Egyptian media is reporting that mg leader Youssef Qaradawi has sent a letter to the Saudi Arabian king expressing his hope that Saudi Arabia give permission for women to drive cars. According to a report in Al-Masry Al-Youm:
Qaradawi’s official website said he has sent a letter to the king hailing his statements on the rights of Muslim women and his recent decision to allow women to put themselves forward for positions in the country’s municipalities and Consultative Assembly. In his letter Qaradawi said, “As I send you my regards and express my happiness and appreciation for your statements and decisions, I hope that your dear country will allow Muslim women to drive cars in conformance with Islamic regulations, like other Muslim countries.” Qaradawi added that both the Quran and tradition clearly outline prohibited practices, and that neither forbid women from driving. The website said Qaradawi received a thank you letter from the king in response to his message. Saudi Sheikh Abdul Rahman al-Barrak has called for sentencing women who drive to death, after several Saudi women began a movement on 17 June to call for allowing women to drive. He described their cause as evil and said such women are “Westernized women seeking to westernize the country.”
Qaradawi, a virulent anti-Semite 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 leadthe 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.