Dissident Iranian journalist warns of Iran-backed radicalization in Europe

Iranian activist and journalist Masih Alinejad warned that the Islamic Republic and its allied groups, including Hamas and Hezbollah, are spreading their ideology in Europe during a speech on Sunday at the Munich Security Conference.

"Here in Germany, they have 51 Islamic centers...You think Islamic centers here are trying to educate you about peace, security? No," she said.

"All the Islamic centers here are appointed by Ali Khamenei, the dictator from my country, they're trying to expand Islamic laws, Sharia laws to Germany," she added.

Alinejad said that Iran-backed networks in Europe are indoctrinating youth, warning that they are "brainwashing your children to say that they are Hamas, they are Hezbollah."

She expressed concern that radical ideologies are being spread online, citing TikTok videos where users glorify Osama Bin Laden and extremist groups like the Taliban and ISIS.

She also criticized European governments for suppressing voices that speak out against Islamist extremism, arguing that this enables the spread of radical ideologies.

In spite of her attendance, organizers of the conference confirmed to Iran International that the informal invitation to Iran's exiled Prince Reza Pahlavi had been withdrawn after discussions with the German government.

The German Foreign Ministry acknowledged communication with the MSC but said that decisions on invitations were made independently. A source familiar with the matter told Iran International that Berlin feared Pahlavi’s attendance might jeopardize German dual-national prisoners in Iran.

"At the Munich Security Conference, I warned that freedom of speech is under threat. Silencing voices in the name of political correctness or islamophobia won’t stop terrorism, it will only empower it," Alinejad wrote a in a post on X Sunday, addressing the retraction.

Alinejad also called attention to human rights abuses in Iran, mentioning women on death row and the mother of Pouya Bakhtiari, a protester killed by security forces during Iran's 2019 protests who recently attempted suicide in prison. "Stand on the right side of history," she urged.