Free Republic

Construction of Europe’s Biggest Mosque (in France) Highlights Turkey’s Expansionist AimsThe project, undertaken by the radical Muslim organization Millî Gorüs in the French city of Strasbourg, headquarters of the Council of Europe, has generated concern up to the highest spheres of French politics. Political and Symbolic StakesPARIS — A national scandal erupted in France after the municipal council of Strasbourg (located in the northeastern region of Alsace) voted March 22 to grant 2.5-million euros in funding to the construction of a mosque led by Islamist movement Millî Görüş.By virtue of the 1918 Concordat, the Alsace-Moselle region is not subjected...

Sinan Selen, a 46-year-old Istanbul-born counter-terrorism expert, will be the first Muslim to fill a top leadership position within Germany's intelligence community. Throughout his government career, Selen has been resolute in confronting Islamic fundamentalists in Germany. He also led efforts at the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV) to monitor the Turkish nationalist Milli Görüs, an influential Islamist movement strongly opposed to Muslim integration into European society. The leadership changes at the BfV were spurred by a cellphone video that purportedly showed right-wing mobs attacking migrants over the murder of a German citizen in Chemnitz by...

THE HAGUE, 03/11/07 - The government is inquiring whether Milli Gorus is an extremist organisation but will continue to subsidise it. Milli Gorus is also to remain an official discussion partner for cabinet policy regarding Muslims. Separation of church and state means that interference by the State in internal religious issues is not accepted, but it does not mean there can be no common ground between political and religious organisations. Government financial support is possible for organisations and activities that are "affiliated to religious organisations" such as mosques, according to Justice Minister Ernst Hirsch Ballin. The Lower House was debating...

The Muslim Brotherhood's Conquest of Europe by Lorenzo Vidino Middle East Quarterly Winter 2005 Since its founding in 1928, the Muslim Brotherhood (Hizb al-Ikhwan al-Muslimun) has profoundly influenced the political life of the Middle East. Its motto is telling: "Allah is our objective. The Prophet is our leader. The Qur'an is our law. Jihad is our way. Dying in the way of Allah is our highest hope."[1] While the Brotherhood's radical ideas have shaped the beliefs of generations of Islamists, over the past two decades, it has lost some of its power and appeal in the Middle East, crushed by...