The Web site of the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood has announced that Global Muslim Brotherhood leader Youssef Qaradawi has denounced Hezbollah and Iran in connection with the Syrian uprising, saying that Hezbollah treads a path of transgression, murder and tyranny.” According to the report:
At a public conference on the first anniversary of the Syrian revolution, at the Egyptian Journalists Syndicate, Thursday, Dr. Yusuf Al-Qaradawi, head of the International Union for Muslim Scholars, called upon Syrian military personnel to regain their sense of pride, of honor and manhood, their will and resolve, to reject Assad’s repression, to leave Assad’s army as soon as they can, and to join the Free Syrian Army. The renowned scholar stressed the importance of all Syrian opposition working together in this defining moment to face the escalating crimes against the Syrian people. Further, Al-Qaradawi described Bashar al-Assad as a “rat”, accusing him of murdering the Syrian people with missiles and guns without a thought to Islamic or human considerations. He also criticized Hezbollah and Iran strongly, saying: “This is not Hezbollah (party of God), because it treads a path of transgression, murder and tyranny”. Addressing Syrian revolutionaries, Al-Qaradawi said: “You’re not alone. All the peoples of Egypt, Tunisia, and all the Arab peoples and the free men and women of the whole world are with you. So, unite your ranks and support one another. You are a free nation that rejects humiliation and slavery”. Meanwhile, Sheikh Al-Qaradawi called for Arab peoples to seek out the five families that spread corruption in Arab countries and looted Arab oil and billions of dollars, namely: Al-Assad, Mubarak, Gaddafi, Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, and Ali Abdullah Saleh.
Previous posts from 2008 discussed what was at that time on one of the most significant controversies in recent memory involving the global Muslim Brotherhood resulting from comments by Qaradawi accusing Shiites of being heretics intent on invading Sunni societies.
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.
Until recently, Iran had been a major patron of Hamas although that relationship has deteriorated of late in connection with events in Syria. Two weeks ago, a post reported that Hamas leaders had denied that the organization will attack Israel in the course of any war with Iran.