Behind Enemy Lines: Rassd and the Muslim Brotherhood’s Propaganda Infrastructure in London
Series: Exposing the Muslim Brotherhood in the United Kingdom
Geopolitical Context: London’s Ascendancy as an MB Hub
Since the early 2020s, I have documented London’s emergence alongside Doha and Istanbul as a critical operational base for the Muslim Brotherhood (MB). As of June 2025, empirical evidence confirms that London now supersedes both cities as the Brotherhood’s primary global hub. This shift follows two strategic developments:
The 2021 Egyptian-Turkish rapprochement, which compelled Ankara to either silence or expel MB figures on demands from Egypt’s intelligence community.
Sustained Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) pressure on Qatar, significantly curtailed the Brotherhood’s anti-Arab operations from Doha.
Consequently, the United Kingdom has inadvertently become the MB’s most permissive sanctuary. From London, the Brotherhood directs influential media entities—namely Rassd News Network and Mekameleen TV—and directs ideologically aligned YouTube channels that disseminate content under the guise of editorial independence and/or political opposition to Arab governments.
This analysis examines Rassd: a Brotherhood outlet exploiting British legal protections to advance extremist objectives.
Rassd: Origins and Ideological Foundations
Rassd: Origins and Ideological Foundations
Established in late 2010 by Egyptian activists Anas Hassan (legal name: Anas Fawzy Mohamed) and Amr Farrag, Rassd began as a Facebook-based citizen journalism initiative monitoring alleged electoral fraud. By 2011, it leveraged social media to document Egypt’s uprising, gaining international credibility through BBC and Al Arabiya citations. Its operational structure—featuring four committees (editing, correspondent support, multimedia, and development)—belied a deeper ideological alignment with the Brotherhood.
Key Foundations:
Co-Founders’ Ties: Farrag, a prominent Brotherhood youth cadre, managed Rassd’s editorial direction while Hassan (a self-confessed “former” MB member) provided ideological scaffolding.
Post-2013 Radicalisation: After the ouster of Egypt’s first MB President, Mohamed Morsi, Farrag relocated to Istanbul under Brotherhood orders to rebuild media operations. He later endorsed violence, advocating to "wear down the [Egyptian] coup by all means".
Legal Designations: Egyptian courts designated Rassd a terrorist organisation in 2014–2015 for inciting violence. In 2023, Farrag’s assets were frozen under counter-terrorism laws
Editorial Contradictions: Despite claiming impartiality, Rassd systematically amplifies narratives aligned with the Brotherhood’s destabilisation agenda.
In the above tweet, Hassan demonstrates how indoctrination works. On 9 October, 2023, two days after the worst massacre of Jews since the Holocaust, Hassan asserts, “I I open the news broadcasts for my kids and teach them who the enemy is.. so that when they grow up, they don't become filth.”
Documented Support for Terror Entities
1. Dissemination of Extremist Propaganda
Rassd’s Telegram channel (39,000+ subscribers) functions as a distribution node for designated groups:
Hamas: Regularly glorifies attacks by Hamas’ military wing, Al Qassam Brigades (e.g., celebratory coverage of sniper operations against Israeli forces, framing them as "resistance").
Libyan Militant Groups: Defended the "Fajr Libya" coalition as "anti-imperialist resistance" while promoting conspiracy theories alleging UAE-Israeli collusion to fund ISIS.
Iranian Proxies: During the June 2025 Iran-Israel conflict, Rassd uncritically amplified Iranian state narratives and Hezbollah military claims.
2. Systematic Anti-Israel, Antisemitic Incitement
Rassd’s output consistently demonises Israel:
Characterises counter-terrorism operations as "state terrorism".
Denounces Arab-Israeli normalisation (e.g., Abraham Accords) as "betrayals of Palestine".
Promotes the "Zionist-Western conspiracy" trope to explain regional conflicts.
In a 2015 tweet, Rassd Co-Founder Anas Hassan praises the Muslim Brotherhood’s founder Hassan Al-Banna for, “The jihad of Imam Hassan Al-Banna against the Jews, his defiance and movement against them since the beginnings of Jewish immigration until now”
3. Ideological Alignment with Global Jihadism
The outlet echoes the MB’s core doctrine:
Endorses the elimination of Israel as a prerequisite for "Palestinian liberation".
Legitimises violence by Brotherhood-linked factions in Syria, Yemen, and Lebanon as "resistance".
Attacks GCC states (particularly UAE and Saudi Arabia) for counter-terrorism cooperation with Western powers.
In a 2015 tweet, Rassd Co-Founder Anas Hassan asserts, “Egypt is the gateway to Jerusalem .. and the war on the Jews begins with the war on their proxy .. the proxy war is a prelude to the war on the Jews because they are from our own kin!”
The UK Nexus: Operational Infrastructure
Rassd’s London base is explicit:
Publicly lists a UK contact number (+44 7537 121370) for content submissions.
Maintains editorial operations within British jurisdiction while promoting Jihad and anti-Western, antisemitic conspiracy theories.
Notably, Rassd remains proscribed in Egypt and banned in all GCC states—including Qatar.
Conclusion: Implications for British Security
The Muslim Brotherhood’s exploitation of UK legal protections transforms London into a platform for:
Radicalisation against British allies (Israel, GCC partners).
Legitimisation of internationally designated terrorist groups.
Coordination of information operations targeting Western and Arab societies.
Rassd exemplifies a broader pattern: non-state hostile actors leveraging liberal democracies to undermine regional stability. Its presence in London demands urgent scrutiny by policymakers, counter-terrorism police and the intelligence community, examining the nexus between free speech, foreign interference, and national security.
This is the beginning of a series of investigations that aim to expose the infrastructure of the Muslim Brotherhood in the UK. If you found this informative, please consider supporting my work.
It’s no surprise that London will be the city from which the attack on Europe begins. What’s truly astonishing is that MI5- MI6 is standing by, asleep at the wheel