Earlier this week, U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) chaired a U.S. Senate Judiciary Subcommittee hearing about the The Society of the Muslim Brothers network in America – a threat that Senator Cruz identified as “a clear and present danger.”
Sen. Cruz opened the hearing by warning that the Muslim Brotherhood should not be viewed merely as a foreign movement, but as an ideological force with an established presence in America. Citing historical evidence, declassified documents, and previous federal investigations, he argued that Brotherhood-affiliated organizations have sought to gain legitimacy through charities, advocacy groups, student organizations, and religious institutions while presenting themselves as mainstream representatives of American Muslims. Cruz asserted that ignoring this threat has allowed extremist ideology to gain influence in ways that are often overlooked by policymakers and the media.
According to Congressional findings and reports from the Congressional Research Service, the Muslim Brotherhood is a transnational Sunni Islamist movement founded in Egypt in 1928. These findings assert that affiliated groups have developed networks and influence operations within the U.S., seeking to shape public opinion, influence policymaking, and advance an Islamist agenda through cultural, legal, educational, and political institutions.
You can watch the entire hearing HERE.
The hearing featured testimony from several experts, including Lara Burns, a retired FBI Special Agent, Arielle F. Klepach, Senior Litigation Counsel with the National Jewish Advocacy Center, and Kyle Shideler, Senior Analyst for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism for the Center for Security Policy. Their responses to Senator Cruz’s questions during the second half of the hearing deserve special attention. We highly recommend taking the time to watch and listen to their warnings:
Background
Drawing on her years investigating Islamist terrorism for the FBI, Lara Burns testified that the Muslim Brotherhood operates through what she described as a “civilization-jihad” strategy—seeking to transform society gradually through political, legal, cultural, and educational institutions rather than through immediate acts of terrorism. Burns argued that understanding the Muslim Brotherhood requires recognizing it as an ideological movement that employs both lawful activism and affiliated organizations to advance long-term objectives while distancing itself from violent acts carried out by terrorist groups sharing similar ideological roots.
Arielle Klepach focused her testimony on the legal and policy implications of the Muslim Brotherhood’s influence within the United States. She argued that federal officials should distinguish between the constitutional protection of religious liberty and political activity on one hand, and organized efforts by foreign Islamist movements to exploit those freedoms on the other. Klepach urged policymakers to strengthen oversight of organizations alleged to have ties to the Muslim Brotherhood while ensuring that legitimate religious practice and civil liberties remain protected.
Kyle Shideler testified that the Muslim Brotherhood has developed an extensive international infrastructure that extends beyond the Middle East into Western democracies. He argued that Brotherhood-affiliated organizations seek to shape public opinion, influence government policy, and cultivate relationships with political leaders and academic institutions. According to Shideler, this influence campaign has been particularly evident in the rise of anti-Israel activism following the horrific October 7, 2023, terrorist attacks by Hamas. He contended that many campus demonstrations and activist coalitions reflected years of ideological organizing rather than spontaneous grassroots movements.
Throughout the hearing, witnesses argued that organizations such as the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) and the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) have historical or ideological connections to the Muslim Brotherhood. Those organizations have consistently denied acting on behalf of or being controlled by the Muslim Brotherhood. The witnesses maintained, however, that publicly available evidence and historical records support their conclusions regarding those relationships.
Senator Cruz also pointed out that the Muslim Brotherhood and the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) have found common cause despite their differing ideologies. He asserted that both movements oppose many of the same foundational principles of American constitutional government, support anti-Israel activism, and frequently cooperate within broader political coalitions. Witnesses pointed to examples of collaboration among Islamist and far-left activist organizations as evidence of this emerging alliance.
All three witnesses testified that the threat posed by the Muslim Brotherhood has not diminished but continues to grow in the United States.
As Christians, we must be aware of the growing influence of Islam in our state and nation. We are called to love our neighbors and even our enemies (Matthew 22:39; Galatians 5:14; Luke 6:27–35; Romans 12:17–20). This requires acting intentionally with love, kindness, and patience—not in our own strength, but through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Therefore, fervent prayers and faithful Gospel outreach to our Muslim neighbors, with the hope that many will come to faith in Jesus Christ, are essential. At the same time, we must recognize and oppose the false ideology that seeks political and cultural dominance in the name of a false god. As the Apostle Paul reminds us, many have been “taken captive” through deceptive philosophies (Colossians 2:8). Our calling is to faithfully proclaim the truth while exposing wicked ideologies that keep them from the Savior. (Acts 4:12; John 14:6).
For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and mankind,
the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all…
1 Timothy 2:5-6
Learn more:
The Muslim Brotherhood Plot To Destroy The U.S. From Within
The History of Islamic (Nazi) Jihad
For the Muslim Brotherhood in the U.S., Everything Is Going According to Plan
