Arabic media has reported that Akram Kassab, generally described as the personal representative of Global Muslim Brotherhood leader Youssef Qaradawi, was one of the participants in the recent Gaza flotilla. An online Arabic CV says that Kassab is an Egyptian graduate of Al-Azhar living in Qatar who is a director of an Islamic bank in Doha as well as a researcher for IslamOnline, the Islamic news portal formerly associated with Qaradawi.The CV also says that Kassab was one of the founding members of the World Federation of Muslim Scholars, likely the same organization known as the International Union of Muslim Scholars headed by Qaradawi. His first cited published work is titled “Zionism and the Threat To Humanity.”
Youssef Qaradawi is often referred to here as the most important leader of the global Muslim Brotherhood, an acknowledgement of his role as the de facto spiritual leader of the movement. In 2004, Qaradawi turned down the offer to lead the Egyptian Brotherhood after the death of the Supreme Guide. Based in Qatar, Sheikh Qaradawi has reportedly amassed substantial wealth through his role as Shari’ah adviser to many important Islamic banks and funds. He is also considered to be the “spiritual guide” for Hamas and his fatwas in support of suicide bombings against Israeli citizens were instrumental in the development of the phenomenon. A recent post has discussed a video compilation of Qaradawi’s extremist statements.
Previous posts have reported on the pivotal role played by the Global Muslim Brotherhood in the Gaza flotilla.
For an Arabic language video of Kassab describing his flotilla experience, go here.