Egyptian-based geologist Dr. Zaghloul el-Naggar is an important, yet mostly unknown figure in the Muslim Brotherhood. An Al-Ahram profile details Dr. El-Naggar”s long involvement with the Brotherhood dating back to when he met both Hassan El-Banna, the founder of the Brotherhood, and Sayed Qtub, the Brotherhood ideologue whose views have influenced almost every radical Islamic group operating the world today. He is most famous in the Islamic world as a proponent of “Bucailleism“, a kind of Islamic creationism that sees in the Koran signs of future scientific breakthroughs. According to a 2002 Wall Street Journal article, Dr. El-Naggar is also the mentor of Sheikh Abdul Majeed Zindani who is wanted by the U.S. in connection with his support of Al Qaeda in Yemen and is also said to be the “spiritual mentor” for Osama Bin Laden. Dr. El-Naggar should have come under scrutiny in 2001 when the U.S government designated Muslim Brotherhood leader Youssef Nada and other individuals as Specially Designated Terrorist in connection with the activities of Bank Al Taqwa, said to be a funding mechanism for terrorist activities. Yet, Dr. El-Naggar was not so designated. Original bank documents list Dr. El-Naggar as a member of the original Board of director for Bank Al-Taqwa as well as the being the 5th largest ordinary shareholder according to a 1999 shareholder list. Confidential sources also report that at Dr. El-Naggar’s recent speech at the German organization Inssan, he was introduced as having had important roles also in the Faisal Islamic and Dubai Islamic banks. Aside from his Islamic banking and scientific activities, Dr. El-Naggar has also published anti-Semitic materials promoted on his website including a book entitled “The Plot: Milestones in Zionist and World Subversion of the Palestinian People. Although confidential sources report that he did not make any anti-Semitic comments during an appearance in Germany, the event featured prominent mention of Dr. El-Naggar’™s website. Therefore, any German Muslim who viewed Dr. El-Naggar’™s website would have encountered his anti-Semitic views and book, introducing yet more anti-Semitism in to the Muslim community in Europe.
(note: Since 2005, Dr. El-Naggar’s book has no longer been advertised on the homepage of his website. Difficulties with the site are hindering further analysis but it is common practice by Muslim Brotherhood organizations and individuals to remove offensive material only when criticized publicly)