The Muslim Brotherhood in Germany: Policies, Challenges, and the Limits of Legal Prohibition
Germany’s approach toward the Muslim Brotherhood (MB) is one of controlled vigilance rather than outright prohibition. The state recognizes the Brotherhood as a significant threat within the landscape of political Islam, yet continues to face legal and political constraints that prevent a comprehensive ban.
As the European Centre for Counter-Terrorism and Intelligence Studies (ECCI) explains, “The German state deals with the Muslim Brotherhood as one of the most dangerous challenges of political Islam … It operates flexibly through legal, religious, and cultural fronts that appear integrated into society, while internally harboring long-term ideological goals to reshape the consciousness of Muslim communities.”
Surveillance and Intelligence Measures
The Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV) plays the leading role in monitoring Brotherhood activities in Germany. According to the source, the BfV estimates around 1,450 individuals are connected to the Brotherhood’s network across Germany.
ECCI notes that these networks are “a constant source of concern due to their ability to gain influence within cultural and educational institutions.” German authorities have therefore expanded surveillance mechanisms to include monitoring of sermons, tracking community leaders, and auditing the financial transparency of Islamic associations.
Cutting Financial and Institutional Ties
Since 2019, several German states — notably Bavaria and Berlin — have tightened funding regulations and halted public grants to organizations suspected of Brotherhood links. As ECCI reports, “Germany intensified oversight of financial support to associations after discovering indirect links to Brotherhood-affiliated entities.”
In parallel, municipalities have terminated cooperation agreements with religious or cultural organizations whose leadership was found to have ideological ties to the Brotherhood. These actions, according to the report, were designed to “limit the Brotherhood’s ability to present itself as a legitimate representative of Muslims in official forums.”
Legal Actions and the Challenge of Evidence
Germany’s prosecutorial and legal efforts against Brotherhood-related entities often face obstacles. Investigations involving suspected terrorism financing or money laundering are difficult to translate into court convictions due to the Brotherhood’s use of legally registered associations and opaque financial structures.
According to ECCI, the Brotherhood in Germany is likely to evolve tactically rather than retreat. It may expand into new cultural and educational fronts, form new associations, or increase cross-border coordination with affiliated groups elsewhere in Europe.
The report forecasts: “Germany is expected to continue its path of firm surveillance without moving toward a full ban — reinforcing transparency, supporting civic engagement, and maintaining pressure on the Brotherhood’s opaque networks.”
Germany’s confrontation with the Muslim Brotherhood reflects a balancing act — between protecting democratic freedoms and curbing the rise of ideologically driven Islamist influence. The government’s approach relies on surveillance, financial oversight, and civic partnerships rather than prohibition.Ultimately, as the ECCI article underscores, this path may be the “most pragmatic way to contain the Brotherhood’s ideological ambitions while upholding Germany’s constitutional principles.”
