MEMRI is reporting that the editor of a Bahrain newspaper was investigated and released following an article accusing a Muslim Brotherhood member living in Bahrain identified as Wajdi Ghanim of “incitement to extremism and of igniting ethnic war in the country.” This individual is likely the same individual known in the U.S. as Wagdy Mohamed Ghoneim (aka Wagdi Ghuniem) an Egyptian cleric known in the U.S. for his anti-Semitic speeches. For example, on May 24 1998, an all-day program was held at Brooklyn College in Brooklyn, New York sponsored by eleven Islamic organizations, including the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the Islamic Society of North America, the Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development and the Islamic Circle of North America, all associated with the U.S. Muslim Brotherhood. At the event Mr. Ghoneim spoke in Arabic about the “infidelity,” “stealth” and “deceit.” of Jews. He stated that:
‘The conflict with the Jews, he said, was not over land but one of religion. “The problem of Palestine is not a problem of belief. . . suppose the Jews said ‘Palestine–you Muslims can take it.’ Would it then be ok? What would we tell them? No! The problem is belief, it is not a problem of land.” ‘Ghuniem also reportedly led the audience, in song, the audience responsively repeating each refrain: ‘No to the Jews Descendants of the Apes We Vow to Return Despite the Obstacles. ‘
In January 2005, Mr. Ghoneim agreed to be voluntarily deported based upon Department of Homeland Security concerns that his past speeches and participation in fund-raising activities could be supportive of terrorist organizations. At the time, a CAIR/LA leader Hussam Ayloush asserted that Mr. Ghoneim was treated unfairly because he was Muslim:
‘The whole Muslim community today is under a microscope of scrutiny,” Ayloush said. “Committing a mistake that would invite a slap on the wrist for anyone else could lead to prison or deportation for a Muslim.”
Another Bahraini newspaper reports in Arabic that following Mr. Ghoneim’s deportation to Qatar, he relocated to Bahrain where he was the first Muslim Brotherhood member to be granted citizenship due to his “high weight of scientific, religious and cultural contributions to the service of the nation’s media.” The report also refers to charges that “such preachers” controlled Bahrain TV and cites a Bahraini member of Parliament who said that such charges were made by people known to be “anti-Islam” and who make allegations “for their own ends.”
(note 1: Ghoneim quotation from ‘Federal Document Clearing House Congressional Testimony January 26, 2000 Steven Emerson Terrorist Expert And Investigator Terrorism Newswire, Inc House Judiciary Immigration And Claims International Terrorism And Immigration Policy)
(note 2: Arabic report machine translated)