https://mena-studies.org/topics/extremism-radicalisation/Recent content in Extremism & Radicalisation on MENA Research CenterHugoen-GBFri, 25 Sep 2026 09:56:25 +0200https://mena-studies.org/iran-and-the-great-deception/Wed, 24 Dec 2025 16:30:18 +0100https://mena-studies.org/iran-and-the-great-deception/Iran has never been a sincere ally of the Arabs. From the very beginnings of its regional project, it has practiced a great deception, using Arab blood as fuel for its international bargaining and turning Arab geography into mere pressure cards on negotiating…https://mena-studies.org/a-formal-indictment-of-the-iranian-regime/Sun, 12 Oct 2025 16:15:27 +0200https://mena-studies.org/a-formal-indictment-of-the-iranian-regime/When the world’s highest human rights authority abandons diplomatic language and describes a state’s actions as “a systematic pattern of using the death penalty as a tool of intimidation,” we have moved beyond political condemnation and entered the realm of…https://mena-studies.org/islamist-attacker-of-solingen-sentenced-to-life-imprisonment/Mon, 06 Oct 2025 11:29:05 +0200https://mena-studies.org/islamist-attacker-of-solingen-sentenced-to-life-imprisonment/The Higher Regional Court in Düsseldorf has sentenced the Solingen knife attacker to life imprisonment for three counts of murder, ten counts of attempted murder, and membership in the terrorist organization “Islamic State” (IS). The court also determined the…https://mena-studies.org/suspicious-tunisian-charities-helped-fund-and-transport-over-6000-youths-to-iraq-and-syria-to-join-isis/Sun, 05 Oct 2025 11:19:02 +0200https://mena-studies.org/suspicious-tunisian-charities-helped-fund-and-transport-over-6000-youths-to-iraq-and-syria-to-join-isis/The High Authority for Administrative and Financial Oversight in Tunisia, in the section of its annual report concerning the funding of associations within the framework of international cooperation, confirmed that several charities—classified as “suspicious”…https://mena-studies.org/the-history-of-the-muslim-brotherhood-a-secret-armed-apparatus-assassinations-bombings-and-turning-jihad-into-a-political-tool/Fri, 03 Oct 2025 11:11:33 +0200https://mena-studies.org/the-history-of-the-muslim-brotherhood-a-secret-armed-apparatus-assassinations-bombings-and-turning-jihad-into-a-political-tool/A new research study by Deputy President of Egypt’s State Council, Justice Dr. Mohamed Abdel Wahab Khafagi, has once again shed light on the organizational and ideological foundations of the Muslim Brotherhood, confirming that the group, since its inception…https://mena-studies.org/addressing-radical-islamism-challenges-and-strategies/Tue, 30 Sep 2025 16:51:27 +0200https://mena-studies.org/addressing-radical-islamism-challenges-and-strategies/Despite the numerous policies implemented over the past decades, radical Islamism remains a complex and multidimensional threat to both France and Europe. Several recent reports have underscored this, notably the French Ministry of the Interior’s report…https://mena-studies.org/islamism-versus-civil-society-in-turkey-and-brussels-pays-the-bill/Thu, 25 Sep 2025 11:25:00 +0200https://mena-studies.org/islamism-versus-civil-society-in-turkey-and-brussels-pays-the-bill/When Erdoğan came to power in 2002, he promised a “more advanced democracy.” Two decades later, that promise lies in ruins. Turkey’s political system has been stripped down to a crude majoritarian model, while every mechanism of democratic participation has…https://mena-studies.org/islamism-in-europe-a-societal-challenge/Mon, 22 Sep 2025 11:38:00 +0200https://mena-studies.org/islamism-in-europe-a-societal-challenge/Since the terrorist attacks in New York, Madrid, London, and later Paris, Brussels, and Vienna, Europe has recognized Islamist extremism as one of its most pressing security challenges. While in the 1990s Islamist networks were largely seen as a marginal…https://mena-studies.org/frankfurts-center-for-global-islam-closes-its-doors/Fri, 19 Sep 2025 16:32:33 +0200https://mena-studies.org/frankfurts-center-for-global-islam-closes-its-doors/No protests outside, no security guards, no headlines about alleged racism or Islamophobia: with a conference on Islamism, the Center for Global Islam at Frankfurt’s Goethe University has bid farewell – after years of public controversy and internal strife.https://mena-studies.org/europes-blind-spot-the-muslim-brotherhood-and-political-islam/Tue, 16 Sep 2025 14:54:00 +0200https://mena-studies.org/europes-blind-spot-the-muslim-brotherhood-and-political-islam/Europe has debated political Islam for years, yet too often the conversation remains superficial. Radical terrorism, such as that of the so-called Islamic State, is immediately recognizable as a threat. The influence of the