Qaradawi Rebukes Former Egyptian Grand Mufti For Fatwa Justifying Military Action Against Morsi Supporters

Qatari media is reporting that Global Muslim Brotherhood Youssef Qaradawi has sharply criticized a fatwa (religious ruling) by former Egyptian Grand Mufti Ali Al Gomaa justifying the military crackdown on supporters of the deposed president Mohammed Morsi. According to a report by The Peninsula:

August 27, 2013 DOHA: Noted Qatar-based Islamic scholar and President of the International Union of Muslim Scholars, Dr Yousuf Al Qaradawi, has vehemently criticised former Egyptian Grand Mufti Ali Al Gomaa for his recent fatwa (religious edict) justifying the military crackdown on supporters of the ousted president Mohammed Mursi.

During a weekly programme (Shariah and Life) on Al Jazeera on Sunday, Al Qaradawi described Gomaa as a puppet of the military-led interim government.

He said Mursi is still the legitimate president and those who toppled him are Al Khawarij (one who rebels against the acknowledged Muslim ruler). ‘Ali Gomaa is not a Mufti. He is a slave of the police and those in power. He denounced people demonstrating against the military coup that ousted elected president Mursi,’ Al Qaradawi said.

He said Gomaa should direct his fatwa towards Army chief General Abdel Fattah Al Sisi who breached his oath that he will obey the elected president.

‘Those giving permission to kill innocent people can not guide the nation. They won’t have any value with the learned people. A real scholar is one who fears Allah and stands by the Holy Quran and the Sunnah (tradition of the Prophet (PBUH)),’ said Al Qaradawi.

He said the Egyptian people who demonstrated against the military takeover were unarmed and peaceful. ‘Those who made the coup used force and killed and injured thousands of innocent people.’

In July, the GMBDW reported that Qaradawi had issued a fatwa condemning the deposing of Mohamed Morsi as President and calling on Egyptians to support Dr. Morsi.

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.