Latest news with #HamzaYusuf
Memri
30-05-2025
- Politics
- Memri
The Qatar Weekly Update (QWU) – Part Of The Qatar Monitor Project (QMP) – No. 21, May 30, 2025
1. MEMRI Special Dispatch No. 11995, Abdullah Al-Amadi, Journalist For Qatari Government Daily And Former Advisor To Qatari Education Minister, Regularly Publishes Antisemitic Content And Incitement To Violence Against Jews and Israelis, May 28, 2025. 2. MEMRI Inquiry & Analysis Series No. 1840, Qatar-Funded Media And Islamist Groups Renew Their Attacks On Moderate Muslim Scholar Sheikh Hamza Yusuf Over His Peace Advocacy And UAE Ties, Following His Appointment To Advisory Board Of New U.S. Religious Liberty Commission, May 23, 2025. 3. Asked on Fox News if Qatar is supplying fuel to the antisemitic incitement and anti-Israel propaganda on U.S. campuses, as stated by Consul General of Israel in New York Ofir Akunis, Department Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said: "There's validity to what he has said, but I also think that we've got a lot of influences here and we've got a lot of people that have facilitated this that have a different agenda." Fox News, YouTube, May 22, 2025; May 22, 2025. 4. Qatar: Authorities' Religious Discrimination Against Baha'is – Members Unlawfully Detained, Deported Due to Their Faith, Human Rights Watch, May 25, 2025. 5. Qatari lobbying machine finds friends in South Carolina, Washington Examiner, May 27, 2025 6. Qatari Push to Dominate Another Sport, Table Tennis, Draws Scrutiny: A wealthy Qatari businessman's campaign to lead the sport's global body is being investigated; one of his critics was detained and interrogated in Doha, New York Times, May 25, 2025. 7. Trump's Air Force One deal with Qatar not final, despite U.S. claims: The delay reflects lingering concerns about legal liabilities stemming from a White House maneuver to transform what was originally a sale between two countries into a "gift." Washington Post, May 28, 2025. 8. Naftali Bennet: Qatar Is A Kingdom Of Evil, Terror, And Incitement; We Must Act Against It With All Our Might, N12, May 20, 2025. * Yigal Carmon is Founder and President of MEMRI.
Memri
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Memri
Qatar-Funded Media And Islamist Groups Renew Their Attacks On Moderate Muslim Scholar Sheikh Hamza Yusuf Over His Peace Advocacy And UAE Ties, Following His Appointment To Advisory Board Of New U.S. R
Introduction On May 16, 2015, the White House announced the appointment of Sheikh Hamza Yusuf, prominent moderate Islamic scholar and cofounder of Zaytuna College in California, to the advisory board of the new Religious Liberty Commission. The commission was established by the White House on May 1, 2025.[1] Also appointed were Muslim activist Sameerah Munshi and Ismail Royer, director of the Islam and Religious Freedom Action Team at the Religious Freedom Institute. Following the announcement, Sheikh Yusuf became the target of renewed attacks by Qatar-funded media outlets and Islamist organizations and figures. As they had following Yusuf's appointment to the Commission on Unalienable Rights, established in July 2019 by President Trump during his first term of office,[2] these groups condemned his new appointment, largely due to his pro-peace activism and his balanced positions vis-à-vis the U.S., the UAE, the Israel-Palestinian conflict, and the concept of jihad in Islam – positions that diverge from their ideological narratives. Critics also took aim at Yusuf's long-standing association with the UAE-based Forum for Promoting Peace in Muslim Societies, in Abu Dhabi, where he serves on the board of trustees, and his mentorship under Sheikh Abdullah bin Bayyah, head of the UAE's Fatwa Council and a respected advocate for moderate Islam.