It was announced during the first week of February 2008 that foremost Sunni cleric Sheikh Yousef Al-Qaradhawi has been barred from the U.K.[1]
Sheikh Al-Qaradhawi, who is head of the European Council for Fatwa and Research, president of the International Association of Muslim Scholars (IAMS), and the spiritual guide of many other Islamist organizations across the world, including the Muslim Brotherhood, has already been barred from entering the U.S.
MEMRI research on Al-Qaradhawi was instrumental in the U.S. ban, and has also been used by the media and government bodies in the U.S. and throughout Europe to expose Arabic statements by the sheikh that are not readily accessible to the West.
U.K. government documents leaked to the media showed that Mockbul Ali, Islamic Affairs advisor to the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office, had written a report urging the government to allow Sheikh Al-Qaradhawi to enter the U.K., and stressing that all the material against Sheikh Al-Qaradawi was produced by MEMRI and should therefore be disregarded. The government dismissed his recommendation and rejected Al-Qaradhawi's visa request.[2]
The following is a selection of research on Sheikh Al-Qaradhawi, from The MEMRI Archives, including 32 television clips (total runtime of nearly two hours); 24 Special Dispatches, and 10 Inquiry & Analysis reports.
MEMRI TV Clips on Sheikh Al-Qaradhawi:
No. 1592 -"Sheikh Yousef Al-Qaradhawi: Islam's 'Conquest of Rome' Will Save Europe from Its Subjugation to Materialism and Promiscuity," Qatar TV - July 28, 2007 - 00:02:44, http://www.memri.org/legacy/clip/1592
No. 1515 – "Hamas Leader Khaled Mash'al Praises Sheikh Yousef Al-Qaradhawi for His Support of Suicide Operations, and Says Holocaust Was Exaggerated and Is Used to Extort Germany; Zionist Holocaust Against Arabs Much Worse," Al-Jazeera TV (Qatar) - July 16, 2007 - 00:05:02, http://www.memri.org/legacy/clip/1515
No. 1429 – "Sheikh Yousef Al-Qaradhawi: 'Virginia Tech Massacre Reflects American Philosophy of Violence; The Americans Kept Quiet About It – Since Shooter Was Not a Muslim,'"
Qatar TV - April 20, 2007 - 00:03:01, http://www.memri.org/legacy/clip/1429
No. 1366 – "Sheikh Yousef Al-Qarahawi Calls Upon Iraqi Kurds to Join Sunni Fight against Shiites After Mediation Fails," Qatar TV - January 21, 2007 - 00:02:25, http://www.memri.org/legacy/clip/1366
No. 1354 – "Sheikh Yousef Al-Qaradhawi Eulogizes Saddam Hussein, Declares: In Recent Years, Saddam Was a Changed Man, Did Charitable Work, and Helped People Build Mosques," Qatar TV - January 5, 2007 - 00:05:34, http://www.memri.org/legacy/clip/1354
No. 1324 – "Sheikh Yousef Al-Qaradhawi: If the Shi'ite Doctrine Is Preached in Egypt, There Will Be Civil Strife and Endless Massacres,"
Al-Jazeera TV (Qatar) - August 31, 2006 - 00:05:59, http://www.memri.org/legacy/clip/1324
No. 1308 – "Sheikh Yousef Al-Qaradhawi on the Risks of Female Masturbation,"
Qatar TV - October 28, 2006 - 00:03:01, http://www.memri.org/legacy/clip/1308
No. 1249 – "Sheikh Yousef Al-Qaradhawi: The Jews of Today Bear Responsibility for Their Forefathers' Crime against Jesus," Qatar TV - August 26, 2006 - 00:03:22, http://www.memri.org/legacy/clip/1249
No. 1170 – "Sheikh Yousef Al-Qaradhawi: Homosexuals Should Be Punished Like Fornicators But Their Harm Is Less When Not Done in Public," Al-Jazeera TV (Qatar) - June 5, 2006 - 00:04:10, http://www.memri.org/legacy/clip/1170
No. 1115 – "Sheikh Yousef Al-Qaradhawi Criticizes Fatah and Calls to Donate Money to the Hamas Government," Qatar TV - April 21, 2006 - 00:02:29, http://www.memri.org/legacy/clip/1115
No. 1074 – "Sheikh Yousef Al-Qaradhawi's Conditions for Muslim Men Who Want to Marry Christian and Jewish Women in the West," Qatar TV - March 12, 2006 - 00:03:59, http://www.memri.org/legacy/clip/1074
No. 1052 – "Sheikh Yousef Al-Qaradhawi: Our War with the Jews Is in the Name of Islam,"
Qatar TV - February 25, 2006 - 00:02:49, http://www.memri.org/legacy/clip/1052
No. 1026 – "Sheikh Yousef Al-Qaradhawi Responds to Prophet Muhammad Cartoons: Whoever Is Angered and Does Not Rage in Anger Is a Jackass; We Are Not a Nation of Jackasses,"
Qatar TV - February 3, 2006 - 00:05:24, http://www.memri.org/legacy/clip/1026
No. 949 – "Sheikh Yousef Al-Qaradhawi Calls upon Sunnis to Participate in Iraqi Elections; 'Iraq Must Be Protected from the American Satans,'" Qatar TV - December 2, 2005 - 00:06:28, http://www.memri.org/legacy/clip/949
No. 849 – "Sheikh Yousef Al-Qaradhawi Conveys His Condolences to Hurricane Katrina Victims,"
Qatar TV - September 9, 2005 - 00:01:06, http://www.memri.org/legacy/clip/849 .
