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Memri
3 days ago
- Politics
- Memri
Qatar-Affiliated Journalists And Islamic Scholars Criticize Call To Disarm Hamas Issued By UN High-Level International Conference For Implementation Of Two State Solution: It Is A 'Betrayal Of Allah,'
In late July and early August 2025, a number of journalists, influencers, and Islamic scholars in Qatar and affiliated with Qatar voiced opposition to the United Nations High-Level International Conference for the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution, held July 28-30 in New York at the initiative of France and Saudi Arabia.[1] They objected in particular to the conference's concluding statement, which included a call for disarming Hamas and terminating its rule in the Gaza Strip, and a condemnation of its October 7, 2023 invasion and massacres in southern Israel, which Hamas calls the Al-Aqsa Flood.[2] Calling on Hamas to disregard the calls for its disarmament, the writers underlined that the rights of the Palestinian people will only be achieved through force. One member of the Doha-based Qatar-supported International Union of Muslim Scholars (IUMS) even republished an Islamic ruling stating that relinquishing the weapons of the resistance in Gaza would constitute "betrayal of Allah, the Prophet Muhammad, and the Muslims," as well as "collaboration with the enemy." It is notable that this criticism is being voiced in Qatar even though Qatar itself participated in the international conference, and was even one of the countries that approved its concluding statement. This appears to be another example of Qatar's doublespeak and attempts to present itself to the West as a peace-seeking country, despite its consistent support for terrorism, Hamas, and the October 7 attack.[3] Moreover, the opposition to calls for Hamas's disarmament from individuals affiliated with Qatar echo the opposition expressed in recent months in Qatari media to these same calls that were raised in ceasefire talks in Qatar. For example, Jaber Al-Harmi, editor of the Qatari government daily Al-Sharq, called on Hamas to retain its weapons so they can be used to defeat Israel just as the Taliban defeated the U.S. and the West.[4] Similarly, in June, hundreds of Islamic scholars from across the Muslim world, among them members of the Qatar-supported IUMS, signed a petition granting religious approval for Hamas's operations and the October 7 attacks and rejecting demands for Hamas's disarmament.[5] This report will present examples of criticism by Qatar-affiliated individuals of the UN High-Level International Conference for the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution and of the conference's call for Hamas's disarmament – including a repost by one of them of a recent MEMRI TV clip of senior Hamas official Ghazi Hamad stating that Hamas will never give up its weapons. Fatwa By Member Of Qatar-Supported International Union Of Muslim Scholars (IUMS): The Call To Disarm The Resistance Is "A Betrayal Of Allah" As calls were voiced to disarm Hamas, IUMS member Muhammad Al-Saghir wrote on his X account on August 4, 2025: "[What is] the reason for demanding that the resistance surrender its weapons now? And [what is] the shari'a law, which is the basis of the Hamas movement [that refuses to surrender its arms]?[6] ..." In the post, he provided a link to a fatwa he had issued in March 2025 describing the call to disarm the resistance in Gaza "a betrayal of Allah."[7] The fatwa to which he linked stated: "... To obtain and prepare strength in all its forms – that is the way to prevent aggression by the unbelievers against Muslim countries, to defend their lands, their blood and their honor, and to prevent the enemies of Allah from expanding into other areas in the countries of the Muslims... "According to shari'a, a Muslim, whether ruler or a subject, is prohibited from demanding of the resistance that it surrender its weapons, due to the inherent danger this would pose to the country and to the Muslims, as we have explained. Any ruler who calls for this... is betraying Allah, His Prophet, and His believers; is plotting against the resistance and the holy places; [and] is supporting the enemy and striving to achieve what it wants. It is forbidden to take action to disarm it [the resistance]. The Muslim scholars have forbidden this in the past, when their texts determined that it is forbidden to reconcile with the infidels if that reconciliation does not embody preferential benefit to Muslims or if it is not crucial... "The call to disarm the resistance, or the call to the resistance to surrender its arms, is a betrayal of Allah, His Messenger, and the Muslims, because maintaining these weapons is a binding obligation, as this is the appropriate way to protect the land, the holy places, the assets, and honor... "It is forbidden for any Muslim country to respond or to agree to these Zionist or American wishes. Anyone who calls to disarm the resistance in exchange for political promises is considered a collaborator with the enemy [and] a traitor to his Islamic nation and its rights, and is loyal to the enemies of Allah. Allah the Exalted said: 'Oh believers, do not take the Jews and the Christians as allies. They are [in fact] allies of one another. And whoever is an ally to them among you – then indeed, he is [one] of them. Surely Allah does not guide the wrongdoing people [Quran 5:51].' "It is forbidden for the inhabitants of Palestine, in particular the jihadi fighters, to agree to surrender their weapons, because of the great corruption that will ensue as a result. This [corruption] includes people's expulsion [from their homes], giving the Zionists control over our countries and our holy places, and the actualization of what they wish for from the war..."