[3] This report will examine the backlash against Sheikh Hamza Yusuf from Islamist circles, highlight the support his recent appointment has received, and explore his efforts to offer alternative Islamic perspectives on complex issues facing the Arab and Muslim world as well as Muslim communities in the West – perspectives that challenge the dominance of Islamist rhetoric. Sheikh Hamza Yusuf Critic Daniel Haqiqatjou: "Hamza Yusuf Has Made A Deal With The Devil, Literally" – He Has Been "A Part Of Administrations Going Back To George W. Bush" – May 2025 One of the harshest critics of Sheikh Hamza Yusuf's views and positions is American Islamist writer and commentator Daniel Haqiqatjou. In a YouTube video published on May 20, 2025, titled "Hamza Yusuf Betrays Palestine Again," Haqiqatjou focused his criticism on the fact that Yusuf had worked for the George W. Bush and Trump administrations. He said: "This is something that we have seen of him for a long time. Basically, since 9/11, 24 years ago, Hamza Yusuf has made a deal with the devil, literally, if you want to say that – if you consider the great Satan to be the forces within the U.S. that are directed at the killing, mass slaughter of Muslims, launching wars that have killed millions of Muslims. Hamza Yusuf has been a part of these administrations going back to George W. Bush, standing next to George W. Bush, and the next conservative Republican president has been Donald Trump, and, once again, Hamza Yusuf has been joining the Donald Trump administration in one capacity or another." Mocking defenders of Sheikh Yusuf who consider him a pious Muslim and a moderate scholar, Haqiqatjou said: "This is absolutely nonsense. Show which Sufi master or any pious worshiper of Allah who was joining the administration of tyrants – not just any type of tyrant, this is like an infidel tyrant. This is like a non-Muslim administration actively involved in multiple wars against multiple countries, Muslim countries, and Hamza Yusuf is happy to join the team..." Haqiqatjou also criticized Sheikh Abdallah bin Bayyah, whom he referred to as the Yusuf's sheikh who is "doing the same exact thing, except in the Gulf with the UAE." Expressing his frustration, he said: "This makes me angry. It should make you angry. The question I want you to consider is how implicated the entire Da'wa mafia network is because of Hamza Yusuf's associations."[4] Sheikh Hamza Yusuf's Moderate View On The Concept Of Jihad – November 2023 Sheikh Hamza Yusuf's views on multiple Islamic concepts stand in clear contrast than those of the Islamists. His moderate view on the concept of jihad as a holy war is one for which he is often criticized by the Islamists. Asked about jihad during an interview on the Kim Iversen show on YouTube, he said: "Jihad in Arabic literally means struggle. No holy war in Islam. There is nothing that says war is holy. War is actually the absence of holiness. War is the failure of holiness, and that's why in the Quran it says, whenever they ignite the flames of fire of war, God works to put it out, and that's through people. Raising people up that are peace makers. "Juan Cole wrote another book, he edited a book on peace movement within Islam. There are many great peace movements in Islam. People forget that Gandhi's main supporters were Muslims. One of the closet people to Gandhi was Abu Kalam Azad, who was a scholar of Islam. He was born in Makkah and he was with Gandhi in jail and worked with him, and was one of the closet people to Gandhi. Abdul Ghaffar Khan was the great peacemaker from the Pathan community. Many examples of this throughout history. There has been a belligerent element within Islam, and I will never deny that. Jihad can be misused."[5] Criticism Of Sheikh Hamza Yusuf's Views On Peace With Israel – November 2024 Sheikh Hamza Yusuf's views on peace with Israel, and on the Palestinian resistance and its use of violence against Israel using advanced war technology and lethal weapons, have been condemned by both Islamists and pro-Palestinian activists. One of Sheikh Yusuf's statements in particular has been widely circulated by them in order to delegitimize him and raise questions about his qualifications; he had said in 2019, on France24, "If the Palestinians have abandoned violence and instead acknowledged that they are weak and helpless who are in need of help, by the name of Allah, they will find many people in the world sympathizing with them. But when they strike with their petty weapons against powerful weapons that would destroy everything, and people would then think that they have initiated the attacks – this is what is happening now. Have they gained anything? Have they benefited from this violence?"