The Muslim Brotherhood's Threat: A Looming Shadow Over the West

The UK: An Unwitting Incubator for Radicalism?

A chilling assessment emerged from a March 12, 2025, gathering at the House of Lords. Hosted by Trends and the Forum for Foreign Relations (FFR), and chaired by Lord Walney, the event meticulously dissected the immediate threat posed by the Muslim Brotherhood – not just to the Arab world, but to the West itself. The discussion unveiled a deeply troubling picture: the United Kingdom's gradual transformation into a breeding ground for radical ideology.

This isn't just another political debate. The stakes are far higher. The UK's hesitant approach to this threat, often misconstrued as tolerance or dismissed as "Islamophobia," jeopardizes its own stability, Israel's security, and the broader Western order.

Unmasking the Brotherhood: A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing

Experts, policymakers, and advocates convened under Lord Walney's leadership to dismantle the carefully constructed façade of moderation surrounding the Muslim Brotherhood. Far from a benign socio-political movement, the Brotherhood, founded in 1928 by Hassan al-Banna, revealed its true nature as a revolutionary force.

The Brotherhood's key ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, laid the groundwork for jihadist extremism, challenging national sovereignty, secular governments, and even the House of Saud's custodianship of Mecca – a prize the Brotherhood clearly covets.

The discussion laid bare the Brotherhood’s influence on groups like al-Qaeda, Hamas, and ISIS, highlighting their shared ambition: the imposition of a totalitarian Islamic state. Perhaps most alarming was the revelation of the Brotherhood's often-overlooked alliance with the Iranian regime, a partnership that defies conventional wisdom about the divide between Sunni and Shi'ite radicalism.

Compromised Institutions: Universities and Media Under Siege

Aurele Tobelem, FFR's new director of research, delivered a stark warning: the UK's universities and media have been infiltrated. Qatari wealth and a culture of appeasement have eroded their integrity.

Institutions like the London School of Economics (LSE) and King's College London have become hotbeds of hate, where student societies provide platforms for Brotherhood-linked speakers, as documented in the 2018 Policy Exchange report, "Extremism on Campus." Jewish students face a barrage of vitriol and violence, yet universities hesitate to act, fearing accusations of stifling free speech or, ironically, "Islamophobia."

The Perilous Price of Inaction

The UK's reluctance to proscribe the Brotherhood, despite its terrorist designation by the UAE in 2014, has normalized radical thought, fraying the fabric of democracy.

This complacency endangers not only Britain but Israel and the West. The Brotherhood’s alliance with Iran fuels a shared ambition to destabilize Saudi Arabia and expand Islamist influence, threatening Jewish communities and democratic values worldwide.

A Call to Action: Forging a United Front

This is a moment for decisive action. The UK must ban the Brotherhood and its affiliates, dismantle its networks in academia and media, and implement robust policies to combat radicalization. Universities must establish strict codes of conduct, train staff and students to recognize and counter extremist ideologies, and collaborate closely with law enforcement.

The Abraham Accords offer a blueprint for a global alliance against jihadism. By expanding this partnership to include Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and other nations wary of the Brotherhood and Iran, we can build a formidable bulwark against this shared threat.