[8] Muhammad Al-Saghir's post (Source: August 4, 2025) Qatar University Lecturer: "Do Not Listen To The Swindler" Who Calls For Disarmament Another IUMS member, Muhammad Al-Mukhtar Al-Shinqiti, also a Qatar University lecturer, wrote on his X account: "Do not listen to the swindler who urges you to lay down the weapons of the resistance, for he hopes that the enemy will kill you. Listen to the words [of Allah] the Creator and wiser than all: '... And let them be vigilant and armed. The infidels would wish to see you neglect your weapons and belongings, so they could launch a sweeping assault on you... [Quran 102:4]."[9] In another post, Al-Shinqiti wrote: "As Iran races against time to create a nuclear weapon that will grant it steadfastness and strategic resilience to face the Zionist-American anarchy in the region, 22 Arab countries demand, from an international platform, that the simple weapons of the Palestinian resistance should be surrendered... Shame on you!!!"[10] Senior Al-Jazeera TV Presenter: Whoever Thinks Disarmament Will Stop The Resistance Is Deluded Senior Al-Jazeera TV presenter Jamal Rayyan posted on his X account: "Whoever thinks disarmament of the resistance will stop it is deluded, for as long as there is an occupation here, the resistance will emerge from here."[11] In another post, Rayyan appeared to oppose the Arab countries' condemnation of the October 7 attack in the conference's concluding statement. He wrote: "Jerusalem and Palestine are the criteria for the lost honor. October 7 was a rehearsal for the restoration of this honor."[12] Post by Jamal Rayyan (Source: July 30, 2025) Editor Of Qatari Daily: Rights Will Only Be Achieved By Force Jaber Al-Harmi, editor of the Qatari government daily Al-Sharq, which has previously expressed its opposition to Hamas's disarmament,[13] wrote on his X account: "[They, i.e. the Western countries] demand of the oppressed that they throw away their weapons, and [they] support the oppressors with [the supply of] all sorts of weapons. [This is] a world that recognizes only the strong. [Their] talk of justice is [intended] only to stupefy [us]. Rights are taken and protected only by force."[14] Qatari Journalist: Only Hamas Understands The Problem – So The Entire World Seeks To Disarm And Vilify It On his X account, Al-Sharq journalist Abdullah Al-Amadi downplayed the importance of the conference and expressed his support for Hamas's path: "Over 100 countries convene at the UN to discuss this arrangement or [perhaps better described as] the elimination of the Palestinian problem by means of a two-state solution: [In other words,] a fat-free Palestinian state, a demilitarized one without prestige unable to say its piece, to be administered by [Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud] Abbas and his gang, and another full-fat Zionist [country] that [the countries of] the East and the West will support with weapons and other things, to be administered by war criminals!!..." Al-Amadi also said in the post that the U.S. had boycotted the conference and assessed that it would not accept the conference's recommendations, expressed doubt about France's and the UK's intentions regarding the recognition of a Palestinian state, and added : "The Arabs want very much to eliminate the [Palestinian] issue, and the other Islamic countries are no different and are concerned only with their own affairs. The sole body that understood the source of the problem and the basis of the conflict is Hamas – and so the entire world works together to disarm it and to sully its good name in every way and by every means."[15] Several days later, Al-Amadi reposted on his X account a MEMRI TV clip of an Al-Jazeera interview with senior Hamas member Ghazi Hamad that aired on August 2, 2025. In it, Hamad stated, "The weapons constitute the Palestinian cause. Our weapons equal our cause" and added that Hamas "will not surrender our weapons" and that the October 7 attack had led to the recognition of a Palestinian state.[16] Al-Amadi's repost of the MEMRI TV clip of Al-Jazeera's interview with Ghazi Hamad (Source: Abdulla_Alamadi, August 3, 2025) To view the MEMRI TV clip of Ghazi Hamad, click here or below:
Memri
31-07-2025
- Politics
- Memri
Hamas, Muslim Brotherhood, Qatar In Coordinated Campaign Against Egyptian Regime: Helping Gaza Is Jihad And A Religious Duty; The 'Blood-Spilling Al-Sisi Regime' Must Fall
Amid the stalemate in the ceasefire talks with Israel, Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood (MB) movement, along with their patron Qatar, have been waging an orchestrated campaign against the Egyptian regime, which is threatening its stability. This axis is using the narrative of "the systematic starving of the Gazans" – another campaign it is promoting – to place direct blame on Egypt and its president, Abd Al-Fattah Al-Sisi, for the crisis in Gaza. It thereby presents Egypt, which mediates between Israel and Hamas and which refuses to fully open its side of the Rafah border crossing, as directly complicit in harming the Palestinians. As part of this effort Khalil Al-Hayya, a member of Hamas's political bureau in Gaza and the head of its team for the indirect negotiations with Israel, called on the people of Jordan and Egypt, in a speech that was aired in full on Al-Jazeera, 'to break the siege on Gaza' and to storm the border with Palestine.[1] Directly addressing the Egyptian people, leaders, armed forces and tribes, he added: '[Can it be that] your brothers in Gaza are dying of hunger [right] on your border, close to you?!