Amy Mek
The Hague, Netherlands — A growing Islamic sports group in The Hague, calling itself “Full Force,” has sparked waves of concern across social media as its leader promotes messages of physical and spiritual strength, paired with rhetoric that is explicitly stated to be an “army” poised to “take over the world.” The group, led by social media influencer Enes Kürşat, who goes by “EKanon” on platforms like TikTok and Instagram, posts videos showcasing group training in disciplines such as calisthenics and wrestling, “for the sake of Allah.” These videos, often accompanied by Quranic verses, call on followers, or what Kürşat calls “soldiers” to join an “army full of brothers.”
Kürşat’s rhetoric is stirring reactions, with many worried that the Dutch public is unaware of a potential threat to European values. “Westerners are unaware that we are already at war—our enemies, hostile to Western values and freedoms, are highly organized and deeply committed to reshaping our society into an Islamic state,” remarked this author on X (formerly Twitter). “The truly terrifying part is that our politicians, blinded by naïveté or ambition, believe they can import these forces and somehow control them, seemingly in order to dismantle the West from within.”
What will it take for non-Muslims to finally wake up?"
— Amy Mek (@AmyMek) November 11, 2024
I understand that many Westerners are unaware that we are already at war—our enemies, hostile to Western values and freedoms, are highly organized and deeply committed to reshaping our society into an Islamic state.
The… pic.twitter.com/8zG9m5nqab
The videos, which include callouts like “There is no power or strength except Allah,” emphasize fitness as a form of devotion, urging viewers to “reach their full potential” under the guidance of Islamic principles, Sharia. Kürşat, who has amassed nearly a million followers, describes Full Force as a path to achieve “physical, mental, and spiritual” goals aligned with Islamic religious teachings, presenting Prophet Muhammad as the ultimate role model. As Dutch politician Geert Wilders warns,
Islam, my friends, is indeed evil. Look at its so called prophet, Muhammad. He slaughtered Jewish tribes, he raped a young girl, he gave sex slaves as a gift to his henchmen, and he is still, today, an example for more than 1 billion Muslims worldwide. No wonder that some of his followers take to terrorism. Islam preaches hatred, propagates violence, and is barbaric and violent by nature. It wants all Muslims to submit. It is incompatible with freedom as we know it, and nothing, nothing will ever change that. That’s why we should de Islamize our societies in order to stay free nations. No appeasement, no concessions, but vigilance, perseverance and strength against barbarism is the one thing we should do…”
Why is everyone acting so shocked that Jews are being hunted in the streets of the Netherlands?
— Amy Mek (@AmyMek) November 8, 2024
It’s as if you’ve all forgotten that Dutch politician and hero Geert Wilders has been living under police protection since 2004. He is guarded round-the-clock by armed police, lives… pic.twitter.com/X0SLFgtPFZ
Full Force: A Fitness Group or Religious Movement?
Full Force, while seemingly primarily a sports group, has also launched a clothing line promoting “sharia-compliant” apparel, marketed as an Islamic lifestyle choice for Muslim “soldiers” striving to follow Prophet Muhammad’s example. Available on their website, the brand includes sportswear and headscarves, reinforcing their message of Islamic identity in everyday life. “It is our mission to set a good example,” the group’s website states, “with a brand that is fully compliant with Islamic law.”
The group’s activities extend beyond social media, hosting open events in calisthenics parks in The Hague, where they engage with young Muslims, introducing them to training regimens under the Full Force banner. Some videos show members wearing face coverings and giving the one finger ISIS salute, while others invite viewers to join what is explicitly called an “army.”
As Robert Spencer explains, the signal of the index finger held up is used in myriad contexts. Muslims, in general, have used it as a sign of allegiance to tawhid, Islam’s absolute monotheism. However, in recent years it has become very much associated with allegiance to jihad groups, particularly the Islamic State. This signal has been known to be a sign of allegiance to the Islamic State for almost as long as there has been an Islamic State. It has been described as the group’s “ubiquitous hand signal.”
