Gulf media is reporting on a sermon given by Global Muslim Brotherhood leader Youssef Qaradawi in which he called on Arab leaders to recognize a Libyan rebel group that says it will be leading the country to democracy. According to a Gulf Times report:
Sheikh Yousuf al-Qaradawi delivering a sermon yesterday Qatar-based Islamic scholar Sheikh Yousuf al-Qaradawi yesterday called upon Arab leaders to recognise the rebels’ National Libyan Council “to confront the tyranny of the regime in Tripoli”. He urged the Arab governments to support the rebels with weapons “to defend themselves even in a form of loan to be paid by the oil’s revenue in the future. ” Delivering the Friday sermon at the Omar bin al-Khattab mosque in Doha, Qaradawi said that the GCC states supported Oman and Bahrain with $20bn in an attempt to solve their domestic problems. Al-Qaradawi, who enjoys wide respect in the Islamic world, advised the Egyptians – Muslims as well as Christians – to show unity “exactly as they did during the revolution. ” He added that “such unity is fought by the remains of the old regime and the state security. ” Qaradawi said that the former Egyptian interior minister Habib el-Adly will face trial for his alleged role in bombing a church in Alexandria in January “and therefore, the youth of revolution should show maximum vigilance and caution to avoid spoiling the achievements of the revolution. ” “Our Islamic nation should stand against injustice and corruption and I urge the Egyptian government to extend a helping hand to Libyan people and not to Gaddafi. ” Al-Qaradawi warned against counter-revolution in Egypt “possibly hashed by the remains of the falling regime namely the corrupt figures who benefited from Mubarak’s presence. ” He called for the dissolution of the “unneeded” state security apparatus in Egypt, saying that in fact “it was only for president’s security. ” “The apparatus which comprises of 1.7mn personnel cost Egypt millions of dollars and the people are in much need of that. ” The ruler is protected by the justice he makes to his own people and nothing else, Qaradawi added.
The website of the National Libyan Council describes itself as follows:
The council derives it legitimacy from the decisions of local councils set up by the revolutionary people of Libya on the 17th of February. These local councils facilitated a mechanism to manage daily life in the liberated cities and villages. The council consists of thirty one members representing the various cities of Libya from the east to the west and from the north to the south. The aim of the Transitional National Council is to steer Libya during the interim period that will come after its complete liberation and the destruction of Gaddafi’s oppressive regime. It will guide the country to free elections and the establishment of a constitution for Libya.
A post from yesterday describes how another Libyan opposition group cited Qaradawi’s statements in support of the rebellion. Another earlier post discussed a fatwa (religious ruling) issued by Qaradawi on live TV calling for the Libyan army to kill Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi.
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.”