US media is reporting that Global Muslim Brotherhood leader Youssef Qaradawi has issued a statement calling on the people of Turkey to support Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan “against foreign conspiracies” as well as praising him for both the Islamization of the country and his anti-Israeli policies. According to one report:
Youssef Qaradawi
June 13, 2013 Sheikh Yusuf al-Qaradawi, president of the Association of Muslim Scholars, and the ideological leader of the Muslim Brotherhood, issued a written statement yesterday stating he fully supports Erdogan.
Qaradawi called on the people of Turkey to get behind the Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan against foreign conspiracies, so that the Turkish government can protect its historic gains.
Sheikh al-Qaradawi said the opposition who are protesting in the Taksim Square qualifies as a minority, and they should respect the opinion of the majority and refrain from destructive behaviors.
Qaradawi also praised Erdogan for passing all kinds of social and moral laws against corruption of morality and religion in Turkey saying ‘Erdogan has an honorable stance on Muslim ummah.’
Sheikh Al-Qaradawi continued his stateminet, adding the success of Erdogan’s Justice and Development Party was due to help of Allah, because by prohibiting the use of alcohol Erdogan stopped moral corruption and destruction of society.
He also defended Erdogan government’s foreign policy against Israel. ‘Especially in Iraq, Syria and Somalia, Erdogan government had an honorable stance against the Muslim ummah’s enemies.
Hence the Association of Muslim Scholars appreciated the support of Prime Minister Erdogan, and wishes him success dealing with his domestic problems.’
Meanwhile, various media are reporting that Turkey’s Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan met late Tuesday with Palestinian Prime Minister in Gaza Ismail Haniyeh and Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal where they discussed the Turkish Premier’s upcoming visit to Gaza.
Youssef Qaradawi is the most important leader of the Global Muslim Brotherhood and is the de facto spiritual leader of the movement. He is also considered to be the “spiritual guide” for Hamas and his fatwas in support of suicide bombings against Israeli citizens were utilized by Hamas to justify their operations. In 2004, Qaradawi turned down the offer to head he Egyptian Brotherhood after the death of the Supreme Guide. He is based in Qatar and has said the Qatari Emir has protected from being designated as a terrorist by the U.S. He has also reportedly amassed substantial wealth by serving as the Shari’ah adviser to many important Islamic banks and funds. Qaradawi is the head of the Union of Good (UOG), a worldwide coalition of charities helping to raise funds for Hamas and is the leader of the European Council for Fatwa and Research (ECFR), the theological body of the European Muslim Brotherhood.
In January 2011, the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs (JCPA) published a report authored by the Global Muslim Brotherhood Daily Watch Editor and titled “Turkey, the Global Muslim Brotherhood, and the Gaza Flotilla.” The report abstract states:
There is strong evidence for Turkish governmental involvement in the Gaza flotilla incident, with Turkish government support channeled through the Turkish Muslim Brotherhood network. Since 2006, Turkey has become a new center for the Global Muslim Brotherhood. The IHH was not acting alone but rather was an integral part of a Turkish Muslim Brotherhood network.
With respect to the Global Muslim Brotherhood, report’s second conclusion states:
The Gaza flotilla incident brought into sharp focus an even more significant long- term development: the growing relationship between the Erdogan government and the Global Muslim Brotherhood, which has given rise to some of the most notorious Islamist terrorist groups – from al-Qaeda to Hamas. Since 2006, Turkey has become a new center for the Global Muslim Brotherhood, while the Hamas regime in the Gaza Strip acted as the main axis for this activity
