Muslim Brotherhood 'Godfather' Qaradawi Says He Won’t Leave Qatar.

Muslim Brotherhood 'Godfather' Qaradawi Says He Won’t Leave Qatar.HT: TGMBR.

In the latest development in the long running saga of Youssef Qaradawi, Qatari media is reporting that the Global Muslim Brotherhood leader has denied that he has any plans to leave Qatar. According to a report in The Peninsula:

DOHA: Noted Qatar-based Islamic scholar Dr Yousuf Al Qardawi has denied reports that he is moving to another country.

The scholar, who has been at the centre of a controversy after his recent criticism of some neighbouring GCC countries, said what had been reported about him was ‘totally baseless’.

Reports circulating in a section of the media and several social networking sites say that the scholar has been asked to leave Qatar for Tunisia.

‘These (reports) are nothing but the hopes and dreams of some enemies of Islam. They are not going to materialise, God willing,’ Al Sharq quoted Al Qaradawi as saying.

His statement gains importance in the context of a GCC deal signed on Thursday to end tension between Qatar and three other GCC countries.

‘The Father Emir and the Emir are closest to me. I love them from the depth of my heart,’ Al Qaradawi added.

He, however, said his personal views did not represent the opinion of the Qatar government, as the country’s Foreign Minister had clarified earlier.The GMBDW reported last week that Qaradawi did not resume his sermons last Friday as expected.Read the rest here.

Saudi Arabia Threatens Qatar With Closing Borders Over Support of Muslim Brotherhood’; Muslim Brotherhood Outlawed?

Saudi Arabia Threatens Qatar With Closing Borders Over Support of Muslim Brotherhood’; Muslim Brotherhood Outlawed?HT: GMBR.

A newspaper close to Saudi Arabia has reported that Saudi Arabia has threatened to close its border and airspace with Qatar if Doha doesn’t stop supporting the Muslim Brotherhood. According to a report posted at the UK Islamist Middle East Monitor:

February 20, 2014 Saudi Arabia has threatened to close its border and airspace with Qatar if Doha doesn’t stop supporting the Muslim Brotherhood, Al-Arab newspaper reported on Wednesday.

The London-based newspaper, which is considered to be very close to the decision-makers in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, said a Saudi official had delivered the urgent message from the Saudi government to the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani. The message included a ‘threat’ that Riyadh is reviewing its relations with Doha. This could cause a significant change that may lead to the freezing of the relationship.

Saudi Arabia issued the warning saying it is running out of patience towards Qatar’s policies with regards supporting the Muslim Brotherhood movement and breaching the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)’s guidelines for the policies and positions, particularly towards Egypt.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia believes that the Emir of Qatar did not abide by the agreement he signed in a summit in Riyadh in the presence of the Emir of Kuwait two months ago, to stop the use of the Qatari soil in actions that harm the Kingdom.

Prince Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz, King of Saudi Arabia, had the emir of Qatar write the vow and sign it in the presence of the Emir of Kuwait because he had doubts about the Qatari’s commitment to the agreement, as had happened in previous agreements conducted with him and his father, Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani .

Saudi accuses its neighbour of supporting the Houthis in Yemen with money and weapons through one of the Sheikhs of the Qatari royal family, as well as supporting the Muslim Brotherhood in the Kingdom through the Qatari Sheikh himself.Read the rest here.

Earlier this month, the Saudi official news agency reported that the Saudi King had issued a royal decree specifying prison terms for those “involved in hostilities outside the Kingdom” or who join “radical religious and intellectual groups or currents.” It remains to be seen whether the decree applies to the Muslim Brotherhood.

Muslim Brothers were instrumental in the founding of the Saudi  World Assembly of Muslim Youth and the Muslin World League, both organizations being historically close to the Global Muslim Brotherhood.
For a useful history of the tumultuous and sometimes difficult to understand relationship between Saudi Arabia and the Global Muslim Brotherhood, go here.

Gunfire Reported in Feud between Qatar’s Former, Present Emirs.....Pass the popcorn.

Gunfire Reported in Feud between Qatar’s Former, Present Emirs.....Pass the popcorn.(Fars).

Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani has imprisoned his father and former Emir after a quarrel over former Queen Sheikha Moza, security officers of the Royal palace disclosed, adding that the furious emir has fired several shots to warn his father.

A security officer told FNA on Saturday that the quarrel was over the numerous and lavish expenses of the foreign trips that Emir’s mother, former queen Sheikha Moza bint Nasser al-Missned, has been taking alongside not just his husband the former emir, but the country’s prime minister and former foreign minister, including her last trip to Tel Aviv.Sheikha Moza has a wine factory in the vicinity of Tel Aviv.

“We heard several gunshots in the midst of a rather lengthy quarrel between HH Emir and his father on Friday and rushed to the room, where we realized that the Emir had taken out his gun and fired several warning shots in the air after he had gone out of control due to his fury,” the source said.“Following the quarrel, HH Emir ordered us to arrest and imprison his father (the former Emir),” he added.

