According to its program, the launch ceremony for the new Islamic center in Qatar to be headed by Global Muslim Brotherhood leader Tariq Ramadan was co-organized by a group that included five U.S. universities together with representatives of two organizations headed by Youssef Qaradawi and an organization tied to the global Muslim Brotherhood, Hamas fundraising, and support for Al Qaeda. According to the launch program of the Research Center for Islamic Legislation and Ethics (CLIE), the following U.S. universities were among the event co-organizers:
- Center for Science and Technology Policy Research, University of Colorado
- Georgetown University-Qatar
- TIPE – Texas A&M Initiative in Professional Ethics
- Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU)
- Weill Cornell Medical College-Qatar
It should be noted that Georgetown University is the home of Global Muslim Brotherhood supporter John Esposito, known for his claims that Islamic fundamentalism was, in fact, democratic and posed no threat to the U.S and who has at least a dozen past or present affiliations with global Muslim Brotherhood/Hamas organizations
The program also lists representatives of the following organizations as part of the program:
The International Union of Muslim Scholars (IUMS) and the European Council for Fatwa and Research (ECFR) are both headed by Qaradaw who attended the ceremony. Qaradawi is known as a virulent anti-Semite often referred to here as the most important leader of the global Muslim Brotherhood, an acknowledgement of his role as the de facto spiritual leader of the movement. In 2004, Qaradawi turned down the offer to lead the Egyptian Brotherhood after the death of the Supreme Guide. Based in Qatar, Sheikh Qaradawi has reportedly amassed substantial wealth through his role as Shari’ah adviser to many important Islamic banks and funds. He is also considered to be the “spiritual guide” for Hamas and his fatwas in support of suicide bombings against Israeli citizens were instrumental in the development of the phenomenon. A recent post has discussed a video compilation of Qaradawi’s extremist statements.
According to Saudi media, the Global Center for Renewal and Guidance is a U.K. based organization created to “improve” the Islamic education curriculum and headed by Abdullah Omar Naseef who has held many important positions in Saudi Arabia including serving as Vice-President of the Kingdom’s Shura Council, President of King Abdul Aziz University, and most importantly as Secretary-General of the Muslim World League (MWL) from 1983-1993. Dr. Naseef also heads the Cairo-based International Islamic Council for Da’wa and Relief, (IICDR), an umbrella group for 86 Islamic organizations, many of which are associated with the global Muslim Brotherhood, Hamas fundraising, or support for Al Qaeda. Examples include:
- Association of Reform and Social Guidance – Dubai, United Arab Emirates (likely UAE Muslim Brotherhood chapter)
- Dar al-Fatwa – Lebanon (Union of Good, Hamas fundraising)
- El Islah Society – Bahrain (Muslim Brotherhood in Bahrain)
- Federation of Islamic Organizations in Europe – Brussels, Belgium (European Muslim Brotherhood)
- International Islamic Forum for Dialogue – Jeddah, Saudi Arabia (related organizations, shares officers)
- International Islamic Relief Organization – Jeddah, Saudi Arabia (IIRO)
- Islamic Relief Organization – Birmingham, United Kingdom (Muslim Brotherhood charity)
- Muwaffaq Foundation – Khartoum, Sudan (associated with designated terrorist Yassine Kadi)
- Palestine and Lebanon Relief Fund – London, United Kingdom (aka INTERPAL, Hamas fundraising)
- Qatar Charity – Qatar (Union of Good, Hamas fundraising)
- Revival of Islamic Heritage Society – Kuwait (US designated terrorist entity, Al Qaeda support)
- Union of Islamic Organizations of France – La Courneuve, France (Muslim Brotherhood in France)
- Zakah House – Kuwait (Union of Good, Hamas fundraising)
Both the Saudi Muslim World League (MWL) and the World Assembly of Muslim Youth (WAMY) are also listed as IICDR affiliates. The MWL was established in 1962 as a means for the propagation of Saudi “Wahabbi” Islam. Muslim Brothers played an important role in its founding and, to date, the League has been strongly associated with the Brotherhood. The MWL, together with the World Assembly of Muslim Youth (WAMY), are Saudi organizations believed by US. government officials to have helped to spread Islamic extremism around the world as well as sponsoring terrorism in places such as Bosnia, Israel, and India.
An earlier post reported on the formation of the Research Center for Islamic Legislation and Ethics (CLIE) which appears to be a highly significant coming together of Global Muslim Brotherhood leaders Tariq Ramadan and Youssef Qaradawi. The new center appears to be the latest in the series of research centers being established by the Qatar Faculty of Islamic Studies (QFIS).