Who is Financing Mega Mosques in Europe?

Qatar’s extensive funding of mosques and Islamic institutions across Europe is alarming. These donations are part of a chess-like strategy to promote political Islam and expand Qatar's influence. Qatar influence is linked to groups like the Muslim Brotherhood and Al Qaeda. The end-goal of Qatar’s ambition would be a Caliphate, this threatens to erode Europe's hard-won secular enlightenment and democratic values, replacing them with an authoritarian, religiously driven system.

Zakat, or almsgiving, is one of the five pillars of Islam. Zakat is an act of generosity aimed at helping the poor or charitable good, but in Europe, this pillar has grown into something far more complex and controversial. Qatar Charity, a Doha-based NGO, is funding an expanding network of mosques, cultural centres, and schools across the continent. These projects are portrayed as acts of charity, but are they something else entirely? Behind this lies a troubling question: is Qatar using these institutions to advance the agenda of political Islam in the West?

Standing in front of a Qatar-funded mosque in London, the contrast couldn’t be starker. Europe’s landscape of ancient churches is interspersed with minarets financed by one of the wealthiest nations on earth. Across Croatia, Slovenia, and Sweden, similar structures have emerged, raising questions about the influence used by a nation smaller than Corsica but with the ambition to reshape the entire Europe’s religious and cultural fabric.

Charity or Power Play?

The charitable image of Qatar Charity is built on small individual donations, yet it is most significant funders are the Qatari royal family, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Qatari Development Fund. The goals of this NGO align closely with those of the Qatari state. Portugal’s former ambassador to Qatar puts it bluntly: “They dream of doing the Caliphate again.”

Take Sweden, where a mega-mosque in Malmö funded by Qatar has been linked to political favoritism. A Social Democratic mayor stood beside Qatari representatives at its inauguration, sparking allegations of a tacit agreement to secure votes from Muslim communities in exchange for a laissez-faire approach to mosque activities. The same patterns emerge in Slovenia, where warnings from intelligence agencies about Qatari influence were ignored, and threats were made against officials who dared to raise concerns.

What’s particularly troubling is the alignment of Qatar Charity with groups like the Muslim Brotherhood. Projects under its purview often promote veiling for women, challenge secular European norms, and create lobbying structures like the European Islamic Union to combat “Islamophobia.” But their efforts go beyond combating prejudice, they push for political and cultural transformations that reflect Qatari values rather than European ones.

The Death of Reciprocity

The principle of reciprocity; equal rights for religions in both Qatar and Europe is often floated as a solution. In 2008, Qatar made a symbolic gesture by opening its first Christian church. But it was a hollow act in a nation where Christians are virtually non-existent, and political participation is impossible.

Meanwhile, in Europe, mosques pop up on every corner while churches fall into disrepair or close entirely. A Croatian commentator sums it up: “If Christianity loses its place in mainstream European culture, something else will replace it. We see Islam filling that void.” Others, like Portugal’s ambassador, call for strict reciprocity: “One church, one mosque. No church, no mosque.”

But would reciprocity even address the core issue? Europe’s democratic institutions are being used not just for worship but as platforms for a political agenda. Bald German political analyst Hermann Tertsch warns: “We should consider Political Islam as something not fundamentally different from Nazi, fascist, or communist ideology.”

The Battle for Europe’s Soul

Critics from across Europe point to the risk of turning a blind eye to Qatar’s ambitions. Croatian officials describe this as “Islamic colonialism,” while others highlight the strategic weakness of Europe’s left, which prioritizes political alliances with Muslim communities over cultural preservation. “They control so much of the narrative,” admits one Croatian MEP.

In Germany, recent protests calling for a caliphate have added urgency to the debate. As German MEP Dennis Radtke says, “If you want to live in a caliphate, pack your bags. We don’t want it in Europe.” The broader concern is not just about religious freedom, it’s about the survival of secular democracy itself.

Resistance Without Losing Ourselves

The central dilemma is clear: How do we resist the spread of political Islam without betraying our own democratic principles? Finnish policymakers advocate for freedom of speech and the press, but they draw a line at incitements to violence. “Imams preaching violence must be stopped,” one Finnish official insists, “but everything else must fit within free thought.”

However, historical precedents should serve as a warning. Under Islamic rule in medieval Europe, Christians were harshly taxed, banned from public life, and prohibited from owning printing presses. As Stefan, Visegrad24 CEO, points out, “Islamic law has shaped Europe before, and its legacy wasn’t one of equality.”

A Call to Action

Europe stands at a crossroads. As Qatar’s influence grows, so does the danger of allowing its authoritarian, theocratic ideology to seep into the democratic fabric of European society. The choice is not between tolerance and bigotry, it’s between vigilance and naivety.

If Europe values its freedoms, its secular enlightenment, its democratic institutions, its cultural heritage; it must draw a clear line. “We must not tolerate revealed dogma as a source of law, nor violence as a substitute for dialogue. And we must not allow foreign powers to use our democratic institutions as tools to advance their anti-democratic goals.”

Qatar’s ambitions are bold, but Europe’s response must be bolder. The soul of the continent depends on it.