Category Archives: Yusuf al-Qaradawi

MEMRI reports reaction to Qaradawi’s non-existent fatwa

Posted on by Bob Pitt

“At a convention on the subject of ‘Pluralism in Islam’ which took place in late August, 2004 at the Egyptian Journalists’ Union in Cairo, Sheikh Dr Yousef Al-Qaradhawi, a leader of the Muslim Brotherhood movement and one of the most important religious authorities in Islamist circles, issued a religious legal opinion permitting the abduction and killing of American civilians in Iraq in order to pressure the American army to evacuate its forces.”

For MEMRI Special Dispatch No.794, “Reactions to Sheikh Al-Qaradhawi’s Fatwa Calling for the Abduction and Killing of American Civilians in Iraq”, see here.

For an article by Egyptian journalist Fahmi Hawaydi exposing the falsity of the charge against Qaradawi, see here.

Huwaydi, Qaradawi and the Aardvark

Posted on by Bob Pitt

The accusation against Yusuf al-Qaradawi that he had called for the abduction and killing of US civilians in Iraq, during talk to the Egyptian Journalists’ Syndicate in Cairo at the end of August, has received widespread coverage, despite the fact that Dr al-Qaradawi himself immediately denied the accuracy of the report in an interview with Al Jazeera.

Abu Aardvark reveals that leading Egyptian journalist Fahmi Huwaydi obtained a recording of the Cairo meeting and was able to confirm the truth of Qaradawi’s denial. Abu Aardvark also complains that “a number of American magazines and newspapers have expressed no interest in this information when I presented it to them. As I feared, the conventional wisdom has congealed around a lie”.

See here.

Almost all terrorists are Muslims (it says here)

Posted on by Bob Pitt

“It is a certain fact that not all Muslims are terrorists, but it is equally certain, and exceptionally painful, that almost all terrorists are Muslims.”

MEMRI’s favourite Arab journalist, Abdel Rahman Al-Rashed of the Al-Arabiya news channel, makes his contribution to the rise in anti-Muslim prejudice, and slanders Yusuf al-Qaradawi into the bargain.

Daily Mirror, 6 September 2004

Cf. “Not all terrorists are Muslims & not all Muslims are terrorists”, Islamweb.net, 4 September 2004

Islamists and Democracy

Posted on by Bob Pitt

“Qaradawi – an al-Jazeera regular who recently turned down the leadership of the Muslim Brotherhood because he felt he could be more influential as an independent thinker – has spent the last thirty years presenting a sustained and coherent argument for a moderate approach to Islamism. He has routinely and consistently denounced terrorism and intellectual extremism.”

Abu Aardvark replies to Lee Smith, outlining the views of Yusuf al-Qaradawi and other advocates of democratic Islamism: here.

Attacks on Islamic institutes are baseless – MAB

Posted on by Bob Pitt

“British Muslims are beginning to become accustomed to attacks on their most beloved institutions. Over the last year, they’ve seen right-wing and Zionist assaults on their scholars (Shaikh Qaradawi), their charities (Interpal), their religion itself, and their organisations and leading individuals.”

The Muslim Association of Britain replies to the Times report “British Islam colleges ‘link to terrorism’”.

MAB press release, 29 July 2004

Does Ken believe in killing gays? Tatchell wants to know

Posted on by Bob Pitt

“The battle-cry of women’s liberation was hijacked this month by Muslim fundamentalists to disguise an agenda that denies choice to women. A conference on the hijab, held at City Hall in London on 12 July and hosted by London’s mayor, Ken Livingstone, took place under the title: ‘A woman’s right to choose’.”

Peter Tatchell in the New Statesman, 19 July 2004

Leading Greens oppose Qaradawi witch-hunt

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Green MEP Caroline Lucas and the party’s home affairs spokesperson Hugo Charlton both took a stand against the anti-Qaradawi campaign.

Dr Caroline Lucas, Green Party MEP for South-East England:

“Sheikh al-Qaradawi has been the victim of an Islamophobic smear campaign in some sections of the media, and has been associated with a fundamentalist position on a number of topics, including the treatment of homosexuals and women.

“Most of the criticisms leveled at him have been ill-informed – indeed Dr al-Qaradawi has clearly stated that Muslims should obey the law of the land and has distanced himself from a fundamentalist position.

“I oppose discrimination wherever it rears its ugly head, and support the rights of homosexuals to live free from discrimination and persecution, of Muslim women to wear Hijab wherever and whenever they so choose, and of everyone to practice their religion in a climate of free expression. I do not believe these rights are incompatible.

“At a time when Muslims find themselves victims of vilification – both in the press and by government agencies – it is more important then ever that our commitment to human rights and equality is not expressed in a way that can fan the flames of populist Islamophobia.”

Hugo Charlton, Green Party Home Affairs Speaker:

“I regret the decision by some assembly members to attempt to deter the distinguished Muslim scholar Dr Al-Qaradawi from speaking at City Hall.

“Among those human rights issues which are championed there, freedom of speech does not seem to be one they are prepared to prioritise in this instance.

“Dr Al-Qaradawi is widely respected in the Muslim world and to decline him this venue can only send a negative message to both the domestic and international Islamic community. I strenuously support all attempts to build bridges and increase understanding – this is best done through dialogue, an essential component of which is allowing other people to speak.

“Whilst I understand and support the position of those who oppose homophobia and sexism when it is to be found in any religion (or anywhere else), I think that in this instance they have picked the wrong man, at the wrong time and in the wrong place.”