Controversial Muslim Brotherhood Figure On List Of Persons Banned From The U.K.

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U.K. media is reporting that Wadgy Abd El Hamied Mohamed Ghoneim is one of sixteen individuals on a Home office list of people banned from the U.K. According to one report, Mr. Ghoneim is described on this list as follows:

A prolific speaker and writer. Considered to be engaging in unacceptable behaviour by seeking to foment, justify or glorify terrorist violence in furtherance of particular beliefs and to provoke others to commit terrorist acts.

This individual is likely the same individual known in the U.S. as Wagdy Mohamed Ghoneim (aka Wagdi Ghuniem) an Egyptian cleric known for his anti-Semitic speeches. For example, on May 24 1998, an all-day program was held at Brooklyn College in Brooklyn, New York sponsored by eleven Islamic organizations, including the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the Islamic Society of North America, the Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development and the Islamic Circle of North America, all associated with the U.S. Muslim Brotherhood. At the event Mr. Ghoneim spoke in Arabic about the “infidelity,” “stealth” and “deceit.” of Jews. He stated that:

“The conflict with the Jews, he said, was not over land but one of religion. “The problem of Palestine is not a problem of belief. . . suppose the Jews said ‘Palestine–you Muslims can take it.’ Would it then be ok? What would we tell them? No! The problem is belief, it is not a problem of land.” “Ghuniem also reportedly led the audience, in song, the audience responsively repeating each refrain: “No to the Jews Descendants of the Apes We Vow to Return Despite the Obstacles. “ (note 1)

In January 2005, Mr. Ghoneim agreed to be voluntarily deported from the U.S. based upon Department of Homeland Security concerns that his past speeches and participation in fund-raising activities could be supportive of terrorist organizations. At the time, a CAIR/LA leader Hussam Ayloush asserted that Mr. Ghoneim was treated unfairly because he was Muslim.

A Bahraini newspaper reported that following Mr. Ghoneim’s deportation to Qatar, he relocated to Bahrain where he was said to be the first Muslim Brotherhood member to be granted citizenship due to his “high weight of scientific, religious and cultural contributions to the service of the nation’s media.” Following opposition to his presence in Bahrain, Mr. Ghoneim resettled once again in South Africa but was once again deported on the basis of “illegal residence” and was said to have been traveling to Yemen to attend an Islamic conference and from there to Qatar and the Emirates where he was to decide “in which of Allah’s countries” he should settle. In January, MEMRI reported on remarks by Mr. Ghoneim which aired on Al-Jazeera TV and which praised violent Jihad and criticized the U.S. and Europe as “Godless” nations.

Ghoneim is closely tied to the global Muslim Brotherhood and has been a frequent speaker or invited speaker at Brotherhood events including those sponsored by the Union of Islamic Organizations in Italy (UCOII), the Islamic Cultural Centre of Ireland (ICCI), and the League of Swiss Muslims. Known for his anti-semitic speeches, global media have also reported that he is closely associated with Hamas.

(note 1: Ghoneim quotation from “Federal Document Clearing House Congressional Testimony January 26, 2000 Steven Emerson Terrorist Expert And Investigator Terrorism Newswire, Inc House Judiciary Immigration And Claims International Terrorism And Immigration Policy)

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