[6] The video of these statements by Yusuf was shared on November 12, 2024 on the X account of British Islamist and YouTuber Dilly Hussain. Pro-Palestinian Activist: "Hamza Yusuf Is "A White Muslim Convert" Who Said About The Palestinians: "Sometimes It's Absolutely Necessary To Suffer In Silence" – December 2023 Furthermore, some pro-Palestinian activists have tried to discredit Sheikh Hamza Yusuf and criticize his moderate views by mentioning that he is a white and a convert. For example, on December 25, 2023, X user Palestinian Ph.D. candidate Ghada Sasa wrote: "Hamza Yusuf, a white Muslim convert, who previously suggested Palestinians stop resisting at all Israeli colonization to garner pity & await aid, doubled down on his take at the [Reviving the Islamic Spirit] RIS conference this weekend: "Sometimes it's absolutely necessary to suffer in silence."[7] Qatar-Funded Media Outlets' Criticize Sheikh Yusuf Following His First Appointment To A U.S. Commission In July 2019, And Criticize His Ties To UAE Following His Support For 2020 Abraham Accords Criticism of Sheikh Yusuf appeared in Qatar-funded media following his appointment in July 2019 to the Commission on Unalienable Rights, established by President Trump during his first term of office. Also criticized was Yusuf's connection with the UAE peace efforts that led to the signing of the Abraham Accords in September 2020. On July 15, 2019, the Qatar-owned and funded Al-Jazeera outlet in English published an article by Dr. Maha Hilal, codirector of the Justice for Muslims Collective. Under the title "It's time for Muslim Americans to condemn Hamza Yusuf, Dr. Hilal accused Yusuf of not representing the best interest of the Muslim community in the U.S. because of his UAE affiliation and because his ideas about the U.S. and about anti-Trump protests diverge from those held by Islamists in the U.S. Dr. Hilal specifically condemned him for calling on Muslims to do better than protesting against the election of Donald Trump. Yusuf had written in a November 2016 post: "We have too much work to do, not protesting, not lighting fires, not saying, 'Trump is not my president. He is, and that is how our system works: by accepting the results and moving on."[8] She added that Yusuf should be condemned for calling the U.S. "one of the least racist countries" in the world, and for calling the UAE a "tolerant" country, writing: "That he clearly ignores all the human rights abuses the UAE has been accused of is rather unsurprising, given that he is a former student and good friend of Sheikh Abdullah Bin Bayyah and is serving as the vice president of his Forum for Promoting Peace in Muslim Societies – a religious body bankrolled by Abu Dhabi." Two days later, on July 17, 2019, the London-based another Qatar-funded media outlet, published an article aimed at Muslims in the U.S. condemning Sheikh Yusuf's appointment to the Commission on Unalienable Rights as well as his association with the UAE and Saudi Arabia. Under the title "Hamza Yusuf is not your friend," Sam Hamad, who describes himself as an independent Scottish-Egyptian activist and writer, defended the Muslim Brotherhood and condemned Yusuf's relationship with the UAE and Saudi Arabia: Hamad wrote: "[Sheikh Yusuf] became a convenient Muslim voice who would advance the agenda of U.S. allies in the Muslim world, most notably the autocrats, theocrats, and gross human rights violators in the UAE and Saudi Arabia. In the post-Arab Spring era, the intermixing of the agenda of autocracy in the Arabic-speaking and Muslim world and western Islamophobia is of the utmost importance. We've seen how Islamophobic fascists and extremists in the West, ranging from Marine Le Pen to Donald Trump, have come to support the Sisi regime [in Egypt] and his [Sisi's] efforts to overthrow democracy and target the Muslim Brotherhood for their advocacy of Islamic democracy."