The following is research published today from MEMRI’s Special Dispatch Series and the MEMRI TV Project.
Special Dispatch No. 3636—Libya
Criticism of Sheikh Yousef Al-Qaradhawi's Fatwa Permitting Killing of Libyan Leader Mu'ammar Al-Qadhafi
Sheikh Yousef Al-Qaradhawi, the head of the International Union of Muslim Scholars, recently issued a fatwa on Al-Jazeera TV permitting the killing of Libyan ruler Mu'ammar Al-Qadhafi.
In response to this fatwa, the Onlislam.net website, which is close to Al-Qaradhawi, published a critical article by Muhammad Isma'il Shel, the editor of the site's section on ethics, moral education, and religious law. In the criticism, Shel stressed that Al-Qaradhawi's statements were an expression of an opinion, not a fatwa, because they included no proofs from religious sources. He also expressed apprehension that this opinion could pave the way for other clerics in permitting the killing of other leaders and prominent figures.
To read the full report, visit http://www.memri.org/report/en/0/0/0/0/0/0/5060.htm.
Special Dispatch No. 3635—Jihad and Terrorism Threat Monitor
Gazan Salafi-Jihadist to Sheikh Yousef Al-Qaradhawi and Muslim Religious Scholars: Why Don't You Issue a Fatwa to Kill Sudan's President or Saudi Arabia's King?
Note to media and government: For a copy of theis report, send an email with the title of the report in the subject line to media@memri.org.
The jihadi website Al-Tahadi posted a communiqué dated February 25, 2011 from Abu Bakr Al-Ghazi Al-Ansari, who is identified with the Palestinian Salafi-jihadi group Jund Ansar Allah, and titled "Advice to the Muslim Religious Scholars and Support for the Libyan Muslims." In the communiqué, Al-Ansari claimed that the uprisings that took place in Tunisia and Egypt, as well the one currently sweeping Libya, were nothing less than an answer to Al-Qaeda's repeated calls to topple the "apostate" Arab regimes; calls which, he said, had until now met with resistance from Muslim religious scholars in the religious establishment.
Al-Ansari mocked these religious scholars, especially Yousef Al-Qaradhawi, who have recently issued fatwas in support of the uprisings in the Arab world and calling for the death of Libyan leader Mu'ammar Al-Qadhafi, and asked them why they did not also issue fatwas against the Saudi or Sudanese regimes, which, he said, are no better than that in Libya.
Additionally, he cautioned the Libyans against allowing secular or nationalist opportunists from reaping the benefits of their revolution. For this reason, he called on them to establish jihad and da'wa groups, and to include religious scholars and sheikhs in order to protect the regions they liberated, and to instruct the Libyan people in the way of Islam.
Following are excerpts from the communiqué:
"The entire world witnessed the courage of the weak, who rose up against oppression after many years of suppression and tyranny... We send our blessings to our brothers in Tunisia and Egypt... who gave all the peoples new hope for liberation... But I want to focus here on the revolution of the freemen in Libya, who revolted against the greatest devil and the chief hypocrite...
To read the full report, visit http://www.memri.org/report/en/0/0/0/0/0/0/5062.htm.
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Special Dispatch No. 3634 –Turkey/U.S. and the Arab and Muslim World
Reactions from Turkish Political Elements On New Us Ambassadors Criticism of Turkish Press Freedom
Six weeks after taking up his post, U.S. Ambassador to Ankara Francis J. Ricciardone criticized press freedom in Turkey. On February 15, 2011, he answered journalists' questions about his thoughts on the previous day's police raid of the Oda TV offices. His statements evoked strong reactions from Turkey's ruling party and opposition.
The Turkish Journalists' Association had called the raid on Oda TV an example of "intolerance" toward journalists in the country, saying, "Free press is being intimidated in Turkey."
The following report focuses on the reactions to Ambassador Ricciardone's statements, as well as on the U.S. State Department's response.
In further developments, on March 3, 2011, the Associated Press reported on the February 24 arrests of journalists in Turkey. According to the report, the raid is an expansion of the crackdown on Oda TV.
Be sure to visit the MEMRI Turkish Media Blog for breaking news and ongoing coverage you will find nowhere else (http://www.thememriblog.org/turkey)
To read the full report, visit http://www.memri.org/report/en/0/0/0/0/0/0/5061.htm.
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