An annual European conference to review the work of government policies on Islamist extremism was launched last week in Vienna. The process is a landmark effort to expose and deal with a subterranean force that has steadily risen across the continent. The event, at a palace in Vienna, featured governments from the left, centrist and centre-right from across Europe.
The need to act was laid bare in a 200-page document presented to the meeting. At the heart of the initiative is an examination of the pervasive roots that the Muslim Brotherhood has set down in western societies.
The report contended that organisations controlled by ideologues exist to tap into the European social mainstream. By controlling resources and building up a following in disparate countries they tend to become gatekeepers or power brokers. This happens in ways that conventional western politicians are not well equipped to understand, much less resist.
In Europe there is a recalibration of how to tackle extremism. The great danger is that there is no consensus
One aspect that does not sit comfortably for those behind the conference is that there is a substantial stream of funding from outside the bloc to the Muslim Brotherhood groups. This has provided them with means to establish organisational structures that execute their goals without external scrutiny.
Just as concerning is that these groups are increasingly co-opting public funding to enable expansion and provide a seal of approval that is ruthlessly exploited to develop in sophistication.
One of the recommendations of the report to the governments working in this alliance is to diminish the flow of these funds as a matter of state policy. This follows on from advice that while governments need to engage with the organisations, officials must be careful not to empower the front men ultimately loyal to the Muslim Brotherhood's political project.
These two precepts demand that governments must raise their game when it comes to the companies, charities, community organisations, educational trusts and community bodies that are controlled by the Muslim Brotherhood.
This building knowledge operation is particularly challenging when the observed history of the Muslim Brotherhood is that the movement largely operates within the law. Yet for Europe, its views and goals are problematic. Therefore it is essential that officials are well acquainted with its structures, tactics and goals.
A cluster of about 300 Muslim Brotherhood operators are key to understanding how this front works. They perform leadership roles at a raft of front operations.
At an umbrella level, there is the Federation of Islamic Organisations in Europe, which last year changed its name to the Council of European Muslims. The report finds that its 36 members from 26 countries are identifiable as the primary Muslim Brotherhood bodies in each nation.
Where women are in prominent positions they are invariably wives or daughters of high level figures in the movement.
Name changes are very important in the shape shifting Muslim Brotherhood operation around Europe. A good fall-back for figuring out what is going on is to look at the names on the councils or leadership bodies. Follow the money, is another useful tracking tactic – as is tracing the names of people named as principal officers. Often there is a pattern of recycled names and transfers of resources that establish direct links.
Other bodies with notable offshoots include the European Institute for Human Sciences, the most senior French entity in the archipelago.
The Dublin-based European Council for Fatwa and Research is a leading force in bringing the Muslim Brotherhood’s influence to the technological and social media biosphere in Europe. Irish authorities are ill-equipped regulators for the milieu that has established in the country, which has a direct line to Yusuf Al Qaradawi, the effective ideological leader of the Brotherhood.
The report also names Europe Trust as a key node in this network. This UK-based organisation sits at the heart of charitable activity and has massive financial power to deploy in the interests of the movement.
The countries involved in the process, including Austria, Germany, France, Netherlands and the EU, have committed to review how they work together to frame policy responses.
The best practice principles deserve wider exposure. The officials have committed to upgrade research units into the activities of the Muslim Brotherhood.
The information generated can be sifted in a co-ordinated bureaucratic process. The objective for the commissions in each country would be to jointly take action against active leaders, networks and the ideology.
The countries involved also recognised that too many European countries fail to take on board the extent of the challenge of Muslim Brotherhood organisations. Thus there is a need to underpin the process by opening it up to European countries to come onboard. The Vienna conference agreed on a specific agenda of bringing other states into the systemic approach.
Countering extremism is ever more complex. In Europe there is a recalibration of how to tackle extremism. The great danger is that there has been no clear consensus to underpin the process.
People deserve the right to live on equal terms in their own society. Political and policy leaders can take a lead from Vienna to ensure that extremists are not exploiting gatekeeper positions.
10 tips for entry-level job seekers
- Have an up-to-date, professional LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, set one up today. Avoid poor-quality profile pictures with distracting backgrounds. Include a professional summary and begin to grow your network.
- Keep track of the job trends in your sector through the news. Apply for job alerts at your dream organisations and the types of jobs you want – LinkedIn uses AI to share similar relevant jobs based on your selections.
- Double check that you’ve highlighted relevant skills on your resume and LinkedIn profile.
- For most entry-level jobs, your resume will first be filtered by an applicant tracking system for keywords. Look closely at the description of the job you are applying for and mirror the language as much as possible (while being honest and accurate about your skills and experience).
- Keep your CV professional and in a simple format – make sure you tailor your cover letter and application to the company and role.
- Go online and look for details on job specifications for your target position. Make a list of skills required and set yourself some learning goals to tick off all the necessary skills one by one.
- Don’t be afraid to reach outside your immediate friends and family to other acquaintances and let them know you are looking for new opportunities.
- Make sure you’ve set your LinkedIn profile to signal that you are “open to opportunities”. Also be sure to use LinkedIn to search for people who are still actively hiring by searching for those that have the headline “I’m hiring” or “We’re hiring” in their profile.
- Prepare for online interviews using mock interview tools. Even before landing interviews, it can be useful to start practising.
- Be professional and patient. Always be professional with whoever you are interacting with throughout your search process, this will be remembered. You need to be patient, dedicated and not give up on your search. Candidates need to make sure they are following up appropriately for roles they have applied.
Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz
If you go:
The flights: Etihad, Emirates, British Airways and Virgin all fly from the UAE to London from Dh2,700 return, including taxes
The tours: The Tour for Muggles usually runs several times a day, lasts about two-and-a-half hours and costs £14 (Dh67)
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is on now at the Palace Theatre. Tickets need booking significantly in advance
Entrance to the Harry Potter exhibition at the House of MinaLima is free
The hotel: The grand, 1909-built Strand Palace Hotel is in a handy location near the Theatre District and several of the key Harry Potter filming and inspiration sites. The family rooms are spacious, with sofa beds that can accommodate children, and wooden shutters that keep out the light at night. Rooms cost from £170 (Dh808).
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THE BIO
Born: Mukalla, Yemen, 1979
Education: UAE University, Al Ain
Family: Married with two daughters: Asayel, 7, and Sara, 6
Favourite piece of music: Horse Dance by Naseer Shamma
Favourite book: Science and geology
Favourite place to travel to: Washington DC
Best advice you’ve ever been given: If you have a dream, you have to believe it, then you will see it.
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
ELIO
Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
THREE
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Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
- Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
- Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
- Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
- Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
- Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
- The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
- Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269
*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year
The specs: 2018 Ford Mustang GT
Price, base / as tested: Dh204,750 / Dh241,500
Engine: 5.0-litre V8
Gearbox: 10-speed automatic
Power: 460hp @ 7,000rpm
Torque: 569Nm @ 4,600rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 10.3L / 100km
Conflict, drought, famine
Estimates of the number of deaths caused by the famine range from 400,000 to 1 million, according to a document prepared for the UK House of Lords in 2024.
It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine.
Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages].
The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.
Band Aid
Bob Geldof, singer with the Irish rock group The Boomtown Rats, formed Band Aid in response to the horrific images shown in the news broadcasts.
With Midge Ure of the band Ultravox, he wrote the hit charity single Do They Know it’s Christmas in December 1984, featuring a string of high-profile musicians.
Following the single’s success, the idea to stage a rock concert evolved.
Live Aid was a series of simultaneous concerts that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, the US, and at various other venues across the world.
The combined event was broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 1.5 billion.
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