According to Visegrád24 on X, a motion in the Dutch Parliament to ban the Muslim Brotherhood narrowly failed today, falling just two votes short. The proposal was introduced by Geert Wilders, leader of the Party for Freedom (PVV), and MP Maikel Nunes. Despite strong backing from the PVV, the motion collapsed after the right-wing anti-immigration party Forum for Democracy (FvD) unexpectedly withheld its support. It is unclear at this point what made FvD change its mind.
BREAKING:
A vote in the Dutch Parliament to ban the Muslim Brotherhood falls 2 votes short of passing.
It failed because the right-wing anti-immigration party FvD unexpectedly decided not to support the motion that was put forward by Geert Wilders and @Maikel_PVVpic.twitter.com/EKDll8Qnsy
The Muslim Brotherhood, founded in Egypt in 1928, is one of the most influential Islamist movements in the world. While it presents itself as a social and political organization, critics accuse it of being a gateway to radicalization and extremism. Several countries, including Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, have banned the group, citing its links to terrorism. In Europe, however, most governments have so far stopped short of outlawing it, opting instead for monitoring and investigative reports.
France published a report earlier this year warning of the dangers posed by the Brotherhood and highlighting its efforts to infiltrate communities, schools, and local politics under the guise of civil society organizations. Building on that alarm, Sweden today announced a sweeping official inquiry into what it called “Islamist infiltration,” with a special focus on the Muslim Brotherhood.
Sweden’s Minister for Education and Integration, Simona Mohamsson, said the investigation will examine the Brotherhood’s activities and attempts to influence Swedish society and politics. “We see that political Islam has taken root, allowing it to dominate neighborhoods, schools, and parts of the welfare system – and even threaten political parties. This is unacceptable. We must confront it with full force,” she said.
Mohamsson argued that Islamism seeks to undermine democracy itself: “Islamism does not want constitutions, it wants Sharia. It does not want integration, but isolation. It wants men to control women.”
The Swedish move follows findings in the French report which named Sweden as a Brotherhood hub in Europe, fueled by Qatari funding, lenient multicultural policies, and links to local political parties, including the Social Democrats. Researchers have long debated whether the Islamic Association in Sweden represents the Brotherhood’s local branch, a claim the association denies.
Beyond Europe, Washington is also considering stronger action. In July, Senator Ted Cruz announced plans to push legislation designating the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization, following an antisemitic attack in Colorado carried out by a reported supporter of the group. The move, which has bipartisan backing, is framed by its advocates as a necessary step to target extremism rather than religion itself.
The failed Dutch vote highlights the fact that while Europe is waking up to the Muslim threat but still lacks the political unity needed to stop the threat growing from within.
Zolta Győri is a journalist at europeanconservative.com.
