Egyptian Arabic language media has reported that Global Muslim Brotherhood leader Youssef Qaradawi has been included as part of a list of Islamic scholars to be appointed to a national board of senior Islamic scholars (Ulema). According to the Alnahar Egypt report, the list also includes other individuals associated with the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood. In October 2008, posts reported on the election of Qaradawi to the Islamic Research Council of Al-Azhar, one of the oldest educational institutions in the Islamic world.
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, As his recent large donation to a new Islamic endowment project suggests, 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.
In February 2011, a post reported on Qaradawi’s return to Egypt and his speech delivered in Cairo’s Tahrir square.