Global media are reporting on Global Muslim Brotherhood leader Youssef Qaradawi’s joyous reaction on learning that Qatar has won out over the US in the race to host the 2022 World Cup Soccer competition. According to one report:
Noted Islamic scholar Dr. Yusuf Al-Qaradawi yesterday said he was immensely pleased that Qatar had defeated the US and won the 2022 bid. “My happiness knew no bounds when I heard that Allah has helped Qatar pup America in the race to host the 2022 World Cup soccer cup” he said. Delivering the Friday sermon at the Omer bin Khattab mosque, the eminent cleric decried US Pres. Barack Obama and said his statement that the decision of FIFA, the world soccer governing body, was wrong showed that Obama’s policies were faulty. He described the US as an arrogant nation and one which always wanted to monopolize just about anything and have one-upmanship in the world. “They want to remain on top of the world in every field whether it is sports or economy” the cleric said of America and added that the Middle Eastern civilization is older than the Greek and Roman civilizations. The cleric said he didn’t care about soccer but the news of the US being defeated by Qatar in the 2022 bid has “filled my heart with joy” he reiterated.
Qaradawi, a virulent anti-Semite 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. A recent post has discussed a video compilation of Qaradawi’s extremist statements.
Discussion
MEMRI has published a translation of Qaradawi’s remarks here.