No. 822 – "Sheikh Al-Qaradhawi and other Islamic Scholars Debate Suicide Operations in a Counter-Terrorism Conference Held in Sharm Al-Sheikh," Iqra TV (Saudi Arabia) - August 22, 2005 - 00:07:36, http://www.memri.org/legacy/clip/822
No. 706 –"Sheikh Yousef Al-Qaradhawi: Yes to Dialogue with Christians, No with Jews,"
Qatar TV - May 28, 2005 - 00:02:53, http://www.memri.org/legacy/clip/706
No. 645 – "Sheikh Yousef Al-Qaradhawi: The Islamic Nation's Problem is That Muslims Do Not Work. The Zionist Gang Has Turned the Desert into an Oasis,"
Qatar TV - April 15, 2005 - 00:05:12, http://www.memri.org/legacy/clip/645
No. 615 – "Sheikh Al-Qaradhawi: Are We Allowed to Kill the Mayor of London Just Because He is British?!,"
Qatar TV - March 23, 2005 - 00:01:15, http://www.memri.org/legacy/clip/615
No. 534 – "Sheikh Yousef Al-Qaradhawi: Freedom Means Freedom to Establish Islamic Religious Law, Not Freedom for Secularism,"
Al-Jazeera TV (Qatar) - February 6, 2005 - 00:01:44, http://www.memri.org/legacy/clip/534
No. 495 – "Sheikh Yousef Al-Qaradhawi: Islam Has No Problem with Judaism,"
Al-Jazeera TV (Qatar) - January 19, 2005 - 00:02:39, http://www.memri.org/legacy/clip/495
No. 494 – "Sheikh Yousef Al-Qaradhawi Defends London Mayor and Said Doudin Accuses MEMRI of Committing Racist Crimes," Al-Jazeera TV (Qatar) - January 16, 2005 - 00:03:47, http://www.memri.org/legacy/clip/494
No. 472 – "Sheikh Al-Qaradhawi: US, Israel Waging War On Me, Accusing Me of Supporting Terrorism,'"
Qatar TV - January 7, 2005 - 00:04:17, http://www.memri.org/legacy/clip/472
No. 470 – Tsunami Reactions (9) - Sheikh Al-Qaradhawi: Disaster a Punishment for Sex Tourism,"
Qatar TV - January 7, 2005 - 00:01:58, http://www.memri.org/legacy/clip/470
No. 392 –"Sheikh Al-Qaradhawi on Homosexuality and Western Culture,"
Al-Jazeera TV (Qatar) - November 28, 2004 - 00:04:39, http://www.memri.org/legacy/clip/392
No. 382 – "Sheikh Al-Qaradhawi: "I Have Forbidden the Killing of Americans... But I Asked, 'Who Is A Civilian?'," Al-Jazeera TV (Qatar) - November 20, 2004 - 00:04:00, http://www.memri.org/legacy/clip/382
No. 129 – "Sheikh Yousef Al-Qaradhawi in Favor of Democratic Elections in the Arab World,"
Qatar TV - June 4, 2004 - 00:03:40, http://www.memri.org/legacy/clip/129
No. 96 –"Sheikh Qaradhawi: American Culture and Judaism Spread Violence in the World,"
Qatar TV - May 30, 2004 - 00:01:24, http://www.memri.org/legacy/clip/96
No. 94 – "Sheikh Yousef Al-Qaradhawi against Including Jews in Dialogue between Religions,"
Qatar TV - May 28, 2004 - 00:01:46, http://www.memri.org/legacy/clip/94
No. 82 – "Sheikh Dr. Yousef Al-Qaradhawi about the Murder of American Citizen Nick Berg,"
Al-Jazeera TV (Qatar) - March 15, 2007 - 00:01:58, http://www.memri.org/legacy/clip/82
No. 45 – "Sheikh Al-Qaradhawi in Favor of Suicide Operations,"
Al-Jazeera TV (Qatar) - April 25, 2004 - 00:01:20, http://www.memri.org/legacy/clip/45
No. 31 –"Sheikh Al-Qaradhawi Reacts to the Murder of Four Americans in Al-Fallujah: 'How Could You Punish an Entire People Because Four Corpses Were Mutilated?',"
Qatar TV - April 9, 2004 - 00:02:03, http://www.memri.org/legacy/clip/31
MEMRI Special Dispatches, Special Reports, and Inquiry & Analysis Reports
Special Dispatch No. 1824 – "Egyptian Businessman Yasser Salem Followed Al-Qaradhawi Fatwa, Sponsored Algerians to Go Fight Coalition Forces in Iraq," January 24, 2008,
Egyptian Businessman Yasser Salem Followed Al-Qaradhawi Fatwa, Sponsored Algerians to Go Fight Coalition Forces in Iraq .