[9] In August 2019, the Qatar-owned and funded Al-Jazeera's Arabic website continued its campaign against Sheikh Yusuf's scholarly status in a report describing him as a "Sufi disciple" employed by the Trump administration as an advisor. The report reiterated the Islamist condemnation of Yusuf's association with the UAE, Sheikh bin Bayyah, and the UAE-based Forum for Promoting Peace in Muslim Societies.[10] In August 2020, the London-Based Middle East Eye, which is widely regarded as a pro-Muslim Brotherhood website, published a report titled "Influential Muslim scholar Hamza Yusuf criticised for backing UAE-Israel deal." In it, he was criticized for endorsing the UAE decision to normalize ties with Israel, in the Abraham Accords that would be signed the following month, in September 2020. The article cited Doha-based Usaama Al-Azami, assistant professor at Hamad bin Khalifa University, as condemning Yusuf for serving as vice president of the Abu Dhabi-based Forum for Promoting Peace in Muslim Societies, that had issued a statement endorsing Israel-UAE normalization. Al-Azami said that "the bizarre statement closely aligned with the forum's history of legitimizing the decisions of the UAE government."[11] Sheikh Hamza Yusuf Responds To Criticism – October 2019 In response to the waves of criticism that followed his July 2019 appointment to the Commission on Unalienable Rights, Sheikh Yusuf released a video on October 27, 2019, in which he said: "It is really important to remember that Trump is not the government. He is the head of the administration and our system differentiate between the government and the administration. This man was a political appointee meaning that the administration appointed him for a temporary position. The civil servants are there all the time. They are different kinds of officials. People say I joined the Trump... Give me a break. Seriously. This commission is an independent body of academics. It is literally illegal by federal law for the State Department to put any pressure of this committee to come up with what they want."[12] Support For Sheikh Yusuf's Appointment – May 2025 In contrast, Sheikh Yusuf's May 2025 appointment to the Religious Liberty Commission has also been widely praised by Arabs and Muslims in the West, as well as in the Arab region, and was considered by some to be a step in the right direction. On May 18, 2025, Canadian lawyer and law professor Faisal Kutty wrote on X: "I rarely find myself commending anything from the Trump administration. But credit where it's due: the appointment of three Muslims – Shaykh Hamza Yusuf, Sameerah Munshi, and Ismail Royer – to the newly formed Religious Liberty Commission is a positive and notable development. "Agree or disagree with some of their views, the fact remains: there will be Muslim voices at the table – and that matters. This inclusion is particularly significant considering that Imam Husham Al-Husainy,[13] who was initially slated to deliver a benediction at Trump's second inauguration in January 2025, ultimately did not participate in the ceremony. The reasons for his absence remain unclear. While one can (and should) scrutinize the broader motives and policies, the inclusion of Muslim voices in matters of religious liberty is a step in the right direction – especially at a time when anti-Muslim sentiment remains a political currency. We'll continue to hold power accountable. But today, we also recognize this rare but welcome shift."[14] The previous day, May 17, 2025, Saudi researcher and political analyst Hasan Almustafa wrote on his X account in support and praise of Sheikh Yusuf's appointment: "The appointment of Sheikh Hamza Yusuf, Vice President of the Abu Dhabi Forum for Peace, [i.e. the Forum for Promoting Peace in Muslim Societies] by President Donald Trump as a member in the Commission on International Religious Freedom [sic] – This [appointment] reflects the power of moderate and rational religious discourse and is a success that reflects positively on the values promoted by the Abu Dhabi Forum for Peace, which are based on cooperation between religions and cultures."[15] Sheikh Abdullah bin Bayyah, head of the UAE's Fatwa Council, right, with Sheikh Hamza Yusuf (Source: May 17, 2025) * Mansour Al-Hadj is Director of the MEMRI Project for Reform in the Arab and Muslim World; Yigal Carmon is Founder and President of MEMRI.
