MEMRI has translated a Palestinian media report indicating that the Gaza Hamas Prime MInister has invited Global Muslim Brotherhood leader Youssef Qaradawi to lead a public prayer in Gaza. According to the MEMRI translation:
Haniya Invites Qaradhawi to Lead Prayers in Gaza In a phone conversation with Sheikh Yousef Al-Qaradhawi, head of the International Union of Muslim Clerics, Hamas Prime Minister Isma’il Haniya congratulated the Egyptian people for their revolution, and thanked Al-Qaradhawi for championing the causes of Palestine, Jerusalem and the lifting of the Gaza siege in his February 18 sermon in Al-Tahrir square. Haniya invited the sheikh to lead a public prayer in Gaza, expressing a hope that he would one day lead a prayer in Al-Aqsa. Al-Qaradhawi thanked him for the invitation and promised to work towards making his visit a reality. He wished the steadfast people of Gaza victory and liberation.
Source: Palestine-info.info, February 19, 2011
An earlier post discussed Qaradawi’s appearance in Cario’s Tahrir Square on Friday. MEMRI has subsequently posted a translation of his remarks containing details of that speech generally unreported by global media. For example
In a special mention of the Palestinian issue, Al-Qaradhawi asked the Egyptian army to open wide the Rafah crossing and to pray for the re-conquest of Jerusalem by the Muslims, so that he and the Muslims could pray in security at Al-Aqsa Mosque. This part of his sermon was cheered and applauded by thte crowd.He also said that he wants to give the Friday prayer sermon at Al-Aqsa mosque.
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. Qaradawi recently reiterated his support for suicide bombing in Israel and expressed his desire to die as a martyr “at the hands of a non-Muslim.” The GMBDW has been covering Qaradawi extensively in these pages for some time. Our coverage on him can be found here.
The Hamas charter states that it is ” one of the wings of the Muslim Brothers in Palestine” and an Israeli TV station has reported that in 2008, Muslim Brotherhood “representatives” traveled to Gaza from Egypt through the open border to meet with Hamas. An earlier media report indicated that shortly after Hamas took over the Gaza strip, Muslim Brotherhood representatives were present to review Hamas military formations. Last June, a Hamas journalist acknowledged the role that the “international Muslim Brotherhood” has played in providing funds for the purchase of weapons.The Global Muslim Brotherhood support Hamas through the Union of Good, a worldwide coalition of charities headed by Global Muslim Brotherhood leader Youssef Qaradawi.