Special Dispatch No. 1672 – "Hamas Leader Khaled Mash'al Praises Sheikh Yousef Al-Qaradhawi for His Support of Suicide Operations, States: Holocaust Exaggerated, Being Used to Extort Germany, and Zionist Holocaust Against Arabs Much Worse," August 2, 2007, Hamas Leader Khaled Mash'al Praises Sheikh Yousef Al-Qaradhawi for His Support of Suicide Operations and States: Holocaust Exaggerated, Being Used to Extort Germany, and Zionist Holocaust Against Arabs Much Worse .
Special Dispatch No. 1427 – "Sheikh Yousef Al-Qaradhawi Eulogizes Saddam Hussein in Friday Sermon on Qatar TV," January 17, 2007, Sheik Yousuf Al-Qaradhawi Eulogizes Saddam Hussein in Friday Sermon on Qatar TV .
Inquiry & Analysis No. 311 – "Debate over the Status of Shi'ites in Egypt," December 27, 2006, Debate over the Status of Shi'ites in Egypt .
Inquiry & Analysis No. 291 – "Pleasure Marriages in Sunni and Shi'ite Islam," August 31, 2006, Pleasure Marriages in Sunni and Shi'ite Islam .
Inquiry & Analysis No. 277 – "Arab Media Reactions to Iran's Nuclear Project," May 23, 2006, Arab Media Reactions to Iran's Nuclear Project .
Special Dispatch No. 1146 – "Poetry of Resistance at Damascus Rally Calls Bush Accursed Satan; Hamas Leader Mash'al Attacks Abu Mazen & Praises Sheikh Al-Qaradhawi; P.A. FM Al-Zahhar Calls for Right of Return to Jerusalem, Haifa, Jaffa, & Everywhere," April 25, 2006 Poetry of Resistance at Damascus Rally Calls Bush Accursed Satan; Hamas Leader Mash'al Attacks Abu Mazen & Praises Sheikh Al-Qaradhawi; P.A. Foreign Minister Al-Zahhar Calls for Right of Return to Jerusalem, Haifa, Jaffa, & Everywhere .
Special Dispatch No. 1102 – "Leading Islamist Sheikh Yousef Al-Qaradhawi: We Are Fighting in the Name of Islam… This Jihad is an Individual Duty of the Entire Muslim Nation… They Fight Us With the Torah… We Should Fight Them With the Koran," February 28, 2006,
Leading Islamist Sheikh Yousef Al-Qaradhawi: We are Fighting in the Name of Islam…This Jihad is an I .
Special Dispatch No. 1089 – "Sheikh Al-Qaradhawi Responds to Cartoons of Prophet Muhammad: Whoever is Angered and Does Not Rage in Anger is a Jackass – We are Not a Nation of Jackasses," February 9, 2006, Sheikh Al-Qaradhawi Responds to Cartoons of Prophet Muhammad: Whoever is Angered and Does Not Rage in Anger is a Jackass - We are Not a Nation of Jackasses .
Special Dispatch No. 1051 – "Sheikh Al-Qaradhawi on Hamas Jerusalem Day Online: 'We are a Nation of Jihad and Martyrdom'; 'The Resistance in Palestine, Iraq, and Lebanon Must Go On'; 'We Stand Alongside Our Brothers in Hamas and Islamic Jihad,'" December 18, 2005, Sheikh Al-Qaradhawi on Hamas Jerusalem Day Online: ‘We are a Nation of Jihad and Martyrdom’; ‘The Resistance in Palestine, Iraq, and Lebanon Must Go On’; ‘We Stand Alongside Our Brothers in Hamas and Islamic Jihad’ .
