, we separate religion from politics. Many Muslims do as well—they practice Islam in a private, moderate way. However, radical Islam is a political system. It defines not only faith but also governance, law, and societal hierarchy. In radical Islam, there is no politics in the way we understand it, because political authority is derived directly from religious doctrine—the Quran determines everything.
For Qatar, the motivation is both religious and political. As a small state with limited geopolitical weight, Qatar has sought to expand its influence by positioning itself as the leader of the global Muslim community outside the Islamic world. They are always present at major diplomatic negotiations, such as those concerning Hamas or the Taliban. Don’t forget that the headquarters of Hamas were in Qatar for many years.
Has the Doha strategy been effective? Can you give concrete examples?
Absolutely. Since 2000, we have seen the rise of parallel societies across Europe—in France, the UK, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands. Before, these issues existed but were not as pronounced. Now, the signs are everywhere: women wearing full veils, children sent exclusively to Islamic schools, and entire neighborhoods operating under their own, separate rules.
In France, there are areas where women cannot enter cafés. In the UK, underground Islamic courts rule on matters such as marriage and family disputes. These communities are not integrating; they are living according to Sharia law, apart from the Western legal systems of the countries they reside in.
What’s worse is that Western societies refuse to acknowledge this growing issue. A recent example: the European Commission launched a campaign promoting the hijab with the slogan “My hijab, my freedom.” I have to ask—how deeply has radical Islamic ideology penetrated European institutions that they dare frame the hijab as a symbol of freedom? Go ask women in Afghanistan if they see it that way. Our Western tolerance has been weaponized against us. It has been used to separate Muslim populations from the societies they live in while simultaneously influencing local politicians to support this project.
Why do European decision-makers ignore the growing influence of radical Islam?
There’s a very simple reason: it benefits them. Muslim communities in Europe are extremely disciplined voters. Whoever controls these communities holds immense political power. In my constituency in France, in the town of Abbeville, the socialist mayor granted a building permit for a radical mosque. With the support of the local community, we managed to overturn the decision. But when we confronted the mayor about it, his response was astonishing. When asked about the mosque’s funding—since their official crowdfunding campaign raised only €8,000—he simply replied, “Oh, I met the head of the association, and he’s such a nice man. He even wears a Western suit.” This is deeply worrying. Given the growing numbers and political importance of these communities, it’s easy to see why unethical politicians prioritize their support over national interests.
Does Qatar aim only to establish parallel societies, or is there a bigger plan?
The first step is parallel societies. The Doha Charter explicitly calls for non-integration and the preservation of Muslim values. It emphasizes maintaining strong, self-sufficient communities that live according to Islamic principles. It also pushes for adaptations in education—ensuring schools respect Islamic beliefs and traditions.
As for the long-term goal—well, the charter leaves that open-ended. Toward the end, it even mentions welcoming Westerners who want to convert to Islam, presenting Islam as the solution for the West’s supposed moral and social decline. The ultimate aim of radical Islam is to establish the Ummah—a global Islamic nation. If we do not wake up to the reality of what is happening, and if our politicians continue to ignore it, we will face an ever-growing threat to our democracies and way of life.
What role does the Muslim Brotherhood play in this?
Qatar itself has a very small population—only a few hundred thousand citizens— but is very rich. To expand its influence, it needed a population base. It found one in Europe. Qatar reached out to Turkish, Moroccan, Algerian, Afghan, and Syrian communities, offering them money for community projects in impoverished neighbourhoods in return for the support and promotion of ISESCO’s integrationist project. For 25 years in Europe, they’ve been creating a ‘new’ people with a common belief —radical Islam, a common language, Arabic, and a glorified Muslim history and identity.
This follows the exact strategy of the Muslim Brotherhood, which emerged in Egypt in the early 20th century. The Brotherhood, which is outlawed in Egypt due to its extremism, has always operated under the same model: charity work combined with ideological indoctrination, while fueling strong aversion to or even hatred of the West.
They provide social aid, but with a condition—you must attend mosque services, where radical preachers spread anti-Western rhetoric, and you must live according to Shari’a law. This has been their strategy for over a century, and since the signing of the Doha Charter in the year 2000 in Qatar, it has been deployed worldwide.
Is there a link between the Doha strategy and the current wave of migration from Muslim-majority countries?
Yes, and they are open about it. The Doha Charter explicitly states that the Muslim populations in Europe are now so large that they are here to stay. It also emphasizes the importance of ensuring that these communities welcome and integrate new arrivals. In other words, they see migration as an opportunity to further expand their influence and create an even stronger presence in Europe.
If we continue ignoring these realities, we risk allowing radical Islam to reshape our societies in ways we may no longer be able to control.