… The great Egypt must speak out boldly [and say]: 'Gaza will not starve. [Egypt] will not let the [Israeli] enemy leave the crossing closed while the people of Gaza are in need…'[2] A major partner in this intimidation campaign against the Egyptian regime is the International Union of Muslim Scholars (IUMS), sponsored and funded by Qatar and Turkey,[3] which are also the patrons of the MB, Hamas's parent organization. The leaders of the IUMS have long been inciting against Egypt. As part of their present campaign against it, they have issued statements and religious rulings stipulating that aiding Gaza is a religious duty and part of jihad, and that any leader withholding aid from Gaza will be held accountable by Allah. President Al-Sisi was even described as 'an enemy of Allah' whose regime must be overthrown. Moreover, the heads of the IUMS pressed the Sheikh of Al-Azhar – the leading religious institution in the Sunni Muslim world, which is based in Cairo – to call for the opening of the Rafah crossing in contravention of the Egyptian regime's position. Shortly afterward Al-Azhar indeed issued a statement that implicitly blamed the Arab world, and possibly also the Egyptian regime, for the situation in Gaza, but soon removed it, presumably under pressure from the regime. The Egyptian regime itself rejected the pressure from Hamas and its allies, accusing them of 'spreading lies.' However, it allowed the Egyptian media to serve as a platform for a harsh attacks against them. It should be noted that this campaign is similar in its methods to previous incitement campaigns waged by Hamas and its allies against Arab regimes that have normalized relations with Israel. These campaigns included attempts to destabilize these regimes by encouraging protests against them and by directly calling on their citizens to wage jihad against Israel from their own countries.[4] It should also be mentioned that the relations between Egypt and Qatar have known considerable tension, and were even severed for several years, mainly due to Qatar's support of the MB, which is designated as a terror organization in Egypt.[5] The tension between the two countries flared up recently following reports in Israel that Qatar had allegedly paid close advisors of Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu to spread negative messaging about Egypt in the media.[6] This report reviews the campaign waged by Hamas, the IUMS, Qatar and elements identified with the MB against the Egyptian regime, as well as responses in Egypt to this campaign. Cartoon in Qatari daily: The Gazan child "goes to sleep hungry because the Arab armies are slumbering" (Al-Quds Al-Arabi, London, July 31, 2025) IUMS, Supported And Funded By Qatar And Turkey: It's Time For Jihad And Self-Sacrifice; Egypt Must Open The Rafah Crossing Following Hamas's July 19, 2025 call for worldwide protests against what it terms the systematic starving of the Gazans,[7] Hamas, the MB, and the IUMS launched a campaign urging Muslims to wage jihad on Gaza's behalf and proclaiming it a religious duty to open the Rafah crossing between Egypt and Gaza. For example, on July 20, IUMS chairman Ali Al-Qaradaghi called on the Islamic governments and on all Muslims who can do so to wage 'comprehensive jihad, with their possessions, lives, words and stances,' in order to save the people of Gaza.[8] In a July 28 post on his X account he reiterated the call for 'comprehensive jihad' and added, 'The time has come.'[9] Al-Qaradaghi's X post calling for 'comprehensive jihad' On July 22 the IUMS's Fatwa Committee issued a religious ruling stating that 'countries and leaders who neglect [helping Gaza] will be accountable to Allah' and that 'this shari'a obligation… is part of jihad.' A separate clause in the ruling focused on Egypt, calling on it to 'open the crossings' and describing this as a religious duty.[10] Another IUMS member, Shu'aib Al-Hussein Al-Nadawi, likewise called on religious clerics around the world to pressure the Egyptian government to allow the delivery of aid through the Rafah crossing.[11] A statement issued by the London branch of the MB stressed that 'the duty of jihad is incumbent not only on the people of Gaza but on all their close neighbors.' Criticizing Egypt, it added that the 'Zionist expansion would not have been possible were it not for the shameful impotence and the closing of the crossings.'[12] IUMS Incites Head Of Al-Azhar Against Al-Sisi Regime IUMS officials – including the union's secretary-general Ali Al-Salabi and deputy chairman Ahmad Al-Khalili, who also serves as the Mufti of Oman – as well as the IUMS Fatwa Committee, urged Ahmad Al-Tayeb, the Sheikh of the Cairo-based Al-Azhar – the leading religious institution in the Sunni Muslim world that provides religious backing to the Al-Sisi regime – to issue a religious ruling obligating Egypt to open the Rafah crossing and break the siege on Gaza, in contravention of the regime's policy.[13] On July 22 Al-Tayeb indeed responded to this call. He issued a harsh statement against Israel and all its supporters, and implicitly criticized the Arab states and possibly also the Egyptian regime by quoting an Arab proverb against turning one's back on one's allies.[14] The statement was removed from Al-Azhar's social media accounts shortly after its publication, presumably under pressure from the regime – which is concerned for its role as a mediator in the current negotiations for a ceasefire in Gaza – and also in response to fury over the statement's implicit criticism of the Arab world. Responding to the removal of the statement, the IUMS published an open letter to Al-Azhar Sheikh Ahmad Al-Tayeb, signed by its chairman Al-Qaradaghi and secretary-general Al-Salabi, urging Al-Tayeb once more to issue a religious ruling advising the Egyptian regime to support and aid its 'neighbor that is under attack,' i.e., the Gaza Strip. Addressing Al-Tayeb and the Egyptians, the letter asked: 'What will Allah say about your failure and the failure of the Egyptian people to come to the aid of the weak?'[15] Elements Identified With MB And Qatar Call For Overthrow Of Al-Sisi Regime Alongside the statements obligating Egypt to wage jihad, the IUMS also launched a direct campaign against President Al-Sisi himself. IUMS member Wasfi Ashour Abu Zeid, who resides in Turkey, wrote on X that 'closing the crossings to Gaza is a crime and constitutes direct complicity in the murder of innocents,' and blamed 'the blood-spiller Al-Sisi.'