Special Dispatch No. 1045 – "Leading Islamist Sheikh Yousef Al-Qaradhawi: 'We Will Be Victorious, Allah Willing – Despite the Traps Set by Judaism & Crusaders,''' December 9, 2005, Leading Islamist Sheikh Yousef Al-Qaradhawi: ‘We Will Be Victorious, Allah Willing – Despite the Traps Set by Judaism & Crusaders’ .
Inquiry & Analysis No.251 – "Reactions in the Arab and Muslim World to the Rioting in France," November 11, 2005, Reactions in the Arab and Muslim World to the Rioting in France .
Special Dispatch No. 1017 – "Sheikh Yousef Al-Qaradhawi in Two Languages: In Der Spiegel Interview and in Denial on His Arabic-Language Website," November 3, 2005, Sheikh Yousef Al-Qaradhawi in Two Languages: In a Der Spiegel Interview, and in a Denial on His Arabic-Language Website.
Special Dispatch No. 971 – "Sheikh Al-Qaradhawi and Other Islamic Scholars Debate Suicide Operations at Counter-Terrorism Conference," August 26, 2005, Sheikh Al-Qaradhawi and Other Islamic Scholars Debate Suicide Operations in a Counter-Terrorism Conference .
Special Dispatch No. 968 – "Leading Progressive Qatari Cleric: By Permitting Suicide Operations, Al-Qaradhawi and His Ilk Have Caused a Moral Crisis in Islam," August 25, 2005, Leading Progressive Qatari Cleric: By Permitting Suicide Operations, Al-Qaradhawi and His Ilk Have Caused a Moral Crisis in Islam .
Special Dispatch No. 961 – "TV Program on the Culture of Martyrdom and Suicide Bombers on Al-Arabiya," August 19, 2005, {{nodeurl-}} .
Special Report No. 36 – "Arab Media Reactions to the London Bombing: "A Chapter in World War III," July 8, 2005, Arab Media Reactions to the London Bombing: ‘A Chapter in World War III’ .
Special Dispatch No. 922 – "Reformist Egyptian Writer Critiques Islamist Education and Propaganda," June 13, 2005, Reformist Egyptian Writer Critiques Islamist Education and Propaganda .
Special Dispatch No. 869 – "Al-Qaradhawi at Solidarity Conference: 'I Hope to Die a Virtuous Death Like a Jihad Warrior, with Head Severed from Body; The Qatar Authorities Do Not Interfere in My Sermons,''' February 25, 2005, Al-Qaradhawi at Solidarity Conference: 'I Hope to Die a Virtuous Death Like a Jihad Warrior, with the Head Severed from the Body; The Qatar Authorities Do Not Interfere in My Sermons' .
Inquiry & Analysis No. 208 – "Accusing Muslim Intellectuals of Apostasy," February 18, 2005, Accusing Muslim Intellectuals of Apostasy .
Special Dispatch No. 858 – "Sheikh Yousef Al-Qaradhawi on Al-Jazeera: Our Problem is Not With Judaism as a Religion but With the Jews' Deeds; Sheikh Al-Qaradhawi on His Website: 'Oh My Nation, the Struggle Has Become Obligatory,'" February 4, 2005, Sheikh Yousef Al-Qaradhawi on Al-Jazeera: Our Problem is Not With Judaism as a Religion but With the Jews' Deeds; Sheikh Al-Qaradhawi on His Website: 'Oh My Nation, the Struggle Has Become Obligatory' .
Special Dispatch No. 847 - "Egyptian Progressive Criticizes Muslim Intellectual Doublespeak," January 14, 2005, Egyptian Progressive Criticizes Muslim Intellectual Doublespeak .
Special Report No. 35 – "Islamist Websites and their Hosts Part II: Clerics," November 11, 2004, Islamist Websites and their Hosts Part II: Clerics .
Special Dispatch No. 828 – "Sheikh Yousef Al-Qaradhawi: Resistance in Iraq is a Duty of Every Muslim," December 14, 2004, Sheikh Yousuf Al-Qaradhawi: Resistance in Iraq is a Duty of Every Muslim .
Special Dispatch No. 794 – "Reactions to Sheikh Al-Qaradhawi's Fatwa Calling for the Abduction and Killing of American Civilians in Iraq," October 6, 2004, Reactions to Sheikh Al-Qaradhawi's Fatwa Calling for the Abduction and Killing of American Civilians in Iraq .
