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Interviews with Muslim Brotherhood’s new leader
Following the recent death of Muslim Brotherhood movement leader Mamoun Al-Hudhaybi, Muhammad Mahdi Othman Akef was appointed as his successor. He has since given a number of interviews to the Arab media. The following are excerpts from the interviews:

Martyrdom Operations are a Religious Obligation in Palestine and Iraq
In an interview with the Egyptian pro-Nasserite weekly Al-Arabi, ’Akef spoke about suicide bombing operations: "The Muslim Brotherhood movement condemns all bombings in the independent Arab and Muslim countries. But the bombings in Palestine and Iraq are a [religious] obligation. This is because these two countries are occupied countries, and the occupier must be expelled in every way possible. Thus, the [Muslim Brotherhood] movement supports martyrdom operations in Palestine and Iraq in order to expel the Zionists and the Americans."

In an interview with the Jordanian Muslim Brotherhood weekly Al-Sabil, ’Akef spoke about the Palestinian Intifada: "The Palestinian Intifada gave life to a cause that was on its deathbed
 In Palestine, brothers are waging Jihad with weapons and resisting the occupiers. We try as hard as we can to support the cause by publishing books, convening forums, and [organizing] lectures aimed at raising awareness regarding support for Palestine, which is our central cause. If the gates of Jihad in Palestine open before the [Muslim] Brotherhood, we will not hesitate a single moment, and we will be with them on the battlefield."

Akef discussed Israeli civilian casualties resulting from Palestinian operations in Israel, telling the Saudi daily Al-Watan: "In Israel, there should be no [differentiation between] a civilian and a member of the military. All are enemies of the Arab homeland and of Islam. They are occupiers and have no right to one handsbreadth of the land of Palestine


America is ’Satan’ and Will Soon Collapse
In response to a question by the Egyptian weekly Al-Arabi on "relations with the U.S," Akef said: "We have no relations with the U.S. It is a Satan that abuses the region, lacking all morality and law." Akef also denied any "secret dialogue between the Americans and the [Muslim] Brotherhood," saying that this is "an unfounded lie."

In response to a question by the Jordanian weekly Al-Sabil about "Washington’s claims that it is acting to spread democracy in the Arab world," Akef said: "These are [futile] words and false propaganda. It is not logical that the U.S. – which destroyed Afghanistan, supports Israel’s daily ongoing aggression against the Palestinian people, and occupies Iraq and steals its treasures – is acting to spread democracy in the Arab world."

Akef also said that he expects the U.S. to collapse in the near future. In response to the question, "How do the U.S.’s actions following the occupation of Iraq, its attitude to the Palestinian problem, its siege of Syria, and the recent turnaround in Libya affect the Arab situation?" Akef told the independent Egyptian weekly Nahdhat Misr, "The matter of America’s attempt to take over the world is not new. What is new is that it appears with such a grim face, without morals, without principles, without law, and without recognition of the need for the U.N. or the Security Council. The [American] tyranny is long known. In the past, they fought secretly, and now they are fighting openly. There is no logic or law in the world that agrees to their occupation of Iraq [and] before that of Palestine, or to what is happening. Allah is helping Syria, which found no savior. Had the Arab and Muslim countries been united, America and Israel would not have been able to withstand them. I am certain that without the betrayal in Iraq, the Iraqis would have tormented the Americans with all kinds of torments. The American forces would not have remained [in Iraq]. I expect America to collapse soon. The elements of this collapse in America [already] exist, and Allah is the Savior."

No Proof That Al-Qa’ida Carried Out the 9/11 Attacks
In response to the question from the Saudi daily Al-Watan, "Don’t you think that the September [11, 2001] events are justification of America’s [activity] in Afghanistan?" Akef said: "This is a false statement, because [America] has no proof. They held no fair trial for those arrested on the charge of the September explosion. All they say is a list of names whom they claim bear the responsibility for the September events. If [the Americans] provided proof of the truth of their version, I would fight together with the Americans and join President Bush in this war."

Regarding the claim that "the Al-Qa’ida organization acknowledged responsibility for these operations in the videocassettes aired on several Arab television channels," Akef said: "I do not pay any attention to these films, because they are part of the psychological war between these people [Al-Qa’ida] and the American administration. "These cassettes came in response to the American operations. Washington must prove by trial that they [Al-Qa’ida] are the ones who carried out the explosions in September."

Islam Will Invade Europe and America
Regarding the veil ban in France, the website http://www.alwihdah.com reported that Akef said on the Muslim Brotherhood website: "Perhaps I was among the first to express opposition to the statements by Chirac, who described the Hijab as offensive in nature. I asked him to understand that the Hijab is a divine commandment and that if he did not know this then he should ask the Church. I know that among the brothers in France, or the so-called Union of Islamic Organizations, there are smart people who can stand against this vile stream in the war on the Hijab, represented by the stream of Turkey and Tunisia. With Allah’s help, our brothers in France will be able to handle this matter however they see fit."

On the question regarding the effect the veil ban will have on the future of Islam in Europe, Akef said: "I have complete faith that Islam will invade Europe and America, because Islam has logic and a mission. The Europeans and the Americans will come into the bosom of Islam out of conviction. In 1993, I went to America and I published a book, ’Political Pluralism and the Woman,’ that was distributed in the mosque. Thirty [American] women converted immediately to Islam as soon as they read it. These are people who become convinced of the right path – but who will guide them there?"
Posted by: Paul Moloney 2004-02-04
http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=25570