Federation of Islamic Organizations in Europe

The Federation of Islamic Organizations in Europe (FIOE) describes itself as a member organization founded in 1989 and with "hundreds of member organizations spread across 28 European States, all subscribing to a common belief in a methodology based on moderation and balance, which represents the tolerance of Islam"[1] The FIOE has a headquarters office in Brussels and has had some success in positioning itself as a dialog partner for the EU and other important institutions.[2] Funding for the FIOE is derived largely from Gulf sources, including the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation and the Waqf Ministry in Kuwait.[2] In February 2014, the FIOE elected Abdallah Ben Mansour as its new President replacing Chakib Ben Makhlouf.[3]

Activities

The FIOE was the sponsor of an initiative known as the Muslims of Europe Charter which was signed by more than four hundred Muslim organizations from all European countries and announced in Brussels in January 2008. A FIOE spokesman describe the document as "a message to government and the rest of society, but also directed at Muslims within Europe," "It describes how we should act as positive citizens in the societies in which we live and not be a threat."[4]

Allegations of Ties To Muslim Brotherhood and Hamas

FIOE has been described by one analyst as "de facto, the overarching organization for new Western Muslim Brotherhood groups in Europe."[5] The same analyst says that the FIOE founders and main members are new Western Muslim Brotherhood organizations such as the Union of Islamic Organisations of France the Islamic Community of Germany, and the Muslim Association of Britain (MAB) and that its board members include new Western Brothers such as Ahmed Jaballah and Ibrahim El-Zayat. In 2005, the FIOE President Ahmed Al-Rawi told the Wall Street Journal regarding the relationship of FIOE with the Muslim Brotherhood, "We are interlinked with them with a common point of view," he said. "We have a good close relationship.[6] Ayman Aly, the FIOE Secretary-General, is a senior member of the Guidance Bureau of the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood as well as a former adviser to the deposed Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi.[2]

The FIOE also has ties to Hamas and Hamas fund-raising organizations, and some FIOE member organizations show evidence of links with al-Qaeda[2]

References

  1. ↑ http://www.fioe.org/ShowPage_en.php?id=1&img=1
  2. 1 2 3 4 Steve Merley "The Federation of Islamic Organizations in Europe", The NEFA Foundation (1 October 2008). Retrieved 16 April 2016.
  3. ↑ http://www.fioe.org/ShowNews_en.php?id=127
  4. ↑ Teresa Küchler and Leigh Philips "400 groups sign charter for European Muslims", euobserver.com (14 January 2008). Retrieved 16 April 2016.
  5. ↑ Vidino, Lorenzo (25 August 2010). The New Muslim Brotherhood in the West (First ed.). Columbia University Press. p. 51. ISBN 9780231151269.
  6. ↑ Ian Johnson, "Islamic group's ties reveal Europe's challenge", The Wall Street Journal (December 29, 2005). Retrieved 16 April 2016.

External links

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