Islamist media is reporting that Global Muslim Brotherhood leaders Youssef Qaradawi and Rachid Ghannouchi were received earlier this month by the King of Saudi Arabia at his Safa Palace in Mecca. According to the Middle East Monitor report:
July 4, 2016 In remarks to Quds Press, Munir refused to comment on the Chairman of International Union of Muslim Scholars Sheikh Yusuf al-Qaradawi and the Head of Tunisia’s Ennahda movement Sheikh Rashid Ghannouchi’s visit to Saudi Arabia, saying their visit during the last ten days of Ramadan is a ‘Saudi issue and a private matter’.
Munir felt that the Middle East crisis is complicated and is mainly manipulated by the United States.
Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz received a number of political leaders including the Ennahda leader at Safa Palace on Saturday night.
In December 2015, the GMBDW reported that Saudi education authorities had called for the removal of around 80 books from libraries and schools. including those by Youssef Qaradawi although in October we had reported that Qaradawi attended a ceremony organized by Saudi Arabia in Qatar earlier that month. In April 2015, we reported that Tunisian Muslim Brotherhood Rachid Ghannouchi was welcomed by the new King of Saudi Arabia at the January funeral of his of his half brother, the late King Abdullah.
The GMBDW has been warning since March 2014 that the Saudi Arabia’s designation of the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization was likely not what it seemed at first and that the Kingdom has been continuing its outreach and support of the Global Muslim Brotherhood. Other relevant reporting has included:
- In October 2015 we reported on an “interfaith” event sponsored by by the King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz International Centre for Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue, known by its abbreviation KAICIID, a controversial organization that was founded in Vienna in October 2011 by the then Saudi King. The event featured two key individuals tied to the Global Muslim Brotherhood.
- In August 2015, we reported on a French newspaper report suggesting that Saudi Arabia was trying to ‘normalise’ its relationship with the Muslim Brotherhood.
- In July 2015, we reported in that a high-level Hamas delegation, including the group’s political leader, had visited Saudi Arabia where they met with the new Saudi King as well as other officials.
For a profile on Youssef Qaradawi, go here.
For a profile on Rachid Ghannouchi, go here.