Quarrels in Qatar’s Royal family have divided officials in the Persian Gulf state in the last several years.
The incident has also been confirmed by independent sources, including an Egyptian security official who asked to remain unnamed and told FNA bureau in Cairo that a friend in Doha security service had informed him of the shocking event.

Earlier this year, former Emir Shaikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani was forced to cede power to his son after the 33-year-old crown prince staged a successful coup and imprisoned him and his prime minister, but after a week of mediations by foreign officials and several members of the Royal family, the former Emir and his cousin Prime Minister Shaikh Hamad Bin Jasem were released to arrange a face-saving transfer of power.

A few days later in early June, the 61-year-old Emir and his government officials informed foreign countries that Doha was preparing to begin a leadership transition in which the Emir would relinquish power to his son, and his cousin would step down as prime minister as well.

Later in June the Royal court made a public announcement to inform the nation that Emir Shaikh Hamad had transferred powers to the Sandhurst-educated crown prince due to health problems.

In a seven-minute speech aired on state television, Sheikh Hamad said it was now time for the new generation to take over following his 18 years at the helm of the small, rich Persian Gulf Arab state.
“The time has come to open a new page in the journey of our nation that would have a new generation carry the responsibilities … with their innovative ideas,” said Sheikh Hamad, reading a prepared text behind his desk.

Such a transition was unusual for Persian Gulf Arab states, where leaders usually die in office.The rather unprecedented move took immediate effect.

But, the 61-year-old emir made no public mention of the fate of veteran politician and the public face of Qatar’s aggressive foreign policy, Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jasem.

Shaikh Hamad had overthrown his father in a bloodless coup in 1995.Hmmm.....Didn't John kerry just visit Qatar?Don't schoot the messenger comes to mind, perhaps he was bearer of bad news?......Syria.....fuhgeddaboudit ?

Qatari Emir Plans to Visit Ramallah.

Qatari Emir Plans to Visit Ramallah.(INN).Palestinian Authority officials confirmed to AFP Sunday that Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani will visit Ramallah for his first ever trip to Judea and Samaria later this month.
"The visit of the emir of Qatar has been confirmed but the date of the visit hasn't been determined yet," Nabil Abu Rudeina, spokesman for PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas, told AFP.
"The agreement on the visit came during a meeting with president Abbas in Doha last week," Abu Rudeina added.
The emir presumably will bring with him a fat check, similar to the $250 million gift he presented to de facto Gaza Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh last month, along with a promise for more.
The visit to Ramallah will be another diplomatic victory for Abbas, who eight years ago embarked on an almost non-stop worldwide circuit to drum up political support after he took over the Palestinian Authority following the death of Yasser Arafat.
Last week, Jordanian King Abdullah II met with Abbas in Ramallah, and a follow-up trip by the Qatari emir would go far to improve Abbas’ image among local Arabs who are tilting towards supporting Hamas.
Abbas and Haniyeh have declared unity between their Fatah and Hamas factions, a move that has allowed Hamas to publicly demonstrate in Judea and Samaria for the first time in years.
The Qatari’s visit will be a sign of support for the unity, which could spark more backing financial and political backing from the Arab world that for years has paid little more than lip service for supporting Abbas.
The Palestinian Authority chairman, for the time being at least, has succeeded in maintaining his image of a diplomat for the peace process while at the same time the PA promotes a “one-state“ solution of an Arab Palestine replacing all of the Land of Israel.Read the full story here.

Emir of Qatar to Hamas: 'If you want my support, cut off relations with Iran, recognize Israel, give up on Jerusalem'.

Emir of Qatar to Hamas: 'If you want my support, cut off relations with Iran, recognize Israel, give up on Jerusalem'.HT: IsraelMatzav.
According to a report in a French magazine, quoting the Lebanese Al-Manar TV chain, last month's meeting between Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh and the Emir of Qatar, Hamad bin Khalifa,wasn't quite as cordial as the 'Palestinians' have cracked it up to be. According to the report, Khalifa told Haniyeh that if he wants support from Qatar, he must give up his alliance with Iran, and recognize Israel with a united Jerusalem (including 'east' Jerusalem). This is from an English Google translation of the French report.

According to Palestinian sources, the meeting between Palestinian Prime Minister in Gaza, Ismail Haniyeh, and the Emir of Qatar Hamad bin Khalifa, ended with a disagreement about the conditions imposed by Qatar to support the Palestinian cause. Cited yesterday by the Lebanese Hezbollah chain El-Manar, these sources have reported that the emir of Qatar has suggested: "If you want to obtain economic and financial aid, you must break your alliance with Iran, enemy of Islam and Muslims "- According to these sources, the conditions set by Hamad bin Khalifa Palestinian Prime Minister were also negotiate with the" Zionist entity "without preconditions, to recognize Israel, to accept that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel and abandon the recovery of the eastern part as well as to announce the end of the armed resistance and begin negotiations as the only option for resolving the Palestinian question.

If this one is true, it could be huge. Read the full story here.