Time of India
18-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Who are Ismail Royer and Shaykh Hamza Yusuf? Donald Trump's controversial ‘jihadist' appointments to Religious Liberty Commission
File photo: Shaykh Hamza Yusuf (left) and Ismail Royer (Picture credit: Zaytuna college, Religious Freedom Institute) US President Donald Trump on Friday appointed Ismail Royer and Shaykh Hamza Yusuf to the White House's newly formed Advisory Board of Lay Leaders under the Religious Liberty Commission. The announcement comes amid growing scrutiny from critics like conservative commentator Lara Loomer, who alleges both appointees have had ties to extremist ideologies and 'jihadist' activities in the past. The White House's official statement describes Royer as director of the Islam and Religious Freedom Action Team at the Religious Freedom Institute, highlighting his advocacy work and promotion of interfaith peace. Shaykh Hamza Yusuf is presented as a respected Islamic scholar and co-founder of Zaytuna College , the first accredited Muslim liberal arts college in the United States, with long-standing academic involvement, including as an advisor at Berkeley's Center for Islamic Studies. However, their appointments have sparked criticism due to their alleged past associations. Who is Ismail Royer? Born Randall Todd Royer, Ismail Royer converted to Islam in 1992. He studied under traditional Islamic scholars and later engaged with multiple Muslim advocacy groups. However, Royer's past includes a dark chapter, in 2004, he pleaded guilty to terrorism-related charges and was sentenced to 20 years in prison for his role in the so-called 'Virginia Jihad Network.' According to a US department of justice statement, Royer admitted to aiding others in attending a Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) training camp in Pakistan, where recruits were trained to engage in militant activities. He also acknowledged helping a co-defendant train in rocket-propelled grenade use in connection with a plot to fight the Indian army in Jammu and Kashmir. He served 13 years before being released in 2017 and has since publicly distanced himself from violent extremism, focusing on religious freedom work. Who is Shaykh Hamza Yusuf? Hamza Yusuf is widely recognised in Western Islamic circles as a proponent of classical Islamic scholarship and interfaith dialogue . A convert to Islam, he co-founded Zaytuna College in California and has served in various academic and governmental advisory roles, including on the state department's Commission on Unalienable Rights during the Trump administration. Despite his mainstream appeal, critics like Lara Loomer have accused Yusuf of downplaying jihadist ideologies and maintaining indirect links with organisations like the Muslim Brotherhood and Hamas, claims he has not directly addressed. Supporters, however, regard him as a voice of moderation who has consistently condemned extremism and promoted understanding across faiths.
NDTV
18-05-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
Lashkar-Linked Man, NIA-Charged Scholar Join Trump's White House Board
One once trained with the Pakistan-based terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba; the other was charged by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) for "provocative" speeches that allegedly influenced terrorists. Both now find themselves appointed to the White House Advisory Board on the Religious Liberty Commission under the Donald Trump administration. Ismail Royer, who has documented links to terror groups including Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Shaykh Hamza Yusuf, one of the most influential Islamic scholars in the West, were appointed on Saturday, as confirmed by the White House. The news has led to sharp criticism from far-right voices, including political activist Laura Loomer, who called the move "insane and unacceptable." Who Is Ismail Royer? Born Randall Todd Royer, he converted to Islam in 1992 and initially built a career in Islamic advocacy. In the early 2000s, Ismail Royer travelled to Pakistan to train with Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), a designated terrorist organisation responsible for the 2008 Mumbai attacks, and reportedly took part in armed attacks in Kashmir. In 2003, Royer was indicted on terrorism-related charges, including conspiracy to wage war against the US and providing material support to terrorist groups. He pleaded guilty in 2004 to aiding and abetting the use of firearms and explosives and received a 20-year prison sentence, serving 13 years before being released in 2017. He was a prominent member of the "Virginia Jihad Network", a group that trained using paintball exercises and facilitated travel to terror camps abroad - with some members intending to support the Taliban against US forces post-9/11. Today, he serves as Director of the Islam and Religious Freedom Action Team at the Religious Freedom Institute and has since published writings promoting peace and religious coexistence. Who Is Shaykh Hamza Yusuf? Shaykh Hamza Yusuf, hailed in many circles as "The Western world's most influential Islamic scholar" was also appointed to the Board. A co-founder of Zaytuna College, the US's first accredited Muslim liberal arts college, Yusuf has served as an advisor to the Center for Islamic Studies at Berkeley and previously participated in the State Department's Commission on Unalienable Rights during Trump's first term. In 2016, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) filed a charge sheet against Hamza Yusuf, whose "provocative" speeches were found to have directly or indirectly influenced suspects accused of having links with a terror outfit. Trump supporter and investigative journalist Laura Loomer sharply criticised the White House's appointment of Ismail Royer to the Advisory Board of Lay Leaders, calling it an "insane and unacceptable" vetting failure. "A literal Muslim Brotherhood Hamas jihadist named Ismail Royer who was found by the DOJ to have trained in a terrorist camp and helped Islamic terrorists to attack America is now on the White House Advisory Board," Loomer posted on X. "This is insane and unacceptable. How did he pass any vetting?" she added, calling it another example of what she describes as a "White House vetting crisis." She cited the official Department of Justice (DOJ) page confirming Royer's 2004 conviction and highlighted his prior role in helping others access LeT camps. She speculated that President Trump himself may not have been involved in the decision, attributing the move to a potential "failure by his staff."
