Report of Israeli Think-Tank on the Global Muslim Brotherhood

promotions. Public display <strong>of</strong> religious observance, <strong>of</strong>ten devoid <strong>of</strong> faith, has
become a necessity for those seeking government appointments or lucrative
state contracts. 94
In January 2010, the State Department concurred:
“As reported REF B, religiosity has been increasing in Turkey in past years, just
as has been seen in many other Muslim societies. The AKP is both a beneficiary
<strong>of</strong>, and a stimulus for, this phenomenon. 95
One <strong>of</strong> the State Department cables also note that Prime Minister Erdogan “virtually
paralyzed financial policy when he tried to appoint an Islamist as head <strong>of</strong> the Central
Bank against President Sezer’s firm opposition” and that from 1983 to 1991, then-
Foreign Minister Gul had a background as a specialist at the Islamic Development
XV 96
Bank in Saudi Arabia.
Cagaptay concludes:
In effect, the AKP’s steady mobilization <strong>of</strong> Turkish Muslim identity along with
its close financial and ideological affinity with the nation’s new Islamist elites is
setting the stage for a total recalibration <strong>of</strong> Turkey’s international compass. 97
The Free Gaza Movement and the Global Muslim
Brotherhood
Since the founding <strong>of</strong> Free Gaza, individuals tied to the Global Muslim Brotherhood have
participated in its flotillas. The most important <strong>of</strong> these was Yvonne Ridley, a UK journalist
who was aboard the first Free Gaza flotilla in August 2008. Ms. Ridley is best known for
her capture by the Taliban while an undercover reporter and her subsequent conversion
to Islam after her release. Ms. Ridley has had close ties to the UK Muslim Brotherhood
since that time, including serving as a Respect Party politician and as a journalist for the
98 99 100 101
Islam Channel, and she went on to play an important role in later flotilla efforts.
<strong>Israeli</strong> analysts have already documented that many individuals tied to Muslim
Brotherhood organizations were part <strong>of</strong> the Gaza Flotilla, including those affiliated
with UK, <strong>Israeli</strong>, Egyptian, Jordanian, and Yemeni Brotherhood groups. 102 Also playing
an important role in the flotilla was Sheikh Raed Salah, the head <strong>of</strong> the Northern
branch <strong>of</strong> the Islamic Movement in Israel, considered to be the most extreme wing
<strong>of</strong> the movement that essentially comprises the Muslim Brotherhood in Israel. Salah
has been frequently the subject <strong>of</strong> <strong>Israeli</strong> law enforcement action, which accused him
<strong>of</strong> aiding Hamas and inciting violence in Israel. 103 104 Perhaps the most significant
individual who was part <strong>of</strong> the flotilla was Akram Kassab, known to be the personal
secretary <strong>of</strong> Youssef Qaradawi. 105 106 Kassab was also one <strong>of</strong> the founding members <strong>of</strong>
the International Union <strong>of</strong> Muslim Scholars (IUMS) headed by Qaradawi. His first cited
published work is titled “Zionism and the Threat to Humanity.” 107
Less well known are the European and Turkish Global Muslim Brotherhood groups
that provided substantial support to the flotilla. There are three such groups that can
be identified:
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The IDB has an extensive history <strong>of</strong> support for Islamist causes. For example, while Gul was beginning his
term at the IDB in 1983, the Bank was supporting the Islamization <strong>of</strong> Sudan.
See http://www.acpr.org.il/nativ/0811-6-rehrenfeldE1.pdf.
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