Honorable Members of Parliament,
Dear fellow imams,
Ladies and gentlemen,

I speak to you today in my capacity as president of the Conference of European Imams, accompanied by a delegation of imams from across Europe. We are here, under the roof of the European Union, to state something simple and clear: we are Europeans. Europe is our home. We live here, we raise our children here, we work here, and we defend—with conviction—our homeland, our citizenship, and the values upon which our continent is founded.

These values—the rule of law, secularism, equality, and freedom of conscience—are not threats to us. They are the framework within which we wish to live out our faith. The Islam we uphold is not opposed to Europe. It stands for integration, for living well together, and for respect for the law. This is the Islam that we teach and practice.

“Islamism is not a religious viewpoint; it is a political ideology that uses religion to impose a totalitarian agenda.”

Imam Hassen Chalghoumi

However, we cannot—and must not—confuse Islam with Islamism. Islamism is not a religious viewpoint; it is a political ideology that uses religion to impose a totalitarian agenda. It causes grave harm to Islam and to Muslims. It divides our societies and threatens peace.

In recent days, Egypt has designated organizations linked to the Muslim Brotherhood in France and Europe as terrorist groups. The United Arab Emirates were among the first to take such action. Jordan, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and other nations have followed suit. Their objective is not to attack Islam. The goal is to protect Muslims, preserve social peace, and defend our societies against an ideology that has already caused so much harm elsewhere.

I wish to express my respectful appreciation for the initiative and the resolution of October 8th, brought forward by Member of the European Parliament Céline Imart and her colleagues. They have shown the courage and sense of responsibility to name the danger and propose measures to protect Europe from this scourge. These efforts are not directed against Muslims; they are for the sake of Muslims. They are not directed against Islam, nor against religious freedom. Rather, they aim to protect our communities from those who claim to speak on our behalf while, in reality, sowing division among us.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Europe stands at a crossroads today. It must assume its responsibilities to preserve peace and its own sovereignty. It must also help the Muslims of Europe protect themselves from the Muslim Brotherhood—a dangerous Islamist movement. To continue downplaying or denying this danger is to leave Muslims to face, on their own, an ideological pressure that confines and exploits them.

We must also move beyond the irresponsible, meaningless, and victim-centered narrative propagated by some. This narrative fuels anti-Muslim hatred, for extremes only serve to feed other extremes. Combating Islamism also means reducing the prejudices and distrust directed toward Muslims. If you truly care for Muslims and wish to preserve our ability to live together, then do your job. Help us put an end to this phenomenon—and do not shield it under the guise of “defending” Muslims.

I hope that the work of this symposium, and all the initiatives that follow, will enable the European Commission, the Parliament, and our institutions to take a clear and firm stand. In the interest of Europe, and in the interest of Muslims—who must be protected from the extremisms that are afflicting them—I am counting on the Council of State and the Commission, both of which have a role to play in ensuring that the law is applied with clarity and firmness.

“We, as European imams, are ready to work with you. Not to divide, but to unite. Not to accuse, but to protect. Europe is our home. We wish to defend it, together.”

Imam Hassen Chalghoumi

Thank you.