Muslim Brotherhood, however, is…https://mena-studies.org/islamism-in-italy-a-status-report/Mon, 08 Sep 2025 09:20:00 +0200https://mena-studies.org/islamism-in-italy-a-status-report/Since the late 1980s, Italy—above all Milan—has served as a logistical hub for jihadist activities. The Islamic Cultural Institute (ICI) became, over decades, a base for networks such as al-Gama’a al-Islāmiyya. From there, financial flows, fake passport…https://mena-studies.org/growing-up-with-americas-longest-war/Tue, 02 Sep 2025 10:16:00 +0200https://mena-studies.org/growing-up-with-americas-longest-war/Four years ago, the U.S. military completed its withdrawal from Afghanistan on August 30, 2021, after a 20-year presence. It marked the end of America’s longest war.https://mena-studies.org/scandals-surrounding-muslim-brotherhood-lobbying-in-europe/Sun, 31 Aug 2025 09:19:00 +0200https://mena-studies.org/scandals-surrounding-muslim-brotherhood-lobbying-in-europe/A report commissioned by the EU leadership on Islamophobia — intended to serve as a foundation for policy measures — has sparked intense debate. Critics point not only to methodological flaws but also to political influence over its content.https://mena-studies.org/irans-terror-groups-in-the-west/Tue, 19 Aug 2025 09:57:00 +0200https://mena-studies.org/irans-terror-groups-in-the-west/Iranian intelligence services are systematically intensifying their activities against regime critics, journalists, politicians, and activists in Europe and the United States. A current case illustrates this escalation: Belgian parliamentarian Darya Safai…https://mena-studies.org/in-the-grip-of-the-grey-wolves/Sun, 17 Aug 2025 09:29:00 +0200https://mena-studies.org/in-the-grip-of-the-grey-wolves/When Turkish national footballer Merih Demiral flashed the “wolf salute” during the 2024 European Championship, it sparked heated debate. The hand sign is the emblem of the far-right “Grey Wolves.” For Green politician Cem Özdemir, it is not a marker of…https://mena-studies.org/us-secretary-of-state-rubio-muslim-brotherhood-in-our-sights/Thu, 14 Aug 2025 09:20:00 +0200https://mena-studies.org/us-secretary-of-state-rubio-muslim-brotherhood-in-our-sights/Yesterday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced in a radio interview with Sid Rosenberg that the US government is actively considering designating the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization. He emphasized that “everything is in motion” and…https://mena-studies.org/inside-the-muslim-brotherhoods-digital-brigades/Thu, 14 Aug 2025 09:03:00 +0200https://mena-studies.org/inside-the-muslim-brotherhoods-digital-brigades/The Muslim Brotherhood exploits cyberspace and social media platforms to implement its ideological and organizational schemes, relying on a systematic strategy aimed at spreading its extremist ideology and recruiting new members. This is done through what is…https://mena-studies.org/muslim-brotherhood-a-terrorist-organization-where-did-rubio-begin-and-what-are-next-steps/Thu, 07 Aug 2025 17:07:00 +0200https://mena-studies.org/muslim-brotherhood-a-terrorist-organization-where-did-rubio-begin-and-what-are-next-steps/In a radio interview (Sid & Friends in the Morning) published on the State Department’s website, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that the designation of the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organisation is currently underway, while hinting at…https://mena-studies.org/islamism-in-the-gulf-states-between-reforms-security-pressures-and-geopolitical-tensions/Wed, 06 Aug 2025 10:51:00 +0200https://mena-studies.org/islamism-in-the-gulf-states-between-reforms-security-pressures-and-geopolitical-tensions/The Gulf states—key players in global geopolitics and energy security—find themselves walking a constant tightrope. On one hand, they pursue societal modernization and economic diversification; on the other, Islamist movements continue to pose a tangible…https://mena-studies.org/22-year-prison-sentence-for-the-sheikh-of-jihadists-in-tunisia/Fri, 25 Jul 2025 13:48:00 +0200https://mena-studies.org/22-year-prison-sentence-for-the-sheikh-of-jihadists-in-tunisia/Khatib Al-Idrissi Urged Young People to Join Terrorist Organizations and Fight in Iraq and Syriahttps://mena-studies.org/what-is-the-fate-of-european-influence-in-the-middle-east/Wed, 16 Jul 2025 08:31:00 +0200https://mena-studies.org/what-is-the-fate-of-european-influence-in-the-middle-east/Europe has long played a pivotal role in the modern history of the Middle East, particularly in carving it up into states and entities during the British and French mandates. Even after the colonial era ended, European influence remained strong, shaping…https://mena-studies.org/wave-of-islamist-inspired-knife-attacks-investigators-warn-of-copycat-effect-and-online-radicalization/Thu, 03 Jul 2025 14:14:00 +0200https://mena-studies.org/wave-of-islamist-inspired-knife-attacks-investigators-warn-of-copycat-effect-and-online-radicalization/In recent months, a series of suspected Islamist-motivated knife attacks have shaken several cities across Germany. The incidents raise pressing questions about possible connections between perpetrators, ideological motives – and even foreign interference.