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Nov 27, 2016
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Prominent Moroccan Islamic Scholar Ahmed Raïssouni Criticizes Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood: They Don't Listen to Anyone; I Was Happy when Morsi Was Ousted

#5814 | 05:49
Source: Online Platforms - "alayam24.com and arabi21.com"

Moroccan cleric Ahmed Raïssouni, vice-president of the International Union of Muslim Scholars, which is headed by Sheikh Yousuf Al-Qaradhawi, said that although Morsi's ouster from the Egyptian presidency was legally a crime, he was happy about it because "Allah wanted this man, who was forced into the presidency, to be ousted." "Obviously, I was happy when he was relieved of these responsibilities, which were beyond his capabilities," he said. The Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt had "abandoned their higher mission" in order to pursue their political aspirations, said Raïssouni. According to him, the Muslim Brotherhood in many countries, including Jordan and the Gulf states, say that "the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt refuse to listen to anyone" and "consider themselves the highest source of authority for the Islamic movement." Raïssouni made his comments in interviews with Moroccan online media outlets alayam24.com and arabi21.com, on November 28 and 30, respectively.

 

Alayam24.com, November 30, 2016

 

 

Ahmed Raissouni: "From the perspective of Islamic jurisprudence, as well as legally and politically, and from the perspective of democracy, I denounce it when the authority intervenes, and puts the brakes on someone who operates in keeping with the law and the constitution. Such interference is deplorable. If I were asked for my opinion, I would denounce it from the political, constitutional, and legal perspectives. When [Moroccan Salafi] Hammad Kabbaj was prevented from running for parliament, I wrote an article asking whether the law and the constitution had been suspended."

 

 

[...]

 

 

"But there is another aspect to this. Deep down, I am not that upset about the disqualification of Kabbaj or others, because I am aware of the logic of history, which says that this serves us [Islamists] well. The logic of history is that if the state does not put the brakes on us, we might make mistakes, and be entrusted with responsibilities that we cannot uphold. We would have to deal with things we are not good at. The state has something else in mind, but I believe that at the end of the day, we stand to gain from this. The Justice and Development Party stands to gain from this.

 

 

"This is the first time that the Justice and Development Party covers all the districts. The party could have done this already in 1997, and if it had done this, it would have been a catastrophe. The state saved them from a catastrophe. If we were a real democracy, the party would have won the elections back then, and this would have been another catastrophe. So let me reiterate: There is the historical logic, and there is the logic of the law. From the legal perspective, I denounce these acts [by the state], but from the historical perspective, this is a good and joyous thing. "

 

 

Arabi21.com, November 28, 2016

 

 

"When I said that I was happy when Dr. Mohamed Morsi, may Allah protect him, and the Muslim Brotherhood were ousted and stripped of their responsibilities, I did not mean it from a legal perspective, but from the historical one. I believe that it was the fate decreed by Allah that removed Morsi, even though, legally speaking, his ouster is undoubtedly a crime. Allah wanted this man, who was forced into the presidency, to be ousted. The Muslim Brotherhood were embroiled in this by their own leadership, at the wrong time, in the wrong place, and under the wrong circumstances. They abandoned their higher mission and abandoned their real battles – in Egypt's governorates, cities, and villages.

 

 

"All of a sudden, all they cared about was Tahrir and Rabaa Al-Adawiya Squares, the elections, and the presidency. They lost a golden opportunity for freedom provided by the January 25 Revolution. They lost this opportunity and began to eagerly pursue the political conflict. They focused on political activity, and indeed, reached the president's office. Many people in Egypt and abroad, including Sheikh Al-Qaradhawi, advised them not to pursue the presidency. Sheikh Qaradhawi himself supported Abdel Moneim Aboul Fotouh. But they refused to listen to any of this, and started pursuing the presidency, which is meaningless. It spells nothing but failure. In my view, they are better off being ousted than being made to fail."

 

 

[...]

 

 

"The modern Egyptian regime – since the monarchy of King Farouk in the 1940s, through the coup of Abdel Nasser, and to this day – has nurtured all the employees of the state, the army, and the security forces on hatred of the Muslim Brotherhood and the need to fight them. The entire state is thus indoctrinated. This is its doctrine, its culture, and its practice. The [Muslim Brotherhood] should have known this.

 

 

"When they went for it – even though I was against their running for president and assuming all the state's affairs – I said: Perhaps they have some clout in the army and the security forces, and these honorable officers and judges will support them... But all these honorable officers and judges disappeared into thin air. It turned out that all the judges, except for a few who had no clout whatsoever, were against Morsi and the Muslim Brotherhood. The supreme court, constitutional court, and all that 'choir' were against Morsi, the officers of the military were all against Morsi, as was the case with the security forces, the Ministry of the Interior, all the economy experts, the Copts, the media – they were all against Morsi.

 

 

"What could Morsi do under these circumstances? Obviously, I was happy when he was relieved of these responsibilities, which were beyond his capabilities. Instead of being held accountable for this on Judgment Day, and instead of facing claims, five years later, that the Islamists had been a complete failure... Instead of this, they should have resigned and started again gradually."

 

 

[...]

 

 

"The Muslim Brotherhood in Jordan, the Gulf, and in many countries say: The Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt refuse to listen to anyone. They consider themselves to be the highest source of authority for the Islamic movement. They see themselves as the supreme leaders, and therefore, they refuse to listen. Many Muslim Brotherhood members in other countries have complained about this."

 

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