Whilst the apprehension surrounding ‘Islamism’ and the unprecedented rise of populist right-wing parties have profoundly polarised the European political landscape, empirical data present a different, and at times contradictory, narrative of social integration and educational attainment among Muslims in the heart of the West. Nevertheless, beyond conspiracy theories and demographic paranoia, the authentic peril resides in the shadow of the gradual entryism of ‘political Islamism’ on one hand, and the illiberal reactions of the right wing on the other; a challenge that has brought liberal democracies to a critical juncture between safeguarding secular values and capitulating to extremism from both sides.

The Electoral Shift: Islam at the Heart of European Politics

Acute concern over the status of Islam in Western societies is no longer a marginal issue; it has moved to the very heart of European politics. Across the continent, from Germany and France to Britain and Sweden, opinion polls suggest that half of the population believes Islam to be incompatible with Western values.[1] This anxiety has found a striking reflection at the ballot box. On 6 September, the right-wing far-right party, Alternative for Germany (AfD), secured 44 per cent of the vote in Saxony-Anhalt[2] by warning of “Islamism” and promising mandatory deportations[3]. In France, Marine Le Pen’s proposal to ban the Islamic headscarf in public places has garnered 60 per cent support among voters[4]. This apprehension, which has now also taken root in the United States, stems less from a fear of physical terrorism than from the perception of an “Islamic conspiracy” aimed at a civilisational conquest of Europe from within.

Following unprecedented waves of migration, Muslims constitute six per cent of Europe’s population of over five hundred million[5], and newly arrived immigrants typically have more children than the native population. Whilst Sharia has not yet found its way into national legislation, the real danger is seen to lie not in Islam itself, but in political Islamism; to the extent that others, by invoking theories such as the ‘Great Replacement’, claim a civilisational erasure of Europe.[6]

The Strategy of Entryism and Institutional Infiltration

Islamism, understood as the conviction that Islamic principles should serve as the foundation for the organisation of government and society, represents a grave threat to liberal democracies. Unlike the jihadists of 11 September, modern Islamists often eschew violence in favour of a strategy of ‘entryism’. By infiltrating schools, local councils, and charitable organisations, they seek to advance their illiberal agenda. A salient example of this endeavour was the 2014 Birmingham schools incident[7], where a coordinated effort to inject radical discourse was uncovered.

Parallel Societies and the Crisis of State Intervention

This dynamic has resulted in the primary victims of Islamism being not only Western societies at large, but also liberal and heterodox Muslims themselves. In areas of high demographic concentration, such as Blackburn in northern England or Rosengård in Malmö, Sweden, parallel social structures have emerged; within these enclaves, for instance, women may face pressure to comply with the dictates of Sharia councils in matters of family life[8]. The more profound issue is that state authorities, fearing accusations of racism or ‘Islamophobia’, frequently refrain from intervening in such matters. This political cowardice—as evidenced by the grooming scandals in several British towns[9]—rightfully provokes widespread public indignation.

The Radical Backlash: A Cycle of Polarisation

Conversely, the far-right exploits this vacuum to engage in fear-mongering. Figures such as Elon Musk utilise their platforms to amplify extremist views and portray all Muslims as a civilisational threat[10]. Marine Le Pen in France and the AfD in Germany fuel societal polarisation by deliberately conflating ‘Islam’ (as a religion) with ‘Islamism’ (as an ideology). Their proposed solutions, including mass deportations and a total ban on religious symbols, are not only illiberal but also risk driving moderate Muslims into the arms of extremists by marginalising them. As Andy Grote, the Hamburg State Interior Minister, observes, the far-right and radical Islamists are partners; both profit from polarisation.[11]

Legalist Islamism and Unlikely Political Alliances

European intelligence services, including the BfV in Germany, are now gravely concerned by ‘legalist Islamism’ (legalistischer Islamismus)[12]. These groups utilise coded language; ostensibly endorsing democratic principles while privately lobbying to weaken secular laws and women’s rights. In France, official reports warn that networks associated with the Muslim Brotherhood—despite their small size—exert a profound influence over youth institutions and sporting associations[13]. Gaza has also emerged as a new flashpoint, where shared hostility towards Western policies has fostered a curious alignment between the ‘populist left’ and ‘Islamists’.[14] This alliance, predicated on identity politics, presents a significant challenge to social integration.