…https://mena-studies.org/understanding-contemporary-terrorist-threats-in-europe/Fri, 27 Jun 2025 08:53:00 +0200https://mena-studies.org/understanding-contemporary-terrorist-threats-in-europe/Join the MENA Research Center for a vital discussion on the threats facing Europe today—from Islamist terrorism and far-right extremism to state-sponsored hybrid operations.https://mena-studies.org/racism-a-global-pandemic/Mon, 16 Jun 2025 13:59:00 +0200https://mena-studies.org/racism-a-global-pandemic/Summary: In a world undergoing rapid and profound transformations, racism has emerged as one of the most dangerous social pandemics threatening societal cohesion and civil peace. This phenomenon is no longer confined to isolated events; it has become a…https://mena-studies.org/islamism-in-europe-how-the-gaza-war-is-stress-testing-european-security/Mon, 09 Jun 2025 10:50:00 +0200https://mena-studies.org/islamism-in-europe-how-the-gaza-war-is-stress-testing-european-security/With each new escalation in the Middle East, the threat landscape in Europe grows more volatile. The Gaza war is not only shaping diplomatic relations and domestic debates, but also serving as a strategic platform for Islamist networks across the continent.…https://mena-studies.org/the-other-face-of-terror-political-jurisprudence/Thu, 29 May 2025 18:00:00 +0200https://mena-studies.org/the-other-face-of-terror-political-jurisprudence/The prophetic saying “Islam wipes out what came before it” is far from a passing remark—it has been recited, adopted, and handed down across generations and exploited repeatedly to justify bloodshed and political violence. Historical figures, including…https://mena-studies.org/mass-prison-outbreak-in-tripoli-over-3200-inmates-escape-amid-clashes-including-isis-commander/Thu, 22 May 2025 16:47:00 +0200https://mena-studies.org/mass-prison-outbreak-in-tripoli-over-3200-inmates-escape-amid-clashes-including-isis-commander/Recent armed clashes in the Libyan capital have led to widespread casualties and significant damage to public and private property. In one of the most alarming developments, a mass prison break occurred at Al-Jdeida Prison in Tripoli, where hundreds of…https://mena-studies.org/local-and-online-prevention-researchers-call-for-new-strategies-against-islamism-in-germany/Sat, 03 May 2025 12:37:00 +0200https://mena-studies.org/local-and-online-prevention-researchers-call-for-new-strategies-against-islamism-in-germany/With unusually blunt words, German Education Minister Cem Özdemir (Greens) has warned against a complacent approach to Islamist extremism. Presenting the findings of a government-funded research network on Islamism, Özdemir criticized what he called the…https://mena-studies.org/the-phenomenon-of-lone-wolves/Sat, 12 Apr 2025 12:34:00 +0200https://mena-studies.org/the-phenomenon-of-lone-wolves/In recent years, many countries have witnessed a significant increase in what is known as “lone wolf” terrorism. These terrorist attacks follow a similar pattern, where the perpetrators become radicalized through the internet and try to justify their crimes…https://mena-studies.org/how-does-hamas-think/Mon, 07 Apr 2025 12:37:00 +0200https://mena-studies.org/how-does-hamas-think/After everything that has unfolded in Gaza as a result of Hamas’ approach to governance and ideology, it’s crucial to pause and ask: How did Gaza end up here? What kind of thinking has led to this reality?https://mena-studies.org/muslim-brotherhood-and-jihadism-in-europe-a-commentary/Wed, 26 Mar 2025 12:54:00 +0100https://mena-studies.org/muslim-brotherhood-and-jihadism-in-europe-a-commentary/Hardly a week goes by without reports of Islamist attacks. In the French town of Mulhouse, an Algerian subject to deportation attacked visitors at a weekly market with a knife and a screwdriver. A 69-year-old passerby, who tried to stop the attacker, was…https://mena-studies.org/mena-discussion-recent-conflict-between-israel-and-hamas/Fri, 01 Nov 2024 12:00:00 +0100https://mena-studies.org/mena-discussion-recent-conflict-between-israel-and-hamas/Experts Michel Wyss, lecturer at the Military Academy of the Swiss Armed Forces and Prof. Richard Machnikowski from the University of Lodz unpack the rising tensions in the Middle East, focusing on the recent conflict between Israel and Hamas and the broader…