European Far-Right Uses “Political Islam” as Electoral Weapon Amidst Rising Islamophobia
European Far-Right Uses “Political Islam” as Electoral Weapon Amidst Rising Islamophobia
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Far-right political parties across Europe are increasingly using the concept of “Political Islam” to advance anti-Muslim agendas, political analysts warn. An August 1 report from the Organization for World Peace details how this term, often portrayed as inherently anti-democratic, is central to far-right messaging. It is being used to justify proposals for migrant deportations, mosque closures, citizenship revocations, and restrictions on mosque financing.
In Germany, leaders from the AfD party have supported immediate deportations of asylum-seekers linked to extremist groups and called for widespread surveillance of Muslim institutions. Similarly, representatives from the Patriots for Europe group in the European Parliament have criticized Brussels, alleging a “cultural and religious invasion” and demanding swift policy responses. A French government-commissioned report also highlighted alleged ties between the Muslim Brotherhood and French civil society groups, warning of “mental invasion.”
Amidst this rising rhetoric, prominent Shia religious authority Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq al-Husseini al-Shirazi has cautioned against reducing Islam to a mere political threat. On his official website, his book Politics: The Very Heart of Islam argues that Islam inherently includes a moral and consultative system of governance rooted in the Quran and the teachings of the Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them).
His Eminence distinguishes between what he calls the “destructive model” of “Political Islam,” characterized by ideological manipulation or authoritarian imposition, and “authentic Islamic Politics.” The latter, he explains, involves ethical leadership, public consultation (shūrā), pluralism, and a focus on public welfare. He advocates for a “Council of Qualified Jurists,” freely selected by the community, rather than a single-jurist rule, to uphold genuine Islamic political principles.