The Mechanics of Radicalisation and Identity Politics

The experience of Sohail Ahmed, a former Islamist, illustrates how radicalisation feeds upon social divides. He recalls how, during his childhood, his parents—influenced by reports of the Bosnian genocide—instilled in him a profound cynicism towards white people and Western values[15]. He warns that a third wave of radicalisation, currently taking shape around events in the Middle East, could further deepen the chasm between Muslims and non-Muslims. In such a climate, Islamists endeavour to frame any critique of their political project as an assault on ‘Islam as a whole’; regrettably, segments of the left play into this narrative by branding critics with accusations of racism.

Restoring Liberal Resolve and Intellectual Honesty

To overcome this impasse, Europe’s moderate politicians must rediscover their resolve. Firstly, it must be acknowledged that freedom of expression is not an adversary of tolerance, but rather its prerequisite. No subject should be deemed taboo under the pretext of cultural sensitivities. Entryism within schools and institutions ought to be condemned with the same decisiveness as far-right bigotry. Governments that shrink from collecting or disseminating precise data regarding integration or extremism effectively create a vacuum that is filled by speculative exaggerations and social media rumours.

The Hamburg Model: Cooperation over Exclusion

The experience of the city of Hamburg in Germany, which since 2014 has implemented a formal strategy for preventing Islamism through the involvement of civil society and moderate Muslim groups[16], demonstrates that the solution lies in ‘transparent cooperation’ rather than ‘wholesale exclusion’. A space must be created for heterodox and secular Muslims to ensure their voices reach the wider public without fear of excommunication by radicals or racism from the right. Examples such as the ‘Kismet’ café in London—managed by liberal Muslims and hosting jazz and comedy nights[17]—illustrate the significant potential within the grassroots of the Muslim community for integration into modern culture.

From Sectarianism to Universal Citizenship

Ultimately, the history of migration in Europe offers valuable lessons. The arrival of Jews, Catholics, and Caribbean immigrants in previous decades all provoked similar moral panics; many surmised that these groups would never reconcile with the values of their host societies. Yet, time has proven that liberal institutions are too robust to be dismantled by minorities, provided these institutions themselves do not retreat from their core principles. European Muslims are likewise finding their place. Academic advancement and active political participation offer the promise of a future where ‘citizenship’ prevails over ‘sectarian identity’. Europe must not allow division and paranoia to derail this quiet but vital process of integration currently unfolding at the heart of Paris, Berlin, and London. Defeating Islamism will be achieved not by banning headscarves, but by fortifying individual liberties and supporting those Muslims who hold a firm belief in democracy.

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Amir Abbas Amirshekari is an independent researcher and an Advocate at the Iran Bar Association. He holds a Ph.D. in International Law from the University of Tehran and served as a Post-Doctoral Research Fellow at the University of Johannesburg (2014-2016). With years of academic teaching experience, he has published extensively across multiple languages. He can be reached at [email protected].

Notes

[1] https://www.economist.com/insider/the-insider/is-islamism-a-threat-to-europe

[2] https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy4zejgz3z9o

[3] https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/sep/04/minorities-fear-first-far-right-win-in-german-state-election-saxony-anhalt-afd

[4] https://periskopi.com/en/2026/9/marine-le-pen-completely-islamic-headscarf

[5] https://finance.biggo.com/news/64300875d3ef0b09

[6] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Replacement_conspiracy_theory

[7] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trojan_Horse_scandal

[8] https://www.economist.com/briefing/2026/09/10/the-good-news-few-muslims-want-to-subvert-european-democracy

[9] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grooming_gangs_scandal

[10] https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/elon-musk-islamophobia-grooming-gangs-report-b2747829.html

[11] https://www.economist.com/briefing/2026/09/10/the-good-news-few-muslims-a-to-subvert-european-democracy

[12] https://www.verfassungsschutz.de/DE/verfassungsschutz/der-bericht/vsb-islamismus-und-islamistischer-terrorismus/vsb-islamismus-und-islamistischer-terrorismus_node.html

[13] https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ckgnnelvz0do

[14] https://www.start.umd.edu/publication/emerging-red-green-alliance-where-political-islam-meets-radical-left

[15] https://www.economist.com/britain/2026/09/10/islamism-is-a-threat-to-britain-islam-is-not

[16] https://www.economist.com/briefing/2026/09/10/the-good-news-few-muslims-want-to-subvert-european-democracy

[17] https://www.kismetcafe.co.uk/

Featured image: Mosque of Rome, the largest in the European Union (Public Domain)

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