FEUILLETON II

ACES links with the „Muslim Brotherhood“

GLOBSEC Secret Organization Research Results (2)

The ACES website offers a multitude of texts mentioning the "Muslim Brotherhood". Avaz

Piše: E. Halimić

Several non-governmental organizations in Europe can be considered as an extension of the terrorist organization "Muslim Brotherhood", and one of them also operates in B&H, according to an extensive research by a reputable, non-partisan and non-governmental organization based in Bratislava, GLOBSEC. Although there is no formal evidence that it is part of the "Muslim Brotherhood", the research concludes that the established ties cannot be "unintentional and accidental" and that they are apparently groups inspired by an organization founded in Egypt.

Umbrella organization

- One umbrella organization from B&H, more precisely the Association for Culture, Education and Sports (ACES) is listed as a "friendly and partner resource". According to their website, ACES is a non-partisan, non-governmental and non-profit organization funded by donor contributions, membership fees and economic activities. A review of a server registered in the United States for this website revealed that most of the 3,400 visitors to the site daily (84.5 percent) come from B&H, while the rest come from abroad, which indirectly implies a foreign "Internet interest" in the organization – it is stated in the research.

It is added that ACES serves as an umbrella organization for five associations throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina.


Transcript of part of the report of the NGO GLOBSEC. Avaz

- "Svitanje" in Sarajevo, "Izvor Selsebil" in Živinice, "Put znanja" in Zenica, "Vatan" in Bosanska Krupa and "ACES Most" in Sanski Most. The organization focuses on educating young people, mainly diverting attention from negative influences that "lead to moral ruin, loss of true human values, enjoyment of drugs, alcohol, debauchery and other forms of destructive and dangerous behavior." It is interesting that on its page, ACES also emphasizes who cannot be a member of the organization, ie persons convicted of crimes against security or basic human rights, persons who have been disciplined or expelled from other associations and persons who violate the unity of the association - it was explained.

According to GLOBSEC analysts, ACES is also linked to the non-governmental organization "Association for Culture and Education" (ACE), which operated in Kosovo as an organization with suspicions of links to the "Muslim Brotherhood".


FEMYSO Assembly

- In 2014, the Special Prosecutor's Office of Kosovo closed ACE as one of 64 "suspicious organizations". According to news from 2014, the Priština-based organization was close to the "Muslim Brotherhood" in Egypt and also enjoyed the support of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan through TIKA - it was emphasized.

It is added that in 2013 he published an article on the ACES website entitled "Muslim Brotherhood Movement - Origins, Actions and Reflections on Bosnia and Herzegovina", which is part of Mustafa Prljača's master's thesis and book on the "Muslim Brotherhood" movement and its influence on B&H and Bosniaks.

- In addition, the Assembly of the Forum of European Muslim Youth and Student Organizations (FEMYSO) was held in 2018 in Sarajevo, hosted by ACES, and in 2019 two members of this NGO were delegates in the Assembly of FEMYSO, another organization associated with "Muslim Brotherhood." Despite ACES publications, all interviewed experts stated that they were not aware of the presence of the "Muslim Brotherhood" as an organized movement in the country - it was concluded.


Numerous ACES texts

It is added that the ACES website offers a multitude of texts mentioning the "Muslim Brotherhood".

- They can be divided into four categories: history and development of the "Muslim Brotherhood", events in Egypt, interviews or reports on individuals associated with the "Muslim Brotherhood" and its influence in B&H. To further illustrate the content, articles that fall into the first category outlining the historical development of the "Muslim Brotherhood" include a series entitled "Martyrs of the Islamic Movement 'Muslim Brotherhood'". The second category of articles focuses on political events in Egypt. The third group of articles consists of translated lectures and comments from people like Tariq Ramadan and El-Karadavi - it was pointed out.