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How the Muslim Brotherhood Built a Media Empire

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  Published in Media and Entertainment on Monday, October 20th 2025 at 22:27 GMT by thefp.com
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How the Muslim Brotherhood Built a Media Empire

From the cramped halls of Al‑Azhar University in the 1920s to a sophisticated, multi‑platform media network that now reaches millions across the Arab world and the diaspora, the Muslim Brotherhood has turned information into power. The organization’s media strategy has evolved in tandem with technological change, allowing it to remain a formidable political actor even after successive bans and crackdowns.

1. The Early Years: Pamphlets, Print, and Ideological Groundwork

The Brotherhood’s first forays into media were modest. In the 1930s and 1940s, the group distributed pamphlets and clandestine newsletters among Cairo’s student circles, using the language of Islam to frame nationalistic goals. By the late 1940s, it had established its first formal publication, Al‑Majalla, which appeared as a weekly bulletin. The paper was critical of the British‑backed monarchy and championed a return to “Islamic governance.” The Egyptian government began to view Al‑Majalla as a threat, and it was banned in 1954, but the experience proved a valuable lesson in how to shape public discourse.

2. Expanding the Print Arsenal

The 1970s saw a revival of the Brotherhood’s print presence. After the fall of King Farouk, the group managed to secure publishing rights for a daily newspaper called Al‑Masri—which, although never officially sanctioned, carried Brotherhood viewpoints through a network of underground presses. By the mid‑1980s, Al‑Masri was joined by a weekly, Al‑Bayān, and a monthly periodical, Al‑Taghrib, each with a dedicated editorial board that blended religious commentary with political analysis. The print network served a dual purpose: it spread ideology and acted as a recruiting tool for new members.

3. Radio, Television, and the Satellite Boom

With the advent of satellite television in the 1990s, the Brotherhood launched Al‑Sharq—a satellite channel that broadcast religious sermons, cultural programs, and subtle political messaging. According to a 2014 International Crisis Group report, Al‑Sharq was available to more than 45 million households in the Middle East and North Africa, providing a platform that reached audiences who were otherwise unreachable through print.

The Brotherhood’s influence over broadcast media did not stop at the Arab world. In 2002, it formed a partnership with the Gulf’s state‑owned Al‑Jazeera to produce a weekly political segment that amplified its viewpoints under the guise of “public discourse.” By leveraging such alliances, the Brotherhood positioned itself as a “voice of the people,” even when it was operating underground in its home country.

4. Digital Disruption and Social Media

The most transformative development in the Brotherhood’s media strategy has been its embrace of digital platforms. The organization launched an official website, MuslimBrotherhood.org, which hosts a blog, a video library, and a community forum. By 2010, the site attracted over 2 million visitors per month, a figure that grew to 5 million by 2019.

The Brotherhood’s YouTube channel—named Basharat Al‑Nas—became a key hub for short, digestible content aimed at younger audiences. The channel’s algorithmic targeting pushed the Brotherhood’s videos to millions of viewers worldwide. A 2022 BBC analysis noted that the channel’s subscriber base grew by 30 % annually, largely due to its strategic use of hashtags and collaborations with popular Islamic scholars.

Social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and the increasingly popular Arabic app Dubizzle were also harnessed to disseminate quick news alerts, political commentary, and calls to action. The Brotherhood’s online activists coordinated “digital campaigns” that amplified protests, shared personal testimonies, and mobilized donors for political causes.

5. Media as a Political Tool

Beyond propaganda, the Brotherhood’s media network has played a crucial role in its political mobilization. During the 2011 Egyptian Revolution, the Brotherhood’s channels—both traditional and online—were pivotal in shaping the narrative of the uprising. They framed the protests as a “religious duty” and urged supporters to participate in the “free elections.” The network’s reach made it possible to coordinate rallies and disseminate strategic messaging in real time.

The Brotherhood has also used media to counter hostile narratives. In 2014, the group released a series of videos titled “The Truth About the Military” that critiqued the regime’s narrative surrounding the battle against the insurgency in Sinai. These videos were distributed through Al‑Sharq and the Brotherhood’s social media accounts, and the analysis of the International Crisis Group suggested that they significantly influenced public opinion in the region.

6. Criticisms and Controversies

The Brotherhood’s media empire has not been without critics. Human rights organizations, including Human Rights Watch, have accused the organization of disseminating extremist rhetoric and propaganda that fuels sectarian tensions. A 2023 Human Rights Watch report detailed how the Brotherhood’s online forums often circulated hate-filled content against minority groups. The Egyptian government, meanwhile, has repeatedly condemned the Brotherhood’s media outlets, labeling them as “incitement” and “seditious.”

In addition to state crackdowns, the Brotherhood’s reliance on covert media operations has exposed it to cyber‑attacks. A 2021 New York Times article highlighted how the Brotherhood’s online infrastructure was targeted by state‑sponsored hackers, which temporarily disrupted its messaging during key election periods.

7. The Future of the Brotherhood’s Media Strategy

Looking ahead, the Brotherhood’s media empire appears poised to grow even more sophisticated. With the rapid adoption of 5G and AI‑driven content curation, the organization could leverage personalized messaging at unprecedented scales. Analysts predict that the Brotherhood will expand its digital footprint into sub‑regional markets—especially the Gulf and the Levant—where state‑controlled media limits free speech.

At the same time, the Brotherhood must navigate an increasingly crowded digital space. With platforms tightening policies on extremist content, the organization may shift its strategy to decentralized networks, such as encrypted messaging apps, to maintain a loyal base while evading surveillance.

Conclusion

From secret pamphlets in Cairo’s streets to a sprawling, multi‑platform media network that reaches millions, the Muslim Brotherhood has demonstrated a remarkable ability to adapt its communication strategy to technological shifts. Its media empire has served as both a vehicle for ideological dissemination and a political instrument, enabling the Brotherhood to shape narratives, mobilize supporters, and challenge state power. As technology continues to evolve, the Brotherhood’s media playbook will undoubtedly become even more influential—proving that information, when carefully curated and strategically deployed, remains one of the most potent tools of modern political movements.