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International Union of Muslim Scholars (IUMS)

Website:

iumsonline.org/en/
Type:

Islamic Activist Group
Founder:

Yusuf al-Qaradawi
President:

Habib Salem Al-Jifri
Location:

Doha, Qatar

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The International Union of Muslim Scholars (IUMS) is an Islamic extremist group and an association of Islamic theologians affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood that was headed by Yusuf al-Qaradawi, described by the Anti-Defamation League as a “radical Muslim Brotherhood ideologue,” until his retirement in 2022. The union is based in Qatar and has been listed as a terrorist organization by multiple Arab states. The organization’s founder, Yusuf al-Qaradawi was barred from entering the United States among other countries and was notable for sanctioning violence against U.S. troops in Iraq and defending Islamic suicide bombers targeting Israelis, stating that “suicide bombs are a duty.” 1 2 3

In 2023, the IUMS issued a statement expressing “unprecedented support” for the Palestinian militant group Hamas and its campaign of violence against the state of Israel. The group called on Islamic governments and militias in the region to back up Hamas with military force as part of a “religious obligation” to wage “jihad” (spiritual war) with Israel. 4

Despite this track record, the IUMS has continued to receive support from the ruling family of Qatar, which officially claims to support friendly relations with the United States, and which received the status of “Major Non-NATO Ally” under the Biden administration in early 2022. The group has also received funding and enjoyed close ties to the government of Turkey, a member of NATO and a nominal ally of the United States. 5 6

Background

The International Union of Muslim Scholars was founded in 2004 by clerics mostly belonging to the Muslim Brotherhood. The group claims to have over 90,000 Muslim preachers and theologians among its membership and is known for its views promoting Islamic political rule in countries throughout the middle east, opposing the state of Israel, promoting violence against the Jewish people and supporting the death penalty as a punishment for homosexuality. 7 8 9

In 2017, countries including the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt listed the IUMS as a terrorist organization amid a boycott of Qatar, where the union is based. The four counties cut ties with Qatar the same year and accused it of financing militants in Syria and allying with Iran. 10

The Counter Extremism Project lists the IUMS as an extremist group, noting that Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh is a member of the organization. IUMS Secretary-General Ali al-Qaradaghi has stated on behalf of IUMS that “[W]e view Hamas from the perspective of the Palestinian cause, which must remain the pre-eminent cause not just for the union for all Arabs, Muslims and free humanitarians of the world.” 11

Activities

Meeting with Turkish President

In August 2023, members of the International Union of Muslim Scholars leadership and their associates, including Yemeni cleric Abd Al-Zindani – who has been designated as a terrorist by the United States government since 2004 – met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The attendees congratulated the controversial Turkish leader on his re-election and presented their priorities for advancing the interests of Muslims around the world. In turn, Erdogan affirmed the Turkish government’s ongoing efforts to direct international law towards banning criticism of Islam. 12

2023 Israel-Palestine Conflict

In November 2023, following the attack on Israel by the militant group Hamas and the subsequent campaign by the Israeli Defense Forces, the IUMS issued a statement expressing “unprecedented support” for Hamas. The group went further, issuing a fatwa, or decree according to Islamic religious law, which proclaimed that all Muslim armed forces and militant groups in the region were under an obligation to support Hamas against Israel. The IUMS condemned the governments of Egypt, Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon for supposedly keeping their troops “confined to barracks” with “weapons rusting and equipment failing,” and argued that “jihad and sustenance of Palestine are a religious obligation.” 13

Leadership

The International Union of Muslim Scholars was led by Yusuf al-Qaradawi until he resigned in August 2022 and died in September 2022. Al-Qarawadi was described as the “theologian of terror” due to his longtime support of suicide bombing. He was banned from entering the United States in 1999 due to his support of terrorism. Following the 9/11 attacks, Qaradawi was revealed to be a major shareholder in the Bahamas-based Al Taqwa Bank, which, according to U.S. treasury officials, was “financing and facilitating” groups such as Hamas and Al-Qaeda. He also condoned the use of children as suicide bombers, stating that “The Israelis might have nuclear bombs, but we have the children bomb—and these human bombs must continue until liberation.” 14

