European Parliament Votes to Counter Islamist Entryism
The assembly passed a resolution targeting Muslim Brotherhood influence and proposing new anti-radicalization policies.
Updated on Oct. 21, 2026 in Terrorism
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The European Parliament voted to adopt a resolution aiming to combat Islamist entryism and the influence of the Muslim Brotherhood. The proposal advocates for classifying associated entities as terrorist organizations and restricting EU funding to them.
Why it matters
Lawmakers argue that Islamist entryism fosters parallel communities that operate in direct opposition to democratic principles and fundamental EU values. By targeting these networks, the parliament seeks to address the spread of ideologies that promote intolerance.
The resolution passed with 381 votes in favor, 167 against, and 15 abstentions. The European Council must now determine whether to officially enact these policy proposals.
The players
European Parliament
This is the directly elected legislative body of the European Union that represents the interests of citizens across member states.
European People's Party
This is a major center-right political group in the European Parliament that advocates for integration and democratic values.
European Council
This body defines the overall political direction and priorities of the European Union by bringing together heads of state or government.
European Commission
This institution acts as the executive branch of the European Union and is responsible for proposing legislation and implementing decisions.
The details
The resolution, sponsored by the European People's Party, defines Islamist entryism as a strategy that obscures the distinction between religion and political Islam as a societal project. It calls for the creation of a continent-wide list of hate preachers and supports national prohibitions on full-face coverings.
Timeline
The European Parliament adopted the resolution on October 8, 2026.
Legal Context
The resolution seeks to expand the criteria for the EU list of terrorist organizations to include specific political-religious networks. This move aligns with broader efforts to curb ideologies deemed incompatible with European legal frameworks and social cohesion.
Residents across the European Union may see increased scrutiny regarding public displays of specific ideologies or the enforcement of bans on face coverings in public spaces. The potential restriction of EU funding to targeted entities could also shift the administrative landscape for local community organizations.
The takeaway
This resolution marks a notable effort by European lawmakers to define and regulate the influence of political Islam in domestic spaces. The outcome depends on whether the European Council adopts these measures as formal EU-wide policy.
Further reading
Learn more about evolving security protocols in our Terrorism section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Mail Online.
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