Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood showed up to the revolutionary party late, but this hasn’t stopped its "father figure," televangelist Sheikh Yusuf al-Qaradawi, from expressing his trademark outspoken opinions.
Today, Qaradawi spoke on Al-Jazeera Arabic about the situation in Libya, where Muammar Gadhafi’s mercenary forces are strafing, snipering, and even bombing protesters from F16s. Reports say that there is a standing order to bomb the eastern city of Benghazi, where the revolt was sparked, before midnight in Libya.
Qaradawi beseeched the Libyan armed forces to disobey the dictator as was done in Egypt and Tunisia. "Save your countrymen from this brutal tyrant. It is wrong of you to stand by while he kills innocent people," Qaradawi was quoted on Twitter by Abu Dhabi-based The National commentator Sultan al-Qassemi.
Then the charismatic pundit dropped his own bomb.
"I am issuing a fatwa now to kill Gaddafi. To any army soldier, to any man who can pull the trigger and kill this man to do so."
Qassemi’s tweet was spread uncritically throughout Twitter by those following the Arab revolts, but one person expressed outrage at the call for Gadhafi’s head.
"I hate Gadhafi but Qaradawi has no business issuing edicts to kill anyone!! Clerics should stick to religion!"
The situation in Libya continues to unravel, with many hundreds murdered by both foreign mercenaries and Army brigades loyal to Gadhafi. Many think this is the dictator’s last stand, and his government will soon fall. Every commentator on Al-Jazeera English on Monday afternoon answered "Yes" to the question that this is the end for the regime.
Earlier reports that Gadhafi has fled to Venezuela have been denied by both governments, according to reports. Gadhafi and Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez have enjoyed warm relations in opposition to what they call the US’ "imperialism."
"He drove off, riding a fatwa"
When a leader begins killing his own people, it is time for him to go "by any means necessary". Will Obama be met with the same sort of 'secular fatwa' from the masses if he begins assassinating American citizens en masse- and if so, what will the reaction of the public be? I guarantee you if the USG was putting down the Wisconsin demonstrations as is being done in Libya there would be no problem at all calling for the head of the person responsible for ordering the attacks- and since we have a clear chain of command, responsibility goes all the way to the top. And so it goes for Gadhafi- he's in charge, he's responsible. Can't take the heat, get out of the kitchen.
I will go further than John Muhammad and say this article is patronizing. Even well intentioned westerners maintain this "we are more civilized than thou" attitude. To begin with, even if this fatwa is authentically attributed to Al Qaradawi it makes complete sense. In islam taking of a life can only be done if its is justified. In this case if Qaddafi is not stopped he will kill more people. The west is unwilling to stop the killing so any Muslim who can stop the killing by stopping the source it would be justified. The fatwa to kill Qaddafi is only under this specific circumstance where they are in the heat of battle. In America Obama can kill Anwar al awlaki without evidence, a trial etc. And as for the one who was appalled by the fatwa he doesn't know that Islam is not just a religion but a way of life and is comprehensive.
Ameen to this; I am in complete agreement. Of course the "Gadhafi fatwa" sounds sensational in the Western press- looking at it from the viewpoint of the average American I can see where it plays right into the hands of the "Islam is barbaric" crowd. But- as an American Muslim- it makes perfect sense, knowing the reasoning behind the decision to issue such a ruling.
Of course it goes without saying that before one condemns Islam it would behoove them to do some research on their own and not rely on the shrill shrieks of the talking heads on American television or radio. Hate is begotten from fear, fear is begotten from ignorance- and in this day of information access there is no excuse for ignorance.
How hilarious!
Antiwar.com is so used to reporting on US weapons killing people (Palestine, Iraq) that the writer just assumes Libya has F16 jets.
In fact, the regime is bombing civilians with French Mirage F1s or with Soviet Su-22s. No US attack planes to be found.
Remember – Libya was in the Soviet camp during the Cold War, and was an Arab-nationalist and socialist regime that in the 19890s Libya was what Iran is to the USA today.
only american aircraft they seem to have are transports.
guflstream 2 – 1
lockheed Hercules – 10
boeing chinook – 8
wiki Libyan_Air_Force
militaryphotos
p.s. instead of just thumbs down why not provide a link to a news story about libya buying f16s ??
on the point of calling for assassination, id say any ruler who has not provided for a legal mode of replacement , is a fare target for a stray bullet to the skull.
Sheik Yusuf al-Qaradawi is Egyptian version of Hagee, Jack Van Impe, Huckabee, Pat Robertson and others who claim to follow Jewish Carpenters faction of Judaism.
The Muslim Brotherhood is full of idiots. They have and can be bought and sold. Watch them ruin a fresh opportunity to actually gain power or some sort of influence in Egypt.