The Muslim Brotherhood is active in Australia
- Graham Healy
- 8 minutes ago
- 4 min read
**The Muslim Brotherhood (Ikhwan al-Muslimun)** is a transnational Sunni Islamist organization founded in 1928 in Ismailia, Egypt, by Hassan al-Banna, a schoolteacher and Islamic scholar.
### Core Purposes and Ideology
Its foundational motto is: “Allah is our objective, the Prophet is our leader, the Koran is our constitution, jihad is our way, dying in the way of Allah is our highest hope.”
Al-Banna sought to address what he saw as the decline of Muslim societies under Western colonialism, secularism, and nationalism. The group's goals include:
- **Religious and moral reform** of individuals and societies through education, preaching (*da'wa*), and gradual Islamization from the bottom up.
- **Establishment of an Islamic state** or caliphate governed by *sharia* (Islamic law) as a complete system for all aspects of life (private, social, political, economic).
- **Social welfare and community building**: It built hospitals, schools, charities, businesses, and professional networks to gain popular support and demonstrate Islamic governance in practice.
- **Long-term political unification** of Muslims and resistance to Western influence, often through pragmatic, incremental means rather than immediate revolution in many contexts.
The organization uses a secretive, hierarchical "cell" structure with rigorous indoctrination, emphasizing discipline and solidarity. It has adapted tactically—participating in elections where possible (e.g., Egypt's Freedom and Justice Party post-2011) while maintaining a core ideology often at odds with liberal democracy, secularism, and Western values.
Influential ideologues like Sayyid Qutb (executed in 1966) radicalized aspects of its thought with concepts like *takfir* (declaring other Muslims apostates) and broader *jihad*, influencing later extremists even if the mainstream group later emphasized non-violence in certain contexts for pragmatic reasons.
### Connections to Terrorism and Violence
The Brotherhood officially renounced violence in Egypt in the 1970s to gain political space, and it often presents itself as non-violent and reformist. However, assessments highlight a more complex picture:
- **Historical involvement**: Early on, it engaged in political assassinations and attacks in Egypt (including against British and Jewish targets). It has a record of supporting violence where it sees Muslims under threat or occupation.
- **Hamas**: The Palestinian branch; its founding charter explicitly links it to the Brotherhood. The group has provided ideological, financial, and other support to Hamas (whose military wing is designated a terrorist organization in the UK and elsewhere). Senior figures have defended Hamas attacks, including suicide bombings against civilians.
- **Ideological pipeline**: Qutb's writings and Brotherhood ideology have inspired al-Qaeda, ISIS precursors, and other jihadists (e.g., influences on Osama bin Laden, Ayman al-Zawahiri, and others who started in or drew from the milieu). It has incubated or sustained environments conducive to radicalization, even if not always directly perpetrating attacks.
- **Ambiguous stance**: Some leaders have justified attacks on coalition forces in Iraq/Afghanistan, used anti-Semitic rhetoric, or downplayed events like 9/11. It prefers gradualism but countenances violence when expedient. Branches or affiliates have been designated as terrorist organizations by countries including Egypt, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Russia, and (in some cases) the US.
- **Western branches**: These often reject violence locally and focus on influence, *da'wa*, and preserving Muslim identity, but maintain ideological ties and have faced accusations of supporting extremism abroad or acting as gateways.
Views differ: Some see it primarily as a political/social movement; critics (including governments that ban it) view it as a root enabler of extremism.
### Activity in Australia
The Muslim Brotherhood is **active in Australia**, though it operates through networks, affiliates, and front organizations rather than openly as a centralized "Brotherhood" entity in many cases. Reports from 2013 noted an office in Sydney's western suburbs (Padstow) registered as "Moslem Brothers Incorporated," described as the first in the southern hemisphere.
- Influence appears through Muslim community organizations, charities, student groups, and advocacy that align with Brotherhood ideology (e.g., gradual Islamization, opposition to integration/assimilation in some narratives, and support for causes like Hamas).
- Links have been alleged to groups involved in social services, education, and political outreach. Concerns exist about "sleeper cells" or hidden influence, though public activity is framed as operating under Australian law.
- Australia has not designated the Brotherhood as a terrorist organization overall, but monitors extremism. Some affiliates or related entities have drawn scrutiny, similar to patterns in Europe and North America.
Its presence fits a global pattern of dispersed networks adapting to local conditions while sharing core ideology.
### UK House of Commons Report (17 December 2015)
On 17 December 2015, the UK government (under Prime Minister David Cameron) released the **main findings** of an internal review commissioned in 2014 into the Muslim Brotherhood's origins, ideology, activities in the UK and abroad, and implications for British interests. The full classified report remains restricted; the public document was prepared by senior officials including Sir John Jenkins.
**Key findings** (paraphrased/summarized from the document):
- Foundational ideology seeks individual reform, societal purification, and eventual caliphate under *sharia*; it views secularism/Westernization as the root of Muslim problems.
- Hierarchical, secretive structure persists.
- In Egypt, it failed to demonstrate sufficient moderation or competence during its brief time in power (2011–2013).
- Internationally, it maintains networks for ideology, funding (including to Hamas), and regrouping. Hamas is treated as its Palestinian branch.
- **On violence**: Complex relationship; prefers non-violence for expediency but has historical involvement, defends Hamas terrorism, and has not fully disowned Qutbist ideas that inspired jihadists. Some figures endorsed attacks on Western forces.
- **In the UK**: Networks established decades ago; aspects of ideology and activities run counter to British values (democracy, rule of law, equality, tolerance). Association with the Brotherhood should be considered a **possible indicator of extremism**.
- Overall: Not designated a terrorist group (lacks unified command for legal proscription criteria), but warrants vigilance due to risks to national interests and values. The review called for better understanding and informed policy.
The report was controversial; the Brotherhood criticized it, and debates continue about its influence in the West. It remains a key reference for Western assessments.
**Note**: This is a sensitive topic with varying perspectives across governments, academics, and stakeholders. The above draws from official reports, historical analyses, and public sources for balance. Designations and policies evolve (e.g., some countries have increased scrutiny or designations in recent years). For the fullest picture, consult primary documents like the UK review.
British Report
UK House of Commons Report (17 December 2015)
