Political Islam refers to a movement that seeks to incorporate Islamic principles and values into political and social action. Unlike Islam as a religion, political Islam associates religious symbols and ideologies with political objectives to promote participation in public life. This phenomenon appears in varied forms. Some groups, such as the Muslim Brotherhood, promote Islamic principles within the democratic and legal frameworks of their countries. Others, however, are fundamentalist movements aiming to establish a so-called “Islamic State,” rejecting the core principles of Western democracies and asserting Islam as the sole source of political and religious authority. These latter groups have frequently sparked demonstrations, often turning violent and deepening ideological and religious divides, positioning Islam and Western ideology as fundamentally opposed.
The use of political Islam for electoral purposes, particularly as propaganda by far-right parties to promote anti-migration and anti-integration policies, has gained prominence alongside the rapid growth of Muslim populations in Europe over the last decade. This population now exceeds 26 million, forming Islamic communities that account for between 15 and 20 percent of the population in countries such as Germany, France, and Italy. Simultaneously, incidents of violence by extremist Islamic groups have increased. In this context, political Islam’s negative connotations are often exploited in public debate, fostering a distorted perception that conflates Islam as a religion with political movements and religious fundamentalism. This perception portrays Islam as a threat to the liberal order and democratic principles foundational to Western societies, fueling polarized discussions on migration, security, and the integration of religious minorities.
In Germany, events such as the recent jihadist violence in Mannheim have intensified security concerns. Far-right parties, including the Alternative for Germany (AfD), have responded with proposals for rapid deportations of migrants deemed dangerous, closures of so-called “radical” mosques, revocations of citizenship for supporters of Islamist ideologies, and other measures aimed at increasing surveillance and control over Muslim communities.
Recent demonstrations in Germany have further underscored these tensions. Protesters celebrated the conquest of the Syrian region of Sweida, inhabited by a Druze minority, by troops of the transitional government led by Ahmed al-Sharaa, a former Al Qaeda leader. These demonstrations, accompanied by chants glorifying violence, rape, and the destruction of the Druze people, escalated into clashes with police. Christopher Forster, a member of Germany’s center-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU), called for the immediate repatriation of supporters of these fundamentalist movements, stating, “Those who demonstrate in favor of fundamentalist regimes have nothing to do with German values. If Syria is now ‘safe’ for them, then that is where they must return.”
This rhetoric is also evident at the European level. The political group Patriots for Europe (PfE), led by Jordan Bardella of France’s Rassemblement National—the third largest political group in the European Parliament following the June 2024 elections—includes parliamentarians from far-right parties such as Italy’s Lega, Hungary’s Fidesz, Austria’s FPO, and others. The PfE accuses the European Union and member state governments of enabling a “cultural and religious invasion incompatible with European values.” It promotes the “great replacement” conspiracy theory, which claims that Muslim immigrants will eventually replace native Europeans, erasing Western identity and values. According to this narrative, urgent action is necessary to protect Europe from those seeking to destroy its identity and foundations.
Far-right leaders have often contributed to normalizing Islamophobic discourse. Marine Le Pen, former leader of France’s Rassemblement National, has regularly described Islam as “a threat to the West” and inherently incompatible with French values, reinforcing her anti-immigration stance. She has made statements such as “France is a university for jihadists” and tweeted “French criminals in prison. Foreigners on planes,” further amplifying fear and prejudice.
Currently, 14 percent of European Union voters support parties that promote Islamophobic views and discriminatory policies—a figure that exceeds the actual Muslim population in member states. This discrepancy highlights widespread religious discrimination. According to a survey by the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA), 50 percent of Muslims living in Europe—and many Arabs mistakenly assumed to be Muslim—experience racial discrimination, especially in employment, housing, and daily life. This evidence reveals that Islamophobia is not merely religious prejudice but also a form of structural racism. People perceived as Muslim, often based on ethnic or cultural traits unrelated to Islamic tradition, are stereotyped as backward, fanatical, or violent. Muslim women, especially those wearing visible religious attire such as the veil, are particularly affected.
The political exploitation of this phenomenon by far-right parties amplifies Islamophobic and often racist rhetoric, undermining multiculturalism and the principles of equality and non-discrimination. Instead, it fosters a climate of exclusion and mistrust.
As this phenomenon grows, European governments face urgent challenges, particularly managing tensions between European identity and values promoted by political Islam. Their goal is to ensure that individuals can freely practice their faith within secular societies, consistent with democratic principles. Simultaneously, governments must prevent radicalization, the spread of fundamentalist ideologies incompatible with European values, and episodes of violent extremism—without equating Islam as a whole with extremism and violence.
In response, several European governments have adopted various policies. These include legislative measures aimed at monitoring the operation and foreign financing of mosques, as well as bans on full-face veils. Other initiatives focus on enhancing anti-terrorism security systems to prevent extremist violence, promoting interfaith dialogue, and integrating Muslim communities. These efforts aim to strengthen social cohesion and reduce the marginalization that can contribute to alienation and radicalization.