Al-Qarawadi also instructed that “homosexuals should be executed either by ‘burning or stoning’” and in a 2009 sermon lashed out against Jews, calling on God to “kill them, down to the very last one.” 15 16

Following the resignation and death of al-Qarawadi in 2022, the union appointed Ahmed Raissouni as its leader, who later resigned after triggering controversy over the Western Sahara region by stating that Mauritania should be part of Morocco. The IUMS then appointed Habib Salem Saqqaf Al-Jafri as its new leader. Al-Jafri, 68, holds a Ph.D. in Islamic Law (Sharia) and worked as a lecturer at the Islamic State University and the Sharif Hidayatullah University in Jakarta. 17

Financials

While the International Union of Muslim Scholars does not release organized financial records, reports from previous years suggest that the organization receives millions of dollars annually from the government of Qatar, members of the Qatari royal family, and their associates. In 2012, the IUMS held a charity dinner and auction in Manama, Bahrain which raised more than $6.5 million (in 2012 dollars). This included a contribution of nearly $550,000 from Shaikh (Lord) Faisal Bin Qassim, of Qatar’s ruling Al Thani family. That year, IUMS announced plans to invest as much as $100 million into Islamist projects around the world, suggesting a large existing reserve of funds, high expectations for future fundraising, or both. 18

A February 2021 report by the Washington Institute for Near East Policy alleged that the government of Qatar, as well as its proxies, were still providing funding to the IUMS. 19

In March 2023, reports emerged that the IUMS would be receiving grants from the government of Turkey, ostensibly to assist with natural disaster relief, though this would include building infrastructure designed to support the organization’s own activities. The pool from which the Turkish Disaster and Emergency Management Authority would be distributing grants included large amounts of money from foreign governments as well as international institutions such as the World Bank. 20

