Muslim Brotherhood
The Muslim Brotherhood is the longest running Islamic group in the Middle East, supports Hamas,[1] and has advocated Jihad[2]. The organization which grew to encompass over 70 countries[3] including Syria, Sudan, and other Arab countries, was founded in Egypt by Hasan al-Banna in 1928 and has been joined by many high-profile Islamic terrorist including the founder of modern day jihad; Sayyid Qutb, Al-Qaeda leader; Osama Bin Laden, and Egyptian terrorist mastermind and second in command of Al-Qaeda; Ayman Al-Zawahiri[4].
Although the Brotherhood was disbanded in 1954[Citation Needed] after a botched attempt to assassinate Egyptian President Abdul Nasser, it remains operating, although less militantly. It has given rise to new more violent militias including Hamas, Gama’a al-Islamiya, and Islamic Jihad[2].
Despite being illegal under Egyptian law, the Muslim Brotherhood has gained success in Egypt’s parliamentary elections, winning 20 percent of the assembly's seats in 2005[2].
Goals
The Muslim Brotherhoods’ original goal was to found a total Islamic state which was not influenced by Western countries and would fellow strictly the teachings of the Koran. The organization has also been a leader indicting terrorism and propaganda against Israel and Jews. The Muslim Brotherhood's theme is:
Allah is our objective. "The messenger is our leader. Quran is our law. Jihad is our way. Dying in the way of Allah is our highest hope.[3]"
In 2004, the FBI seized documents relating to the plan to overthrow America titled, “An Explanatory Memorandum: On the General Strategic Goal for the Group.” [5]
| “ | The Ikhwan must understand that their work in America is a kind of grand jihad in eliminating and destroying the Western civilization from within... | ” |
Controversy within Obama Administration
- The director of national intelligence, retired Air Force Lt. Gen. James Clapper, stunned the committee by describing Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood -- the organization that has co-opted pro-democracy protests in Cairo's Tahrir Square -- as "a very heterogeneous group, largely secular, which has eschewed violence and has decried al-Qaida as a perversion of Islam. ... They have pursued social ends, a betterment of the political order in Egypt."[6]
- FBI Director Robert Mueller contradicted the DNI by observing, "Elements of the Muslim Brotherhood here and overseas have supported terrorism."[7]
References
- ↑ Egypt Aflame
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2007/03/25/hear_out_muslim_brotherhood/
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 http://www.ummah.net/ikhwan/
- ↑ The Looming Tower, al-Qaeda and the road to 9/11 (book), by Lawrence Wright
- ↑ FBI Captured Muslim Brotherhood’s Strategic Plan, BigPeace.com, October 26, 2010
- ↑ Numbness on the Nile - Oliver North
- ↑ Numbness on the Nile - Oliver North