Political Islamist Groups and the Exploitation of Religion – Tools of Conflict, Not Stability

Aden for strategic studies - two days ago

South Eye | Report - Exclusive

For decades, political Islamist groups have failed to offer a successful model for development or stability. Rather, their performance in government or opposition has been characterized by the use of religion as a means of power and its exploitation in bloody conflicts and wars. The Muslim Brotherhood and the armed Shiite militias, led by the Houthis, are at the forefront of these forces. Despite their sectarian contradictions, both exploit religion to consolidate an authoritarian, non-developmental political project.

In Egypt, the Muslim Brotherhood attempted after 2011 to appear as a moderate political force, but this image quickly fell apart after the recurrence of terrorist attacks following the popular fall of Mohamed Morsi's rule. These attacks included the Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis bombings and the Hasm terrorist operations, which US officials acknowledged were linked to the Brotherhood or to leaders who emerged from its ranks.

The Brotherhood relied on a clear media duality: an internal, mobilizing discourse based on "empowerment" and conflict with the "other," and an external discourse directed at the West, promoting moderation and balance, which constitutes one of its most prominent tools for misleading global public opinion.

In Yemen, despite the apparent hostility between the Houthis (backed by Iran) and the Islah Party (the political arm of the Muslim Brotherhood), the facts reveal multiple forms of implicit coordination or temporary mutual assistance, particularly in confronting common adversaries such as the southern forces or forces supporting the legitimate government that do not align with their agendas, such as Tariq's forces.

Local and international documented reports have accused the Islah Party of facilitating the expansion of al-Qaeda in the south during the post-2011 period even before, when Yemeni invaded the South in 1994 . Field reports have also indicated that Iranian-made drones have reached members affiliated with al-Qaeda or Ansar al-Sharia, with indirect support from Houthi channels, suggesting coordination through intermediaries.

On the other hand, the Houthi militias are no less dangerous than the Brotherhood in their use of religion, but they add a dynastic dimension by gradual promoting the "divine right to rule" and adopting the rule of Faqia as a political system, which is inconsistent with any modern concept of the state or citizenship. Their repressive practices in Ibb, Sana'a, and Sa'dah have destroyed the Yemeni social structure, in addition to restricting freedoms and persecuting religious and sectarian dissenters.

The outcome: no stability, but wars and systematic destruction. All models of political Islam—from Tunisia and Egypt to Yemen—have demonstrated a common behavior:

Prioritizing religious/sectarian loyalty over national identity.

Using religion to oppress people and justify violence and terrorism.

Overturning values and principles immediately upon empowerment.

Neglecting the rights of women and minorities.

In contrast, countries that have preserved their Islamic identity without becoming hostage to political Islam groups, such as the UAE, Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and Indonesia, have succeeded in achieving a degree of stability and economic growth. This is achieved by adopting realistic policies, modernizing state institutions, and linking identity with renaissance, not religion with power.

The problem lies not with Islam itself, but with the ideological interpretations that shape it to suit authoritarian, radical projects. Therefore, education, the promotion of critical awareness, and civic education are the most important tools for protection in the age of globalization. Any people who do not fortify their awareness will be vulnerable to exploitation by political Islamist groups.