References

  1. Barnett, Antony. “Suicide bombs are a duty, says Islamic scholar.” The Guardian. August 27, 2005.  Accessed December 2, 2022. https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2005/aug/28/uk.terrorism
  2. “Islamist group rejects terrorism charge by states boycotting Qatar.” Reuters. December 1, 2017. Accessed December 2, 2022.  https://www.reuters.com/article/gulf-qatar/islamist-group-rejects-terrorism-charge-by-states-boycotting-qatar-idUSL8N1O12V8
  3. “Home.” International Union of Muslim Scholars. Accessed December 2, 2022. https://iumsonline.org/en/
  4. “Qatar-Based And -Funded International Union Of Muslim Scholars (IUMS) Issues Fatwa Calling For Military Intervention By Arab And Muslim Countries Against Israel And For Gaza.” MEMRI. November 1, 2023. Accessed November 5, 2023. https://www.memri.org/reports/qatar-based-and-funded-international-union-muslim-scholars-iums-issues-fatwa-calling
  5. Abdullah Bozkurt. “Muslim Brotherhood eyes earthquake relief funds to promote its ideology in Turkey.” Nordic Monitor. March 9, 2023. Accessed November 5, 2023. https://nordicmonitor.com/2023/03/muslim-brotherhood-eyes-earthquake-relief-funding-in-turkey-to-promote-its-ideology/
  6. C. Todd Lopez. “’Major Non-NATO Ally’ Designation Will Enhance U.S., Qatar Relationship.” U.S. Department of Defense. January 31, 2022. Accessed November 5, 2023. https://www.defense.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/2917336/major-non-nato-ally-designation-will-enhance-us-qatar-relationship/
  7. “Islamist group rejects terrorism charge by states boycotting Qatar.” Reuters. December 1, 2017. Accessed December 2, 2022.  https://www.reuters.com/article/gulf-qatar/islamist-group-rejects-terrorism-charge-by-states-boycotting-qatar-idUSL8N1O12V8
  8. “A Portrait of Muslim Brotherhood’s Supreme Authority.” The Jerusalem Post. March 2, 2011. Accessed December 2, 2022.  https://www.jpost.com/Middle-East/A-portrait-of-Muslim-Brotherhoods-supreme-authority
  9. Cusack, Jim and Dooley, Mark. “’Theologian of terror’ held radical Islamic council session here.” Independent.ie. March 6, 2005. Accessed December 2, 2022. https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/theologian-of-terror-held-radical-islamic-council-session-here-26205745.html
  10.  “Islamist group rejects terrorism charge by states boycotting Qatar.” Reuters. December 1, 2017. Accessed December 2, 2022.  https://www.reuters.com/article/gulf-qatar/islamist-group-rejects-terrorism-charge-by-states-boycotting-qatar-idUSL8N1O12V8
  11. “International Union of Muslim Scholars.” Counter Extremism Project. Accessed December 2, 2022. https://www.counterextremism.com/threat/international-union-muslim-scholars-iums
  12. “In Meeting With Muslim Scholars, Including Leaders Of The Qatar-Funded IUMS And US-Designated Terrorist Abd Al-Majid Al-Zindani, Turkish President Erdoğan Stresses His Commitment To Continuing Advocacy For Global Muslim Issues.” MEMRI. August 11, 2023. Accessed November 5, 2023. https://www.memri.org/reports/meeting-muslim-scholars-including-leaders-qatar-funded-iums-and-us-designated-terrorist-abd
  13. “Qatar-Based And -Funded International Union Of Muslim Scholars (IUMS) Issues Fatwa Calling For Military Intervention By Arab And Muslim Countries Against Israel And For Gaza.” MEMRI. November 1, 2023. Accessed November 5, 2023. https://www.memri.org/reports/qatar-based-and-funded-international-union-muslim-scholars-iums-issues-fatwa-calling
  14. Cusack, Jim and Dooley, Mark. “’Theologian of terror’ held radical Islamic council session here.” Independent.ie. March 6, 2005. Accessed December 2, 2022. https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/theologian-of-terror-held-radical-islamic-council-session-here-26205745.html
  15. “Sheik Yusuf al-Qaradawi: Theologian of Terror.” Anti-Defamation League. May 3, 2015. Accessed December 2, 2022. https://www.adl.org/news/article/sheik-yusuf-al-qaradawi-theologian-of-terror
  16. Cusack, Jim and Dooley, Mark. “’Theologian of terror’ held radical Islamic council session here.” Independent.ie. March 6, 2005. Accessed December 2, 2022. https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/theologian-of-terror-held-radical-islamic-council-session-here-26205745.html
  17. “Muslim scholars’ union appoints new chairperson.” Middle East Monitor. September 11, 2022. Accessed December 2, 2022. https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20220911-muslim-scholars-union-appoints-new-chairperson/
  18. Habib Toumi. “Charity dinner raises $ 6.5 million for religious scholars’ union.” Gulf News. May 15, 2012. Accessed November 5, 2023. https://gulfnews.com/world/gulf/qatar/charity-dinner-raises–65-million-for-religious-scholars-union-1.1023293
  19. Omran Salman. “Will Qatar’s Relationship with the Muslim Brotherhood Change after Gulf Reconciliation?” Washington Institute for Near East Policy. February 3, 2021. Accessed November 5, 2023. https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/will-qatars-relationship-muslim-brotherhood-change-after-gulf-reconciliation
  20. Abdullah Bozkurt. “Muslim Brotherhood eyes earthquake relief funds to promote its ideology in Turkey.” Nordic Monitor. March 9, 2023. Accessed November 5, 2023. https://nordicmonitor.com/2023/03/muslim-brotherhood-eyes-earthquake-relief-funding-in-turkey-to-promote-its-ideology/
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