Support for the Muslim Brotherhood from Qatar and Turkey has promoted divisions within Muslim communities, according to the celebrated British army commander, Colonel Tim Collins.

European states like Britain had suffered as Muslim Brotherhood groups had used state funding to undermine social harmony programmes like the UK’s Prevent anti-radicalisation effort.“It’s unacceptable and discordant,” he said. “I would urge the government of Qatar to end funding of Muslim Brotherhood as an act of friendship.”

The Muslim Brotherhood was diverse but harboured an instinct for subterfuge and pursued hidden agendas.

“It is a nebulous thing, it is hard to pin down, it’s almost a franchise, it’s almost like Islamic State itself,” he said. “It’s insidious. It’s permitted to lie.

“The treat of militant Islam is a threat to the civilised world,” he said. “We have an invisible defence in our country, which is our Muslim citizens and yet there is an organistation that would subvert these citizens.”

The British government conducted a wide ranging enquiry into the Muslim Brotherhood in the UK and worldwide culminating in a never published 2015 report. The recommendations of its author Sir John Jenkins, a former ambassador to Saudi Arabia, were not taken up by David Cameron’s government.

“It’s regrettable that based on Sir John’s findings that much less has been done,” he said.

“The group should not have the opportunity to engage with public representative and it should be challenged vigousously and opposed where necessary.

“It’s harmful ideology should be contained, mitigated and its threat to a harmonious society should be opposed.”

In a briefing at the House of Commons, Col Collins cited payments of more than 125 million euros across Europe from Qatar to institutions that were strongly influenced by the Muslim Brotherhood. Included in this was more than 18m euros that went to a variety of departments of Oxford University, including a body led by Tariq Ramadan, the grandson of the Muslim Brotherhood founder.

Security sources expressed further concerns over figures involved in mosques that had attracted millions in donations from Sheikh Hamad, the retired emir of Qatar.Col Collins gained fame after a British newspaper reprinted the speech he made on the eve of battle as troops under his command prepared to enter Iraq to overthrow Saddam Hussein.

The Belfast native, who has since worked as a development consultant in conflict zones like Afghanistan, was invited to the White House to meet George W Bush.

Among the versions of the speech given to 1 Batt, Royal Irish Regiment, on 19 March 2003 is one by the actor and director Kenneth Brannagh. From the opening, Col Collins told his men they entered Iraq to liberate not to conquer. “If you are ferocious in battle remember to be magnanimous in victory,” he said. “Iraq is steeped in history.

“It is the site of the Garden of Eden, of the Great Flood and the birthplace of Abraham. Tread lightly there,” he said. “You will see things that no man could pay to see - and you will have to go a long way to find a more decent, generous and upright people than the Iraqis.

“You will be embarrassed by their hospitality even though they have nothing. Don't treat them as refugees for they are in their own country.”

Col Collins has also pursued a writing career and is an occasional columnist.