Time of India
18-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Ex-jihadists with Al-Qaida and Lashkar-e-Taiba links join Trump's Religious Freedom Advisory board
Two former jihadist operatives from the United States, one with alleged ties to the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terror group in Pakistan, have been appointed to the White House Advisory Board of Lay Leaders under former President Donald Trump's administration, as reported by TOI. Ismail Royer and Shaykh Hamza Yusuf , co-founder of the US's first accredited Muslim liberal arts college, Zaytuna College , were named despite concerns over their past affiliations with extremist groups, according to Lara Loomer , a prominent Trump ally. Lashkar-e-Taiba training and terrorist activities in Kashmir Ismail Royer, previously known as Rendell Royer before converting to Islam in 2000, is reported to have trained at a Lashkar-e-Taiba camp in Pakistan in 2000. He was involved in terrorist activities, including firing at Indian military positions in Kashmir. Royer was convicted in a US court in 2004 for his role in the 'Virginia Jihadi Network' and sentenced to 20 years in prison. He served 13 years before his release. Royer pleaded guilty to aiding co-defendants in entering the Lashkar-e-Taiba training camp, where they were taught to use firearms and explosives. He also helped Ibrahim Ahmed Al-Hamdi gain entry to the same camp, where Al-Hamdi trained with a rocket-propelled grenade as part of a plot targeting India. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Put Tin Foil On Your Door Knob When Alone, Here's Why Life Hacks 101 Undo Loomer described Royer's appointment as 'insane' and shared on social media: 'He was investigated by the FBI and in 2003, indicted on terrorism-related charges, including conspiracy to wage war against the US and providing material support to al-Qaida and LeT.' What is the controversy surrounding Shaykh Hamza Yusuf The second appointee, Shaykh Hamza Yusuf, co-founder of Zaytuna College and adviser to the Center for Islamic Studies at Berkeley's Graduate Theological Union, also drew criticism. Loomer accused Yusuf of having jihadi links and misrepresenting the concept of jihad. She posted on X (formerly Twitter): 'I like to inform you that Shaykh Hamza Yusuf is also a jihadi who has lied about the true definition of jihad and is affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood and Hamas.' Live Events Zaytuna College, she added, 'teaches Sharia Law.' Yusuf's role on the advisory board alongside Royer raised concerns given the alleged extremist backgrounds. What is Lashkar-e-Taiba? Lashkar-e-Taiba is a Pakistan-based militant group listed as a terrorist organisation by several countries, including the US and India. The group has been involved in multiple attacks in India, particularly in the Kashmir region, and has links with other extremist groups. Its training camps have been a hub for militants preparing for cross-border attacks. Ismail Royer's connection to LeT and his involvement in facilitating terror training for US-based operatives reveal a deep security concern. The fact that such figures are now part of a White House advisory panel raises questions about vetting processes and the nature of their current roles. According to a White House statement, Royer serves as the director of the Islam and Religious Freedom Action Team for the Religious Freedom Institute . His appointment, along with Yusuf's, was presumably intended to provide insight on religious freedom and Muslim communities. However, Loomer's outspoken criticism highlights the controversy. Loomer played a key role in influencing the sacking of Mike Waltz, Trump's National Security Adviser. Her opposition to Royer's appointment underscores wider concerns about infiltration of extremist ideologies in official advisory roles.