Rising Concern Over “Army” Imagery and Organized Efforts
Critics argue that the group’s messaging goes beyond physical fitness, tapping into sentiments that resonate with a global Islamic ideology. “This is more than just a fitness group,” said another X user. “It mirrors activities we’ve seen in Russia, where groups foster networks through MMA schools, indoctrinating young recruits for armed struggle. It appears such networks are emerging across Europe, with Full Force being a potential example in the Netherlands.”
The group’s assertions about becoming “the best versions of themselves” and “inspiring the youth and the elderly” may appear benign to some, but the language of “brotherhood,” “strength in Allah’s name,” and even “take over the world” are prompting questions. Some fear this is part of a strategy to radicalize the youth through social engagement cloaked in fitness, and politicians’ apparent inaction on this front has only heightened concern.
Political Reactions and Social Media Discourse
Social media is ignited with warnings and frustrations as users accuse politicians and officials of overlooking what they describe as “Muslim militias” forming under the guise of community fitness and MMA training schools across Europe. Drawing comparisons to known paramilitary groups, many assert that these seemingly innocent facilities mask a more insidious purpose: radicalizing and preparing fighters for future Islamic attacks. These schools, they argue, are incubators of dangerous Islami indoctrination, allowing terror groups to camouflage their intentions, using physical training as a veil for molding recruits into violent warriors.
In Russia, particularly within the Caucasus, Islamic jihadist networks have embedded themselves in MMA and combat sports circles. Here, the structure and discipline of combat sports are exploited not only for physical training but also to cultivate ideological loyalty among young recruits. These recruits are trained in combat techniques while being groomed for violent Islamic causes, forming a generation of fighters.
This pattern extends far beyond Russia. Across Europe and the United States, Islamic combat training centers have emerged as covert hubs for militancy under the outwardly innocent focus on “sports”:
- France: Following the 2015 terror attacks, the French Ministry of the Interior increased its monitoring of combat sports clubs, particularly in areas with known radical activity, such as Paris and Marseille. Authorities discovered that certain MMA gyms, particularly in these regions, acted as hubs for Islamic ideological influence. Some individuals tied to terrorist cells were found to frequent these gyms, raising concerns that they were both physical and ideological training grounds for Islamic jihadis.
- Germany: German intelligence has identified connections between Islamic supremacist networks and specific MMA gyms. In cities with larger Muslim populations, gyms have been noted for facilitating radicalization, with some fighters subsequently traveling to conflict zones in Syria or Iraq to join jihadist groups. The German Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution has since stepped up surveillance in these areas, recognizing the need to track and disrupt these potential breeding grounds for Islamic jihadis.
- Austria: In Austria, intelligence reports link underground combat sports facilities to Islamic radicalization efforts. Austrian authorities have heightened their surveillance of these gyms following a series of attacks involving individuals with combat sports backgrounds. To mitigate further risk, they are monitoring these venues more closely and launching community engagement programs to counteract recruitment efforts.
Escalating Calls for Government Action
Critics argue that the response from European politicians and officials has been lethargic, with few acknowledging the risks posed by Islamic militias training within MMA and fitness communities. Many on social media demand immediate action, arguing that these combat gyms are not merely fitness centers but well-organized structures fostering a new generation of fighters with Islamic terrorist sympathies. They emphasize the need for strong regulations and increased surveillance to prevent these seemingly harmless facilities from becoming ideological battlegrounds within European neighborhoods.
Warnings echo that without swift intervention, these centers could serve as networks for sleeper cells, preparing fighters with loyalty to a radical Islamic agenda. The stakes, critics assert, are far too high for complacency. Authorities are urged to enact stringent measures to track, regulate, and monitor such spaces to protect democratic societies from harboring future threats.
Full Force is a troubling reminder that Islamic groups are gaining footholds in European societies, using popular platforms to indoctrinate impressionable youth and fellow jihadis. While Full Force markets itself as a means of self-improvement, critics warn that a deeper agenda may lie behind its call to join an “army” in Allah’s name.
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