Twice last month I wrote about the realignment of nations in the Middle East in response to the threat from fundamentalist Muslim terrorists. Now it looks as if that realignment is exerting pressure on the states that support those terrorists. CNN reports:
Several top members of the Muslim Brotherhood have been asked to leave Qatar, an Egyptian leader of the group said Sunday. The apparent sudden push from Qatar comes amid longstanding pressure against the Brotherhood in the region, which began with its ouster from authority in Egypt several years ago.
"We appreciate the great role of the state of Qatar in supporting the Egyptian people in their revolution against the military junta, and well understand the circumstances faced by the region," said Dr. Amr Darrag, a leading member of Freedom and Justice Party, said in a statement online. The Freedom and Justice Party is the banned political wing of the Muslim Brotherhood.
The members were "asked by authorities to move their residence outside the state of Qatar," the statement said.
"In order to avoid causing any embarrassment for the State of Qatar, which we found to be a very welcoming and supportive host, some symbols of the Muslim Brotherhood and its political wing ... have now honored that request," Darrag said.
There's more at the link.
Qatar's been a major supporter of fundamentalist Islamic terror movements. The five Taliban leaders released in exchange for Private Bergdahl are living there as 'guests' of the Qatar government. If the pressure on Qatar from more moderate states continues (so far it's coming from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt), one wonders whether their status might also change soon . . . and where they might end up.
Peter
Yes, and the MB guys Qatar kicked out are headed for Turkey, where, in addition to expanding required education from 8 years to 12, Erdogan's "moderate" government has just mandated Koran study in all 12 grades. Way to celebrate the 100th anniversary of modern secular Turkey!
ReplyDeleteKerry begged Erdogan for help against IS. Thousands of Turks are IS fighters. IS is holding Turkish diplomats hostage in Mosul.
Erdogan will be happy to meet Kerry, but say no strikes on IS from air bases in (NATO member) Turkey.
I guess Ebola is a welcome distraction.