Special Report No. 32 – "MEMRI TV Project Special Report: Arab and Iranian TV Clips in Support of Suicide Bombing," September 1, 2004, MEMRI TV Project Special Report: Arab and Iranian TV Clips in Support of Suicide Bombing .
Special Dispatch No. 753 – "Sheikh Yousef Al-Qaradhawi: 'There is No Dialogue between Us and the Jews Except by the Sword and the Rifle,'" July 27, 2004, Sheikh Yousef Al-Qaradhawi: 'There is No Dialogue between Us and the Jews Except by the Sword and the Rifle' .
Special Report No. 30 – "Sheikh Yousef Al-Qaradhawi in London to Establish 'The International Council of Muslim Clerics,'" July 8, 2004, Sheikh Yousef Al-Qaradhawi in London to Establish 'The International Council of Muslim Clerics' .
Special Dispatch No. 740 – "Criticism of Sheikh Al-Qaradhawi's 'Islamist Democracy' Doctrine," July 7, 2004, Criticism of Sheikh Al-Qaradhawi's 'Islamist Democracy' Doctrine .
Special Report No. 29 – "Incitement to Jihad on Saudi Government-Controlled TV," June 24, 2004, Incitement to Jihad on Saudi Government-Controlled TV .
Inquiry & Analysis No.169 – "The Muslim Debate Over the French Veil Ban," April 5, 2004, الفاتيكان يدعو المسلمين لاحترام حقوق المسيحيين في بلدانهم .
Inquiry & Analysis No.152 – "The Egyptian Controversy Over Circumcising Girls," November 7, 2003, مستقبل عراقي آمن تحت مظلة واشنطن .
Inquiry & Analysis No.145 – "Leading Egyptian Islamic Clerics on Jihad Against U.S. Troops in Iraq: March-August 2003," August 14, 2003, كره الحبّ عند العرب .. خواطر بمناسبة عيد الحبّ.
Special Dispatch No. 542 – "Al-Qaradhawi Speaks In Favor of Suicide Operations at an Islamic Conference in Sweden," July 24, 2003, Al-Qaradhawi Speaks In Favor of Suicide Operations at an Islamic Conference in Sweden .
Special Dispatch No. 531 – "Sheikh Al-Qaradhawi: 'We Gave Up On Haifa and Jaffa;' 'I Am Opposed to Attacks in Islamic Countries,'" June 27, 2003, Sheikh Al-Qaradhawi: 'We Gave Up On Haifa and Jaffa;' 'I Am Opposed to Attacks in Islamic Countries' .
Special Dispatch No. 447 – "Leading Sunni Sheikh Yousef Al-Qaradhawi and Other Sheikhs Herald the Coming Conquest of Rome," December 6, 2002, Leading Sunni Sheikh Yousef Al-Qaradhawi and Other Sheikhs Herald the Coming Conquest of Rome .
Inquiry & Analysis No.82 – "Islamic Clerics Explain the Rationale," February 7, 2002, Islamic Clerics Explain the Rationale Behind Polygamy .
Special Dispatch No. 277 – "Terror in America (10): Prominent Leader of the Muslim Brotherhood Movement, Sheikh Yousef Al-Qaradhawi: 'Islamic Religious Law Dictates That We Join the Taliban's Jihad, Not the U.S. Coalition; It is Forbidden to Attack American Citizens, But Permitted to Attack the American Military,'" October 1, 2001, Terror in America (10): Prominent Leader of the Muslim Brotherhood Movement, Sheikh YussefAl-Qaradhawi: 'Islamic Religious Law Dictates That We Join the Taliban's Jihad, Not the US Coalition; It is Forbidden to Attack American Citizens, But Permitted to Attack the American Military' .
Special Dispatch No. 246 – "The Prophet Muhammad as a Jihad Model," July 26, 2001, The Prophet Muhammad as a Jihad Model .
Inquiry & Analysis No. 53 – "Debating the Religious, Political and Moral Legitimacy of Suicide Bombings, Part I: The Debate over Religious Legitimacy," May 3, 2001, Debating the Religious, Political and Moral Legitimacy of Suicide Bombings Part 1: The Debate over Religious Legitimacy .
Endnotes:
[1] http://news.bbc.co.uk , February 7, 2008.
[2] The Guardian, (U.K), September 4, 2005, http://image.guardian.co.uk/sys-files/Observer/documents/2005/09/04/Document1.pdf , http://image.guardian.co.uk/sys-files/Observer/documents/2005/09/04/Confidential.pdf ..