[16] Moreover, social media users circulated remarks by IUMS member Al-Sadiq Al-Gharyani, who is affiliated with the MB and serves as Mufti of western Libya, in which he called Al-Sisi "an enemy of Allah" and his regime 'a Zionist product' and exhorted Muslims to 'overthrow the usurper and his tyrannical regime.'[17] With the encouragement of MB-affiliated elements, protests were held in front of Egypt's representations across the world.[18] Some of these protests included harsh calls against the Egyptian president, such as 'There is no god but Allah and Al-Sisi is Allah's enemy,'[19] and "Al-Sisi is a traitor."[20] Protest in front of the Egyptian ambassador's residence in London condemns the closing of the Rafah crossing (Image: July 27, 2025) The Qatari media, and especially Al-Jazeera, also joined the campaign against the Egyptian regime. Conspicuous in his pointed criticism of this regime was prominent Al-Jazeera presenter Jamal Rayyan, who wrote on X: 'Dozens of Gazans are dying of starvation every day. Do the Egyptians and their president not fear the punishment of Allah?' He added: 'History will record that the people of Gaza were collapsing from hunger in the streets while Egypt's President Al-Sisi prevented food from reaching them.' Rayyan also shared footage of former Egyptian president Muhammad Morsi, of the MB, pledging he would never abandon Gaza, and commented: 'Why were [the reins of government] handed to the one who abandoned Gaza?', hinting at Al-Sisi.[21] The Qatari government daily Al-Sharq published an article titled 'If Cairo Acts, Gaza Will Be Able to Breathe,' which called on Egypt to open the Rafah crossing and claimed that 'Egypt's centrality in the nation's consciousness' was being put to the test.[22] The London-based Qatari daily Al-Arabi Al-Jadid published an article titled 'Rage, Egypt!', by Palestinian journalist Ziad Barakat, a former Al-Jazeera employee, who wrote: 'We are entitled to expect Cairo to rage, to open the crossing, and to force Israel to lift the siege on Gaza and face a torrent of angry Egyptians streaming across the border.'[23] Another London-based Qatari daily, Al-Quds Al-Arabi, published an article by an Egyptian journalist stating that 'the hunger in Gaza threatens Al-Sisi's throne,' and holding Egypt responsible for the situation there.[24] Egyptian Establishment Rejects The Criticism: Egypt Is Committed To The Palestinian Cause; The Accusations Should Be Directed At Israel For many days, official Egypt refrained from responding to the campaign against it. The first official who eventually referred to it was Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, who implicitly accused the MB of spreading lies and stressed that Israel is responsible for the situation in Gaza. He said: 'There are five crossings into Gaza. Why doesn't anyone speak about opening the Israeli crossings? Why do they focus on the Egyptian side? This is a transparent and deliberate attempt to harm Egypt, but Egypt's hands are clean when it comes to its Palestinian brothers…"[25] Two days later, President Al-Sisi also rebuffed the criticism against Egypt. He said that 'it's important that people be familiar with [Egypt's] positive positions,' and added: 'On our side [of the border] there is a large amount of aid ready to enter the Strip… But sending it in requires coordination with the other side [i.e., Israel]… Our role is honorable, loyal and honest, and it will not change.' He urged the world and especially U.S. President Donald Trump to 'invest every effort in ending the war and bringing aid' into Gaza.[26] Alongside these declarations, the Egyptian media launched a wide-ranging counterattack, which was directed mainly at the Hamas leadership, due to Hamas official Al-Hayya's inciting calls on the Egyptian people, army and tribes to break the siege on Gaza and storm the border with it. Senior journalist Dandrawy Al-Hawary addressed Hamas leaders "who live lives of luxury abroad and have obtained various citizenships for themselves and their children," and asked them, "What have you done for your people in Gaza other than chatter on social media, move between hotels in different capital cities, and then attack Egypt and accuse it of not assisting [Gaza]?" He added: "Why don't you return to your homeland, fight there and get a bitter taste of the hunger and the thirst you caused with your ill-considered and reckless October 7 [operation] against the Israelis, which you call the Al-Aqsa Flood[?]"[27] In a similar vein, journalist Hamdy Rizk, the former editor of the daily Al-Masri Al-Yawm, published a scathing article against Hamas official Khalil Al-Hayya, while playing on his name, which means 'snake' in Arabic. He wrote: "When a snake is satiated it sleeps, but Khalil Al-Hayya woke up satiated, yawned, and [then] demanded, from his warm bed in voluntary exile, that [people] advance on the [Rafah] crossing. Al-Hayya and his ilk in the 'hotel resistance' do not represent the resistance on the ground… or the people in Gaza…"[28] "No limit to the destruction" – cartoon on X account of Palestinian journalist Majdy Abd Al-Wahab, who wrote: "After destroying Gaza, Al-Hayya wants to destroy Egypt" ( July 28, 2025)
Memri
03-07-2025
- Politics
- Memri
Article On Website Of Qatar-Backed International Union For Muslim Scholars (IUMS), Supported By Qatar And Turkey: Iran's Victory Is The Defeat Of The U.S. And Its European Allies, Who Are The Cause Of
