The latest batch of US embassy cables leaked by the whistle-blower website WikiLeaks have uncovered further evidence of the extremist views of the prominent Sunni cleric Yousuf al-Qaradawi. Coverage of Qaradawi tends to omit his extremist views, emphasising instead the respect with which he is held in the Muslim world.
Examples of this include The Guardian’s reporting of his fatwah against Colonel Gaddafi, which portrayed him as a pro-democracy moderate, and the BBC’s coverage of his appearance at a rally in Egypt, which simply described him as ‘influential’.
The leaked embassy cables appear to reveal Qaradawi’s support for Hamas, suicide bombings against Israel and the stoning to death of those found guilty of ‘collaboration’ with the Jewish state. They also reveal his contempt for inter-faith dialogue. [JustJournalism.com] Read more
