Dr. Muhammad Al-Saghir, former undersecretary of the Religious Committee of the Egyptian Parliament, said that the UAE’s funding of a film depicting Dr. Youssef Al-Qaradawi as an “inciter of terrorism” comes within the framework of Abu Dhabi’s efforts to demonize scholars who support the Arab Spring revolutions.
He added - in an interview via Al Jazeera Mubasher - that the Abu Dhabi regime has consistently distorted the image of Islamic preaching and charitable organizations and supported any coup or counter-revolution projects.
He continued, "The Abu Dhabi regime has placed the International Union of Muslim Scholars on its terrorist lists, which includes under its banner more than 80,000 scholars from different parts of the Islamic world."
And he added, "A few months ago - and given that social media sites are mostly based in Dubai - the UAE authorities closed the page of the International Union of Muslim Scholars on Facebook, which has three million followers.
When scientists from Malaysia and Indonesia complained to Facebook, they brought the page back again.”
Why is the UAE targeting Sheikh Yusuf al-Qaradawi through a Hollywood movie? # Makhfi_the greatest # Eccentrics pic.twitter.com/WgSRKA9JS7
- Al Jazeera Mubasher (@ajmubasher) August 2, 2021
He added, "The Abu Dhabi regime has taken revenge in several countries: in Libya and Yemen, and it is no secret now that it is behind the coup taking place in Tunisia."
On the reason for accusing Youssef Al-Qaradawi of inciting violence, he said, "Sheikh Al-Qaradawi was and still is a symbol of moderation, and this fierce campaign against him in the Egyptian and Emirati media is due to his standing with the Arab Spring revolutions and next to peoples in their aspirations for a dignified life."
He added, "I would like to clarify that Abu Dhabi TV has been hosting Sheikh Yusuf Al-Qaradawi for years every Saturday in a program that is broadcast live as a kind of competition with the Sharia and Life program that was broadcast on the island every Sunday, as he was previously honored by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, the ruler of the Emirate of Dubai. And his photos with the rulers of the Emirates are still on the Internet.”
He continued, "The film targeted the State of Qatar in particular and targeted any human rights or religious symbol related to it."
Last Sunday, the program (What is Hidden is Greater) revealed leaked documents proving the UAE's production of a Hollywood movie - titled The Misfits - after deliberately distorting its content to offend the State of Qatar.
The program published a leaked message that revealed an Emirati company's request to include a scene in the film that embodies the character of Dr. Youssef Al-Qaradawi and shows him inciting violence.
The “What is Hidden is Greater” program team was able to conduct exclusive interviews with participants in the film and track all stages of its production and filming in the UAE and abroad and all the people and officials associated with it.