On June 18, 2025, during the war between Israel and Iran, the Qatar-backed International Union for Muslim Scholars (IUMS) posted on its website an article by a member of the union, Abderrazak Makri, in which he called on all Muslims to support Iran in this war despite its aggression against Sunnis in many Arab countries such as Syria, Iraq and Yemen. Makri explained that the war between Israel and Iran was 'fateful' not only for Iran but also for Palestine and the entire Islamic nation. He added that this 'blessed' war was a direct continuation of the Al-Aqsa Flood (i.e., Hamas' October 7, 2023 attack on Israel) and was sure to end in a victory for all the Muslims, no matter what losses Iran would sustain. Makri, an Algerian Islamist politician known for his ties with Hamas, stressed that all Muslims, both Sunnis and Shi'ites, must support Iran in the war, for this is a religious duty that supersedes any sectarian conflicts. Iran's crimes against the Sunnis in the Arab countries, he emphasized, should not prevent them from supporting it, for these are merely political crimes no different from the crimes of the 'tyrannical Sunni rulers.' He added that an Iranian victory in the war would be 'a defeat for the U.S. and its European allies, who are the cause of all our troubles.' This victory would help to create a multipolar world, which would facilitate the revival of the Islamic world, he argued. It should be noted that the IUMS, which is headquartered in Doha, is one of the tools of the Qatari regime to disseminate extremist anti-Western Islamist ideology, and routinely incites jihad, terrorism and antisemitism.[1] Abderrazak Makri with Hamas senior officials Khalil Al-Hayya, Isma'il Haniya, Hussam Badran and Muhammad Nazzal (Image: March 17, 2023) The following are translated excerpts from Makri's article:[2] '...Anyone who examines the unfolding of the Iranian-Zionist war in depth easily understands that it is fateful not only for the [Zionist] entity but also for Iran, Palestine, the entire Islamic nation and even the whole world. Some of the leaders of the resistance and of the Islamic stream know that I was not among those who were surprised by the Al-Aqsa Flood [i.e., Hamas' October 7, 2023 attack on Israel], since a week before it happened I already described it to them accurately and advocated for it, without naming it and without knowing what exactly would happen... I used to tell them that the [Islamic] nation and its reformist movements had already lost everything in their cultural project, that all the Palestinian issues were headed for perdition and that the revival movements were out of action… Therefore, [I said], there was need for a complete overhaul in order to rebuild the balances [of power]. This would only be achieved by means of an unprecedented resistance operation in Palestine that would thwart the plans to eliminate the [Palestinian] cause, mobilize the Arab and Islamic world, revive the project of cultural awakening, and undermine the oppressive American-Western hegemony… 'The Iranian-Zionist war is the result of the [Al-Aqsa] Flood and its repercussions, as are the events in Syria, the deep shifts taking place in global public opinion, and the political, ideological and social changes in the world, as well as the inconceivable steadfastness of the Gazan people and the remarkable heroic acts of the resistance. 'The Al-Aqsa Flood did not emerge as an ordinary war with the [Zionist] entity. It became a divine [war] that drives major events in Palestine, the region and the world toward the perdition of the [Zionist] entity and the revival of the Islamic nation. It is in this context that the war between Iran and the [Zionist] entity should be understood. This is a blessed war... that cannot end except in a victory for the Muslims – all Muslims, of all Islamic streams, regardless of the losses the Iranians may sustain... "There is no doubt Iran will suffer painful blows and sustain immense losses in the current war, from which it will not easily recover. However, it must thwart the objectives of the aggression, which are: halting its nuclear program, destroying its ballistic missiles, devastating the [Iranian] state and ultimately handing it over to the secular elites acting on behalf of the Americans and the Zionists. [These elites] will be even harsher toward the Arabs and Muslims and toward Palestine than the Arab regimes which have betrayed Allah, His Messenger and the believers, and which are participating in the siege on Gaza and in the conspiracy against the resistance. "Cooperation and mutual support among Muslims is a religious duty that no heretical sectarian inclinations can override. The Shi'ites in Iran are Muslims according to all religious scholars, and the extremist Shi'ites who have rebelled against the faith should be disregarded, [for] they are a minority, just like the minority of extremist Sunni apostates among us. The Iranian injustice and aggression that harmed our brothers in Syria, Iraq and Yemen are political crimes, similar to those that have been committed throughout history by all [Islamic] streams, and like those being committed in our modern era by tyrannical Sunni rulers. Both use religion and sectarianism for political purposes. "Although we understand the positions of those who were harmed by the [Iranian] aggression in Syria, Iraq and Yemen, and understand the need to lift their spirits and ensure their rights, the leaders and scholars of the [Islamic] nation must not dwell on these events in a way that will lead us to destroy one another from within while facing a [common] foe – an enemy that seeks to harm us all, regardless of stream, and aims to impose its sovereignty and will upon all of us and to eliminate our religion and our culture forever. "An Iranian victory in the current war, or at least its emergence from it unharmed, is a victory for Palestine that saves our brothers in Gaza from the immense injustice inflicted upon them and from the [Israeli] aggression whose barbarity has reached unprecedented heights. 'An Iranian victory is a defeat for the tyranny in our Arab and Islamic world that supports the [Zionist] entity and takes part in the siege on Gaza. "An Iranian victory is a defeat for the U.S. and its European allies, who are the cause of all our troubles. It will also facilitate the world's transition to multipolarity, which will grant us broader margins for the revival of our Islamic world…"
