Egypt, the revolution stumbles on | 61 comments (61 topical, editorial, 0 hidden)

Re: After Egypt's Coup: GCC States Pledge (none / 1)

An article I read argues that the GCC support for the overthrow of Mursi is rooted in the monarchs' fear of democracy: the Brotherhood was seen as a potential inspiration for domestic Islamist movements demanding elections.

_{*Lunatic*, n.

One whose delusions are out of fashion.}

by DoDo on Sat Jul 13th, 2013 at 02:48:15 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: After Egypt's Coup: GCC States Pledge (4.00 / 3)

The Saudi family has, historically, been acutely aware of the potential danger to it from uncontrolled religious movements if they got involved in politics. Part of the family's history involves a alliance between Ibn ʿAbd al-Wahhab and Muhammad bin Saud, ruler of Diriyah, just west of modern Riyadh, in the mid 18th century. Ibn ʿAbd al-Wahhab supported Muhammad bin Saud in matters of religion and al-Wahhab supported al Saud politically. The Wahabi reformers gave the Saudi a political-religious mission that led, eventually, to the modern Saudi State.

The alliance with the Wahabi continues and that family dominates the ulema. During the unification Abdulaziz also used the Ikhwan, or Brotherhood, composed of traditional tribal warriors, to help him unite the peninsula into its current form. But Brotherhood leaders criticized Abdulaziz for modern innovationa and did not respect treaties negotiated by Abdulaziz, attacking Jordan and Kuwait. Abdulaziz employed modern weapons obtained from the British, including two airplanes flown by British pilots, to defeat the Ikhwan. The leaders were killed and the remainder were incorporated into the Saudi military.

I don't think it is reasonable to conclude that any of the Gulf States have any particular view of the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood, but that all of them have good reason to be cautions about empowering such groups. I would expect them to relate to them on a tactical basis, depending on the needs of each state at any given time.

"It is not necessary to have hope in order to persevere."

by ARGeezer (ARGeezer a in a circle eurotrib daught com) on Sat Jul 13th, 2013 at 11:16:30 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: After Egypt's Coup: GCC States Pledge (none / 1)

I should have said "to conclude a priora" about Gulf States views of the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood. Obviously, in the case of Qatar, they have partnered with Al Qaradawi who has been very supportive of the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood. But things can change:

New Qatari Emir Dumps Muslim Brotherhood, Banishes Qaradawi, Hamas Daniel Greenfield Frontpage Mag (Source posted July 4, 2013

Qatar has stripped prominent Muslim Brotherhood cleric Yusuf al-Qaradawi of his Qatari citizenship, has ordered Hamas politburo chief Khaled Meshaal (who took refuge in Qatar after it was no longer palatable to be sheltered by Bashar al-Assad) out of the country, and has withdrawn support from the Muslim Brotherhood as a result of Wednesday's events in Egypt (link in Arabic).

I am unfamiliar with both the author and the site, but all links I've found searching the headline go back to a lone Orthodox Jew from Boston blogging in Israel.

Then there is this:
Al-Qaradawi returns to Egypt from Qatar June 30, 2013 Daily News Egypt Mahitab Assran

According to Sheikh Yusuf Al-Qaradawi's official Facebook page, the Muslim cleric will attend demonstrations at Rabaa Al-Adaweya Mosque in support of President Morsi on Sunday at 5 pm. The shiekh landed in Cairo International Airport Saturday night, amid rumours that Qatar's new Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani had asked him to leave. Al-Qaradawi's official Facebook page denied these reports.
"These rumours are spread by media outlets in support of Syrian president Bashar Al- Assad in an attempt to taint my image" he said Al-Qaradawi on Facebook.
Al-Qaradawi, considered a prominent spiritual leader in the Muslim Brotherhood, has been openly critical of Syrian president Bashar Al-Assad, urging Muslims across the world to engage in jihad against him.

The Egyptian Army removed Morsi the night of July 3.

