Network of Islamists – How much influence do Islamists and Wahhabis have in Switzerland? – Messages
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Critics of political Islam also warn of a network of Islamists in Switzerland. A new study now says: Attempts by foreign actors to gain influence in Switzerland have failed.
Financed by money from Saudi Arabia or Qatar. Associated with European organizations close to political Islam. Or even founded by the son-in-law of the founder of the Muslim Brotherhood. The new Study by the Center for Islam and Society at the University of Freiburg clearly shows that there are foreign actors and international organizations that exert influence in Swiss mosque communities and want to spread their ideas of an ultra-conservative or political Islam.
says Hansjörg Schmid, professor and author of the new study: Asking about the influence of foreign actors often falls short. Because the question suggests that there are foreign organizations that are centrally controlled and influence Swiss mosque communities. “But the study shows that the process is much more complex.”
Critical public, critical Muslims
Hansjörg Schmid and his team have examined seven mosque communities in Switzerland in more detail. They all have connections to international organizations. But these connections are very different. And: The influence from abroad has decreased in recent years.
This is due to a critical public, to the media that publish problematic developments. There was also a generational change. Young, well-educated Muslims visit the mosques. They often resist too much influence from abroad or sermons that have little to do with the reality of their lives.
No national network of Islamists
The effect of this can be seen in the Petit-Sacconex mosque near Geneva. The mosque has repeatedly been in the headlines, for example because of problematic statements by its imams or because two of its visitors insist on jihad with IS. However, public pressure and internal criticism have recently led to a new imam being hired and efforts being made to free the mosque from Saudi Arabia’s influence.
Because the mosque community was part of the Saudi plan to build mosques in European cities, which should establish and spread the ultra-conservative, Wahhabi Islam. But this failed in Geneva, says Hansjörg Schmid: “The mosque has no influence beyond Geneva, let alone nationally.” Attempts by the «Ligue des Musulmans de Suisse» to set up a Switzerland-wide network of institutions close to the Muslim Brotherhood have also failed.
Create relationships and provide transparent information
For Hansjörg Schmid it is also clear that there is no national network of Islamists or Wahhabis in Switzerland, no national organization that disseminates their ideas. Switzerland differs from Germany and France in this respect. Hansjörg Schmid believes that it is based on the good education and the federal system in Switzerland. Local mosque communities use local and cantonal structures.
Nevertheless, Hansjörg Schmid advises to take a closer look in individual cases. He recommends that the authorities build relationships with the mosque communities. And to inform the mosque communities transparently about foreign financing and relationships with international actors.