The Wire
19-06-2025
- Politics
- The Wire
Worried Parents of Kashmiri Students in Iran Urge Indian Govt to Explore Evacuation Methods
Srinagar: Moments after a missile struck a sports ground near his apartment in downtown Tehran where he often played cricket, Sabir Bin Ayub, a final-year MBBS student at the Iran University of Medical Sciences (IUMS), dialled his father.'Since the war broke out, he had been hearing faraway sounds of explosions, but now it had reached their neighbourhood,' said Mohammad Ayub, a contractor from Srinagar's Rainawari district while recalling that his son sounded terrified during the phone call on Saturday (June 14).Ayub, whose son was enrolled at IUMS in 2020, said that the area struck by Israel in downtown Tehran was home to dozens of Kashmiris pursuing professional degrees who live in apartment buildings there.'I am concerned about my son. The government should ensure his safety and security and bring him home,' he of anguished Kashmiri parents staged a demonstration in Srinagar's Lal Chowk on Sunday to demand evacuation of their children who study in Iran in the aftermath of the country's military conflict with read: As Israeli Missiles Hit Iran, Indian Students in Tehran Are Being Relocated to Safer AreasAccording to unofficial estimates, about 1,500 Kashmiri students are enrolled in different medical and other professional colleges and universities of Iran while a similar number of Kashmiris were visiting the country for trade and other purposes when the conflict broke National Conference leader and Lok Sabha parliamentarian from Srinagar, Aga Syed Ruhullah said that Hujat Dost Ali hostel in Tehran which is home to many Kashmiri students pursuing MBBS and other degrees was hit by an Israeli strike on Sunday.'Some students have sustained minor injuries. We have urged the government of India to relocate these students to safer places and evacuate them,' he rises up from an oil facility after a Saturday explosion in southern Tehran on June 15, 2025. Photo: AP/ Hurriyat chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq also said that the hostel was hit by an Israeli airstrike on Sunday in which some students are believed to have sustained minor injuries.'More than 1300+ Kashmiri students study there, who must be in great fear for their lives, while their parents are in great anguish here. We appeal to the Govt of India to take urgent steps to ensure their safety and well-being and possible return. May Allah ﷻprotect them all and grant relief to their anxious families. Let's all pray for their safety—and for the safety of all people living in Iran from Israeli aggression,' he said in a post on and housewife Afroza Jabeen, whose daughter is a second year MBBS student at Arak University of Medical Science, said that her family was in touch with the Indian embassy about the ongoing conflict.'There are some 150 Kashmiri students at the university and all of them want to return home. India has good relations with all the countries. Prime minister Narendra Modi spoke with Russian and Ukrainian authorities following which Indian citizens were evacuated from the war zone. Why can't he speak with Israel and Iran, and bring our children home,' Jabeen, a resident of Bemina in Srinagar, urged the Indian government to explore options of evacuating Indian children through Iran's border countries of Syria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and borderIn a letter shared with The Wire by Jabeen's family, the Indian embassy in Tehran on Sunday (June 15) sought permission from the Iranian authorities to evacuate the Indian and Indian-origin students from Urmia to Armenia due to the 'recent combat-like developments' in Iran.'The Embassy has the honour to refer to the esteemed Ministry for permitting the Embassy to escort those students /Indian origin students to the Norduz border of Armenia via buses. The details of the fleet will be provided subsequently,' the letter in a statement early on Monday, the Ministry of External Affairs said that the embassy in Tehran was engaging Indian students for their safety and that 'in some cases' the students are 'being relocated with the embassy's facilitation to safer places within Iran'.'Other feasible options are also under examination,' the ministry said without elaborating, adding that it was separately in touch with 'community leaders regarding welfare and safety' of the students.J&K chief minister Omar Abdullah said that he had discussed the issue of safety of Kashmiri students with the external affairs minister S Jaishankar, 'The Hon Minister assured me that @MEAIndia is in close contact with their counterparts in Iran & will take all necessary steps to safeguard all Indian students in Iran,' he posted on to QomAmid rising concerns, Srinagar-resident Ayub spoke with his son on Monday morning who informed him that a fleet of buses was taking foreign students to the historic city of Qom in Iran which is a prominent pilgrimage destination for Shia Muslims.'He was in one of the buses and authorities have assured them that Qom was a safer place than Tehran. I wanted him to become a doctor and we chose Iran because we thought that being a Muslim country he would be safe there. He only has a year to finish his degree. It would be better if the government brings him back till the situation gets better,' Ayub said that her daughter, who lives in the college hostel, has been left terrified by the missiles which streak across the skies over the city of Arak in Iran every night since the conflict broke out. Arak city has been unaffected by the violence so far, she said.'Since Friday evening, all the students have been staying together on the first floor of their hostel and authorities ordered them not to come out. Today, the university resumed classwork and they were asked to attend. The government should not take any risk and instead bring them home,' she said.