Then there was this:
Egypt crisis: Fall of Morsi challenges Qatar's new emir Bill Law - Gulf analyst, BBC News

The strategy of support for Mr Morsi and the Muslim Brotherhood looked a shrewd one just a year ago. Egypt had emerged from its Arab spring revolution to hold its first fair and open presidential election. Mr Morsi won a slight majority. Key to his election victory was the promise to revitalise Egypt's moribund economy. The Qataris positioned themselves to prime the pump with massive transfers of cash, some $10 billion (£6.5bn) since Mr Morsi came to power.
....
But this was not a charitable giveaway. It was in the nature of an investment. A Qatari economist told the BBC: "We couldn't stand by and let Egypt collapse", but the billions came with an expectation - "I'll give you the money, show me the outcome," he said....The thinking was that with a functioning economy and a grateful nation, Qatar would be in pole position to capitalise on a resurgent Egypt.
But as Mr Morsi stumbled from one failure to another, the promised economic recovery never got off the ground. On Wednesday that cost Mr Morsi his job and left the Qataris busy attempting damage control. Al Jazeera, based in the Qatari capital, Doha, and funded heavily by the royal family, carried a statement from what it called a foreign ministry source that said in part "Qatar will remain a supporter of brotherly Egypt". And the new Emir Tamim sent best wishes to the interim Egyptian President Adly Mansour.

And then there was this:
Top cleric Qaradawi calls for Jihad against Hezbollah, Assad in Syria Al Arabia Sunday, 2 June 2013

And, finally, this:
Qatar Expels Muslim Brotherhood Spiritual Leader Sheik Qaradawi

by sheikyermami on July 5, 2013
Posted by Jim Hoft on Friday, July 5, 2013

The emirate of Qatar reacted to Wednesday's events by stripping Sheik Qaradawi, the Britherhood's spiritual leader of his citizenship, closing down all Brotherhood offices and expelling Qaradawi and Hamas leader Khalid Mesha'al from the country.
According to Sheikh Yusuf Al-Qaradawi's official Facebook page, the Muslim Brotherhood leader attended demonstrations at Rabaa Al-Adaweya Mosque in support of President Morsi last Sunday.
He will not be allowed back into Qatar.

P.S. From Winds of Jihad homepage: "This blog supports Geert Wilders"

Perhaps someone can find some better sources. :-)

"It is not necessary to have hope in order to persevere."

by ARGeezer (ARGeezer a in a circle eurotrib daught com) on Sun Jul 14th, 2013 at 05:36:13 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Sheikh Qaradawi Reacts (4.00 / 2)

Sheikh reacts to the nonsense on his personal website in Arabic [Google translation]:

Qaradawi on his summer vacation and will return to Doha early September
Did not respond to get caught up to respond to such nonsense, and those rumors peddled by media belonging to the Syrian regime, in order to create confusion about the Shaykh, for his advocacy of the Syrian issue.
He left Sheikh Qaradawi in Doha, heading to Bosnia and Herzegovina to participate in the meetings of the European Council for Fatwa and Research, after the peace on Prince parent Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, and Prince Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Emir of the country, congratulating him on the beginning of his reign as Emir of Qatar.
He then traveled eminence of Bosnia and Herzegovina heading to Cairo on the morning of Saturday, 29.6.2013 to spend his summer vacation usual, interspersed to perform Umrah in the last ten days of Ramadan, that eminence accustomed to their performance, hosted by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques.
Wikipedia: European Council for Fatwa and Research

Wary of Mursi, Gulf Arabs keen to appear neutral in Egypt crisis - Reuters July 3, 2013

Yousuf Al Qaradawi: Mohammad Mursi overthrow 'invalid' - Gulf News July 7, 2013

'Sapere aude'

by Oui (Oui) on Sun Jul 14th, 2013 at 08:05:08 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Sheikh Qaradawi Reacts (none / 1)

Perhaps the outcome will be that Qaradawi remains, for him to leave would be very difficult for him personally, will continue to express his opinions as always, but that the new Emir will allow somewhat more distance to come to be seen between the actions, and especially the funding, of the state of Qatar and the opinions and expressions of Qaradawi. The entire situation surrounding the Brotherhood in Egypt is difficult. What is needed is a way for them to contest and win elections without the danger that they will use that victory to the disadvantage of all but their followers. The protection of the rights of minorities where there are strong differences is the most difficult part of anything that might be described as a democracy. The important thing just now is that Brotherhood leaders not be executed or tortured. That would just feed the cycle of revenge, and that is bad enough as it is.

