Global Muslim Brotherhood leader Youssef Qaradawi has embroiled himself in yet another controversy by issuing a fatwas (Islamic ruling) condemning the steel wall being built by Egypt along its border with Gaza. According to a Gulf media report:
Prominent Islamic scholar Sheikh Yousuf al-Qaradawi yesterday slammed the controversial Steel Wall Egypt was building along its border with the Gaza Strip as an “unjustified crime” and as such was banned by Islam. Sheikh Qaradawi, who is the chairman of the International Union for Muslim Scholars, said that the metal wall Egypt had begun constructing was meant to “pressure the Palestinians in Gaza to surrender to Israel. “What Egypt is building these days on its border with Gaza is a prohibited act from the Islamic perspective”. he said. “It aims to close off Gaza and tighten the siege imposed on it people so that they give in to the Israeli demands,” Sheikh Qaradawi said in a statement of which Gulf Times obtained a copy. “When the news of this wall was firstly reported, I did not believe it. I thought it was only meant to drive a wedge between Egypt and the Palestinians. But later when it was confirmed, it was a tragic shock for me,” he maintained. Qaradawi also called on Egyptian government to open its Rafah border crossing point with Gaza, saying that opening the border point was a “religious and legal duty” of Egypt toward the Gazan people. “Rafah is the only lifeline for the people of Gaza. Egypt should open it rather than suffocating the Palestinians and collaborating with others to kill them”, he added. The scholar also appealed to both the Arab League and the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) to pressure Egypt to stop the construction of the Wall. “The Wall is one hundred percent against the Palestinians and playing into the hands of the Israelis enemy one hundred percent,” he added.
Clerics at Egypt’s Al-Azhar University and the Egyptian government criticized Qaradawi’s statements.
Youssef Qaradawi is 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. Qaradawi has written that all Jews and all Muslims will fight each other in a final battle in which Muslims will emerge victorious.
For full statement, go here.