Memri
18-06-2025
- Politics
- Memri
Qatar Supports Iran, Gloats Over Destruction In Israel: The Scenes Of Devastation In The Entity Destined For Extinction Warm The Heart
In the war between Israel and Iran that broke out on June 13, 2025, Qatar has positioned itself squarely on Iran's side and against Israel. This is evident in the statements issued by the Qatari establishment, which condemn Israel's attack on Iran while disregarding the reasons for it as well as Iran's missile attacks on Israel, which have caused immense devastation in populated areas and claimed the lives of many Israeli civilians. The Qatari support for Iran is also manifest in remarks made by journalists and senior media figures in Qatar, including the editors of government newspapers and presenters on Al-Jazeera TV, who gloated over the destruction in Israel and hoped for more attacks on this 'artificial entity, destined for extinction' and for an ultimate Iranian victory. The Internation Union of Muslim Scholars (IUMS), which is headquartered in Doha and serves as a tool of the Qatari regime to disseminate extremist anti-Western Islamist ideology,[1] called for jihad to repel 'the tyrannical Zionist aggression against Iran,' and its senior members welcomed the destruction caused in Israel by the Iranian missiles. Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad Aal Thani with Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian in February 2025 (Image: Al-Quds Al-Arabi, London, February 20, 2025) This report reviews the responses in Qatar to the Israel-Iran war: Qatari Regime In One-Sided Condemnation Of Israel: There Is No Justification For The Attack On Iran Qatar's support for Iran was evident from the start of Israel's attacks on June 13. The Qatari foreign ministry issued a statement condemning them and describing them as 'part of a recurring pattern of aggressive policy that threatens the security and stability of the region and impedes efforts to reduce the tension and achieve diplomatic solutions,' while ignoring the Iranian threat to Israel that led to the attacks.[2] That evening Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad Aal Thani reiterated this condemnation in a phone call with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.[3] In a June 17 press briefing, Qatar's foreign minister spokesperson, Majed Al Ansari, came out against Israel's attacks in Iran while ignoring Iran's missile attacks on civilian targets in Israel. He stated that, despite all the attempts to alleviate the tensions, 'there is one player in the region that insists on initiating escalation and sabotaging all the efforts to make peace there,' hinting at Israel.[4] Qatari media reports about exchanges about the war between Qatari officials and their Arab and Western counterparts likewise stressed Qatar's condemnation of the Israeli attack while disregarding Iran's counterattacks on Israel.[5] Qatar also expressed its support for Iran at an emergency meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on June 16. At the meeting Jassim Yacoub Al-Hammadi, Qatar's ambassador to Austria, who also serves as the country's permanent representative to the UN offices in Vienna, slammed the Israeli attack on Iran, claiming that "there is no legal basis for Israel's claim that its attack on Iran was a preemptive strike in self-defense." He urged the IAEA secretary-general to renew contacts with the Iranians in order to find a diplomatic solution to the Iranian nuclear issue.[6] International Union Of Muslim Scholars Gloats Over Attacks On Israel, Calls For Jihad To Repel Its "Aggression" The International Union of Muslim Scholars (IUMS), which is headquartered in Doha and serves as a Qatari arm for spreading extremist anti-Western Islamist ideology, condemned what it called "the oppressive Zionist aggression against Iran."[7] The union's head, Ali Al-Qaradaghi, wrote: "This attack must not be considered outside the broader context of the regional tension that is caused by the systematic Zionist policy of dragging the region into endless conflicts." He added: "It is impossible to remain silent in the face of this injustice. [Rather,] it is a duty to resist it… to support the oppressed and to repel the aggression… There is need for financial jihad, but [such jihad] is not sufficient. Even if it is obligatory, it must be accompanied by all [other] types [of jihad], including informational efforts, influencing public opinion, and encouraging action by young people and human rights activists."[8] Al-Qaradaghi's deputy, Ahmed Al-Khalili, who also serves as the mufti of Oman, welcomed Iran's counterattack against Israel, writing on X: "Iran's forceful response heartened us and gave us hope that the loathsome Zionist occupation of the sacred lands [in Palestine] will end for good, Allah willing."[9] IUMS member Muhammad Al-Mukhtar Al-Shinqiti, who is also a lecturer at Qatar University, shared footage of the aftermath of an Iranian missile on Israel, and commented: "[This is] the devastation [seen] this morning in Tel Aviv, capital of the temporary entity [Israel], after a dark night of Iranian missile [strikes]. Allah, let there be more [such strikes] and bless [those who carry them out]."[10] Al-Shinqiti's post ( June 15, 2025) Editor Of Al-Sharq Government Daily: We Must Support Iran; Israel Understands Only The Language Of Force Jaber Al-Harmi, editor of the Qatari government daily Al-Sharq, wrote on X following Israel's opening attack on Iran: "We [sometimes] agree with Iran and [sometimes] disagree with it, but we are never at odds [with it] when it comes to hostility toward the Zionist entity. Since [Iran] is a neighbor and a sister with whom we share [our] 'regional home' and 'Islamic home,' we oppose the Zionist aggression toward it… Now is not the time to address our disagreements with it. Now is the time to stand with it against the Zionist arrogance… "Iran must respond with every means at its disposal and all its remaining strength, and the Arab and Islamic world must take a serious and firm stance on this Israeli brutality… This aggression is [just] a prelude to [Israeli] attacks on additional countries and a warning message to anyone who is thinking of shrugging off the Zionist yoke. 