"It is not necessary to have hope in order to persevere."

by ARGeezer (ARGeezer a in a circle eurotrib daught com) on Sun Jul 14th, 2013 at 09:15:47 PM EST
[ Parent ]

AJ and Qatar: Muslim Brothers' Dark Empire? (none / 1)

A brief overview of developments between Egypt and the GCC states over last decades and the role played by MB in Qatar.

Al Jazeera and Qatar: The Muslim Brothers' Dark Empire?
(JCPA/ Jerusalem Post) - There has been a significant presence of the Muslim Brothers (also known as the Muslim Brotherhood) in Qatar since the second half of the twentieth century. The first wave came from Egypt in 1954 after Nasser had smashed their organization. The next wave came from Syria in 1982 after Hafez el-Assad bombed their stronghold in Hama. The last group arrived after September 11, 2001 - from Saudi Arabia.
...
Qatar is a different story.
The Brotherhood set its mark on the small Beduin country more than half a century ago when a number of militants, fleeing Nasser's vengeful hand, found refuge there. At the time most of its revenue derived from pearl fishing. The Beduin welcomed the newcomers who were willing to adopt Wahabism and its strict rules. The Brothers devoted themselves to their new home, setting up a Ministry of Education and a Ministry of Religion to mold the youth.
It was at that time that Youssef al-Qaradawi, who was to become the leading religious authority of the movement, arrived in Qatar. He set up two important institutions: the World Union of Islamic Sages, whose function is to explain his religious edicts to the faithful throughout the world, and the European Council for Fatwa and Research. The council is meant to help Muslim minorities living in the West preserve their religion in a non-Muslim environment.
Qaradawi's weekly program on Qatar's Al Jazeera channel, Shari'a and Life, develops his extremist views for the benefit of millions of listeners.

'Sapere aude'

by Oui (Oui) on Mon Jul 15th, 2013 at 01:07:19 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Message to Muslim Brotherhood from UAE is Clear (4.00 / 2)

UAE: Gulf must tackle Muslim Brotherhood threat
ABU DHABI, UAE (JPost) Oct. 8, 2012 - Gulf Arab countries should work together to stop Islamist group the Muslim Brotherhood plotting to undermine governments in the region, the United Arab Emirates' foreign minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed al Nahayan said.
The UAE, a major oil exporter and business hub, has arrested around 60 local Islamists this year, accusing them of belonging to the Muslim Brotherhood - which is banned in the country - and conspiring to overthrow the government.
"The Muslim Brotherhood does not believe in the nation state. It does not believe in the sovereignty of the state," Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed al-Nahayan said at joint press conference with the Ukrainian foreign minister.
There were individuals within the Muslim Brotherhood who would be able to use their "prestige and capabilities to violate the sovereignty, laws and rules of other states," Sheikh Abdullah added.
Muslim Brotherhood is 'a grave danger to Gulf security'
DUBAI, UAE (Gulf News) June 25, 2013 - Lt General Dahi Khalfan Tamim, Commander in Chief of Dubai Police, warned that the Muslim Brotherhood is posing a grave danger to political stability in the Gulf as they tend to seize power and implement their ideology. Their interference in internal affairs of Arab Gulf countries was quite obvious in recent months, which is completely unacceptable for the states in the region.
The MB Axis Egypt - Turkey - Qatar Faces Defeat

'Sapere aude'

by Oui (Oui) on Sun Jul 14th, 2013 at 04:30:33 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Egypt, the revolution stumbles on | 61 comments (61 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

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