Europe must stand united against all extremism: Hamas, Hezbollah & Muslim Brotherhood
As the COVID-19 vaccine
arrives and European leaders turn their focus again to the national
security and future prosperity of our peoples, a fracture is appearing.
Europe has suffered two Islamist militant attacks over the past ten
days. France and Austria are responding with vigour, but where is the European Union? Where is Britain?
Read more: Austria police raid dozens of Muslim Brotherhood, Hamas-linked targets: Prosecutors
President
Emmanuel Macron’s speech and interventions for upholding the values of
the French Republic were second to none. His government followed up with
action by closing mosques and organizations with ties to the Muslim
Brotherhood and many of its affiliates and offshoots.
Austria has followed in a similar move against the Brotherhood and others.
Again
and again, France and Austria have made clear that political Islamism
is not Islam. The danger is not from the elderly Muslim gentleman with a
beautiful beard, nor the lady who wishes to cover her hair out of
religious observation.
Religious conservatism is not a national
security concern. The threat can come from a clean-shaven, suit-wearing,
smart-talking Islamist activist. This danger of political Islamism is
not about appearance, but a sophisticated and suave ideological enemy
who hides behind false claims of representing ‘the community.’
To
target Islamists and their narrative, as France and Austria have done,
is not racist or Islamophobic. Just as targeting Nazis is not
anti-German, identifying Islamists and their support for terrorism, is
not anti-Muslim.
Read more: Three leaders with same catastrophic mindset
From
this basic conviction, we build policies to advance the interests of
Europe. For we must learn to put Europe’s Enlightenment values ahead of
any project, Islamist or otherwise, that seeks to undo the progress of
our forefathers. In this, we must remember that millions of Muslims gave
their support and lives from Algeria, Morocco, India, Arabia, Egypt, to
protect civilization in two world wars.
Why
are Islamists a danger to Europe today? Because the very foundations of
European society and prosperity are under direct assault from an
ideology and a narrative that only becomes violent because it seeks to
end the nation state, remove secular governments, deprive women of their
rights, destroy Israel and kill Jews, execute gay people, and force
innocent Muslims to live under Islamist rule.
From Osama bin Laden to ISIS, the violent jihadists are all graduates of the Muslim Brotherhood.
As
these extremists flee the Middle East, they now find shelter and
asylum, finances and television platforms, across European capitals.
Muslims in the Middle East are not Islamophobic or racist when
identifying Islamists as a national security concern. Europe does not
tolerate Nazis or fascists: it should now stop appeasing Islamists.
Why
is open support for Hamas and Hezbollah allowed in European cities? Why
were there vast crowds in London gathering to mourn the elimination of
Iran’s top terror mastermind, Qassem Soleimani?
Read more: Pro-Assad group hangs posters in Italy honoring Iran’s Soleimani
If Europe’s politicians do not respond with
unison and success, far-right political parties will. Across the
continent, neo-Nazism is on the rise in reaction to Islamist terrorism.
If our political leaders are too timid to defend civilization, let them
at least work hard to keep the political parties and majorities in tact
for government.
There is, however, some
good news. Charles Michel, who heads up the European Council, has vowed
to ‘fight the ideology of hatred’ by training imams.
That is a welcome development, but Monsieur Michel and his 27 heads of
state on the Council should not forget that most Islamist terrorists are
recruited from or are active on websites, prisons, and educational
establishments with links to the Muslim Brotherhood and its anti-West
narrative.
Turning off the Islamist mood music played by the Muslim Brotherhood will stop the dance that is jihadist terrorism.
Read more:
On philosophy, renaissance and Saudi Arabia: Civilization in six points
Hariri prosecutors seek life sentence for Hezbollah member Salim Ayyash
Austria closes ‘radical’ mosque, association over links to Vienna attacker
