More information is available about Wagdy Ghoneim who, as reported in a post from yesterday, was arrested in South Africa. According to a new report in Islam Online and further translations, Ghoneim will be deported from South Africa on the basis of “illegal residence” which, according to Islam Online, was the basis on which he was deported from the U.S. Ghoneim says that it is likely that the U.S. was involved with the decision to deport him. It appears that Ghoneim has been living in South Africa since last March having received a three year visa and says that rather than being arrested at the airport as originally reported, he was arrested at home and accused of being in the possession of an illegal residency permit. According to Islam Online, Ghoneim is now traveling to Yemen to attend an Islamic conference and from there will proceed to Qatar and the Emirates where he will decide “in which of Allah’s countries” he should settle.
As yesterday’s post discussed, Ghoneim is closely tied to the global Muslim Brotherhood and has been a frequent speaker or invited speaker at Brotherhood events including those sponsored by the Union of Islamic Organizations in Italy (UCOII), the Islamic Cultural Centre of Ireland (ICCI), and the League of Swiss Muslims. Known for his anti-semitic speeches, global media have also reported that he is closely associated with Hamas. Ghoneim has been deported now from a number of ountries including the U.S., Qatar, and now South Africa.
Discussion
The Intelwire blog has posted a copy of a 1988 State Department cable that describes the “anti-Christian, anti-Jewish, and anti-Western” nature of Mr. Ghoneim’s message.