'Israel' understands only the language of force… It is disgraceful and immoral to express pleasure at Iran's suffering while it is being subjected to [this] treacherous aggression."[11] Former Editor Of Al-Arab Government Daily: Allah, Bring Perdition Upon Israel Abdullah bin Hamad Aal Athbah, a former editor of the Qatari Al-Arab daily, posted a message in support of Iran: 'We do not accept the aggression of the Zionist Jews against our great sister and neighbor Iran. All [our] solidarity [is with] the fraternal Iranian people against the murderers of the women and children of Gaza and of our Arab and Muslim region.'[12] In another post, Aal Athbah shared footage from the Qatari Al-Arabi channel showing the site of a missile strike in Tel Aviv, and commented: 'Teheran sends its third response to the fourth aggression by the Zionist Jews. Allah bring perdition upon the attackers.'[13] One of Aal Athbah's posts ( June 13, 2025) Senior Al-Jazeera Presenter: Israel Is An Artificial Entity Destined For Extinction Al-Jazeera presenter Ghada Oueiss posted on her X account: 'What is this country that lives on wars and hostility toward all its neighbors since its establishment?? It is an artificial entity, destined for extinction.'[14] Qatari journalist Abd Al-Aziz Al-Khater, a columnist for the Qatari Al-Raya daily, wrote in a similar vein: 'Iran, as an entity and a historic people, will not be defeated by Israel, whose existence is artificial."[15] Senior Al-Jazeera Presenter: Israel's Cities Are Burning; Remember That Iran Supports The Palestinian Resistance Movements Palestinian Al-Jazeera presenter Jamal Rayyan rejoiced over the destruction in Israel, writing on June 16: "Israel's cities are burning. It has been proven that Iran's advanced missile fire is capable of destroying Israel's nuclear facilities and its conventional military [sites], as well as civilian sectors. The entity [Israel] is unable to withstand the losses that are bound to be [caused by the Iranian missile attacks]. Netanyahu, who thought Iran would be easy prey, is now begging Trump to intervene and protect Israel from it." [16] In an earlier post, from June 13, Rayyan came out against anyone condemning Iran on social media, [17]writing: "To all those who are attacking Iran on social media, [I say]: always remember that Iran is a great Islamic nation, thousands of years old, that [observes the five pillars of the Islamic faith:] professes that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is His Messenger, fasts [on Ramadan], performs the prayers, gives alms and performs the pilgrimage [to Mecca]. It [also] dedicates 20 percent of its national income to supporting the resistance movements [fighting] to liberate Al-Aqsa and Palestine."[18] Al-Jazeera Presenter: The Images Coming Out Of Tel Aviv Are Far From Victorious Al-Jazeera presenter Zein Elabadin Tawfik shared footage of a missile strike site in Tel Aviv and praised the Iranian counterattack: "The importance of the Iranian response [to Israel's opening attack] lies in the fact that it was unprecedented and came just a few hours after the elimination of Iran's top military command in this attack. The war is just beginning and the images coming out of Tel Aviv are far from victorious."[19] Tawfik's post Qatar-Affiliated Journalist: The Scenes Of Devastation In Israel Are Heart-Warming After a night of massive missile attacks from Iran and direct hits to residential buildings in Israel, Egyptian documentary filmmaker Assaad Taha, a former Al Jazeera presenter, wrote on X: "This is the first time in my life I see destruction and my heart expands."[20] Columnist For Qatari Daily: Allah, Burn Their Homes Over Their Heads And Don't Spare A Single Soul Among Them Palestinian author Adham Sharkawi, a columnist for the Qatari daily Al-Watan, shared footage of a fire that broke out in an Israeli city following an Iranian missile strike, and wrote: "Allah, place a heavy burden upon them and let us see You punish them… Burn their homes over their heads and subject them to the rule of the righteous and sinful among Your servants [i.e., the Muslims]."[21] In another post, from June 16, he shared footage of the aftermath of the Iranian missile strike on the Haifa oil refinery, and wrote: "O Allah, gather them in great numbers, kill them one by one and do not spare a single soul among them. O Allah, subject them to the rule of the righteous and sinful from among Your servants [i.e., the Muslims], and do not take our souls until we heal our hearts by [seeing] them [suffer]." [22] Adham Sjarkawi's posts Columnist For Qatari Daily: Supporting Iran Is A Religious And Moral Obligation Algerian journalist Hafid Derradji, a columnist for the Qatari daily Al-Raya and a commentator on Qatar's beIN Sports channel, wrote on X: "Standing with the [Islamic] nation is a duty, not a choice. Standing with any Islamic country that is facing the Zionist-Western-American aggression is not a choice but a duty dictated by faith and manliness… It is not merely a political or emotional stance but a religious and moral obligation that cannot be postponed or [evaded under any] pretext. Any downplaying of the importance of [this] support, or justification of silence, is implicit partnership in the crime. The time has come to rise above narrow considerations and view the war as an existential one, not just as a passing crisis. The enemy is one, the blood is one, and the fate is one. Allah, grant victory to those who have supported Islam and humiliate those who have abandoned our nation and betrayed our causes."[23] Hafid Derradji's post
