Close observers of bien pensant opinion know that the consensus on the Muslim Brotherhood is that it a moderate and democratic conservative movement which is the strongest possible bulwark against Al Qaeda.
One of the most popular of the moderate Muslim Brotherhood figures is London-based Dr. Kamal El-Helbawy, the former spokesman of Muslim Brotherhood. Here he is, speaking at a Demos conference, a few years ago.
So, you’d expect him to be pleased that Osama Bin Laden is dead, right?
In a live question-and-answer session titled “Bin Laden Dead: What Next?” on Onislam.net, Dr. Kamal Helbawy answered questions about the situation in the Arab and Muslim world following the assassination of Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden.
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During the onislam.net discussion, Dr. Helbawy praised bin Laden for being a leader of jihad, saying
“We appreciate him as a rich man living in KSA who left this luxurious life and moved to a hard life in mountains and caves. He helped his Afghan brethrens and participated in Afghan jihad effectively.”
Dr. Helbawy also accused the U.S. of being behind the 9/11 attacks, saying:
“I think that what the Americans claim about September 11th was a trick and a bait they accused Al-Qaeda of. All evidences and indications refer that the Americans are the ones who planned this matter.”
He further wrote,
“I ask Allah to have mercy upon Osama bin Laden, to treat him generously, to enlighten his grave, and to make him join the prophets, the martyrs, and the good people.”
Who could have predicted such a response from a man who thought that Hamas’ Ismail Haniyeh would be a good choice for Supreme Guide of the Muslim Brotherhood, and who believes that two year old Jewish children in Israel should be murdered by Hamas.
You can catch Dr Helbawy later this month at the similarly moderate East London Mosque, where he will be speaking on the subject of Islamophobia.
