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Switzerland’s Tradition Meets a New Challenge
For decades, Switzerland has stood as a symbol of political neutrality, cultural diversity, and robust democratic values. Yet in recent years, security experts and policymakers have raised alarms over a quiet but determined ideological infiltration—the spread of the Muslim Brotherhood under the guise of cultural, charitable, and religious work.
The concern? That this is not just about religion or community service, but about building a parallel political system that runs counter to European democratic principles.
🕵️ A Political Push for Accountability
One of the loudest voices in parliament is MP Jacqueline de Quattro, who has tabled a bold parliamentary proposal aimed at identifying and dismantling the Brotherhood’s influence in Switzerland.
Her initiative calls for:
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Creation of a Federal Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor’s Office
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Stronger investigative powers to track extremist networks
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Oversight of foreign-funded religious and cultural organizations
“This is not an attack on Muslims or Islam,” de Quattro stresses. “It’s about protecting our democracy from an ideological network operating under a false community banner.”
🕌 The Brotherhood’s Network in Switzerland
Research shows that since the 1950s, Switzerland has served as a key European base for the Muslim Brotherhood. Prominent families—such as Ramadan, Kermous, Nada, and Himmat—have built a web of mosques, cultural centers, and charitable associations across Geneva, Vaud, Ticino, Neuchâtel, and Zurich.
While these organizations often present themselves as service providers, intelligence reports link them to ideological recruitment and foreign funding, particularly from Qatar and other states.
One clear example is the “Muslim Family Forum”—publicly marketed as a cultural event, but alleged to double as a recruitment and indoctrination platform for youth, featuring speakers tied to the Brotherhood’s political Islam agenda.
📜 The May 28, 2024 Motion
When MP de Quattro formally introduced her motion, she cited urgent security risks and the need to follow the lead of France, Austria, and Germany—nations that have already legislated against Brotherhood-linked organizations.
Her key proposals include:
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Unified intelligence cooperation between cantons and the federal government.
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Transparent investigation of foreign funding for religious groups.
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Active monitoring of both online and offline radicalization.
🌍 Lessons from Europe
This isn’t just a Swiss issue.
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France has documented the Brotherhood’s attempts to reshape education, religion, and civic life to align with political Islam.
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Germany’s domestic intelligence warns that political Islam could be a greater long-term threat than violent extremism.
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Austria has enacted legal bans and investigative measures against Brotherhood-affiliated organizations.
These precedents serve as a cautionary tale for Switzerland: act now, or risk a deeper, more entrenched influence.
🔍 Why This Matters
The Muslim Brotherhood’s activities are not about ordinary faith practice—they are part of a coordinated, transnational project that thrives in legal loopholes and unmonitored community spaces.
Failing to address this now could mean allowing a parallel ideological structure to take root in Switzerland, undermining social cohesion and democratic governance.
MP Jacqueline de Quattro’s proposal is a test of political will—and perhaps the first decisive step toward safeguarding the country’s democratic values for generations to come.