Islamic media has reported that the International Union of Muslim Scholars (IUMS) has announced that it has appointed three well-known individuals to the position of IUMS Assistant Secretary, apparently a new position within the organization. According to an Islam Today report, the three are:
1. Rachid Ghannoushi
Rachid Ghannouchi is the leader in-exile of the Tunisian Islamist movement known as Nahada (aka Ennahda, Al Nahda) and can best be described as an independent Islamist power center who is tied to the global Muslim Brotherhood by his membership in the European Council for Fatwa and Research led by Brotherhood leader Youssef Qaradawi. He is also one of the founding members of the World Assembly of Muslim Youth (WAMY), a Saudi organization closely linked to the Muslim Brotherhood and dedicated to the propagation of “Wahabist” Islam throughout the world. Ghannouchi is know for his thinking on the issue of Islam and citizenship rights. The Medina charter is often cited by Brotherhod figures as an example of the democratic nature of Islam. It is not clear whether or not the reference to Jews in the statement was said in an anti-Semitic context.
2. Salman Al-Awda
Salman Al-Awdah (aka Salman al-Oadah, Salman Bin Fahd Al Ouda, Salman Al-`Udah, Salman Al Awda) was until recently known to be a sympathizer of Osama Bin Laden but, likely under pressure from the Saudi government, has moderated his public positions and has increasingly been a regular feature at Global Muslim Brotherhood events.
3. Issam Al-Bashir
Dr. Issam Basheer ((aka Essam El-Bashir) ) has held numerous positions associated with the global Muslim Brotherhood including as a former director of the UK charity Islamic Relief, a member of the European Council for Fatwa and Research, and as a former Minister of Religious Affairs in the political party of Hassan Al-Turabi, formerly closely tied to the Brotherhood.
A previous post indicated that Al-Awda and Al-Bahsir were in attendance at a recent conference of the World Assembly of Muslim Youth (WAMY).
The International Union of Muslim Scholars (IUMS) was launched on July 11, 2004 in conjunction with a visit by Youssef Qaradawi to London for a meeting of the European Council for Fatwa and Research. Qaradawi is perhaps the most important leader of the global Muslim Brotherhood and the IUMS board of directors is comprised of many leaders of the global Brotherhood.