The jihad-funding state of Qatar was portrayed as a “terrorist state” in The Misfits, a new Hollywood film that an Emirati film company co-produced. Al Jazeera — the notorious international news channel based in Doha and funded by the Qatari government — featured reactions from various Islamic authorities, who denounced the movie as “immoral” and […]
Biden Administration Approves F-35 Sale to UAE
The Biden Administration seldom mentions the Abraham Accords. Its lukewarm endorsement, both by Biden and Blinken, for what was undoubtedly the greatest diplomatic triumph of the Trump Administration, is painful to observe. Not only does the Biden Administration not full-throatedly endorse the Accords, but it shows no desire to work to enlarge them, by […]
Biden administration reverses Trump’s weapons sales to Saudi Arabia, UAE
Democratic Senator Chris Murphy tweeted: But he ignored Iran’s role in the Yemen civil war which started in 2014, “when Houthi insurgents—Shiite rebels with links to Iran and a history of rising up against the Sunni government—took control of Yemen’s capital and largest city.” Weeks ago, Yemen pleaded for the UN, the international community and […]
How to Make Sense of the Reconciliation of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Egypt with Qatar
The blockade and the boycott that Saudi Arabia, the U.A.E., Bahrain, and Egypt imposed on Qatar more than three years ago has just been lifted. Analysts are split on what it means, and whether it is to be applauded or deplored, as reported here: “Debate Over Qatar: Is Blockade-Ending Move Positive for Middle East?,” by […]
Canada: UAE cleric dropped from speaker list at Muslim convention featuring Muslim Brotherhood-linked groups
The United Arab Emirates Fatwa Council head, Sheikh Abdallah Bin Bayyah, a prominent Islamic scholar and politician, has either withdrawn or was disinvited from speaking at one of the largest Islamic conventions in North America: Reviving the Islamic Spirit (RIS). Bin Bayyah has been a preeminent guest speaker at RIS in the past, but for […]
Greece, Cyprus, Egypt, France and UAE conduct joint military exercises amid rising Turkish threat
In a significant move, the United Arab Emirates “is participating for the first time, along with new arrival France, in the joint Greek-Egyptian-Cypriot Medusa-10 training exercises being held Nov. 30 to Dec. 6 off the coast of Alexandria.” The presence of this alliance in the Mediterranean sends a strong message to Turkey, although “their true […]
UAE Enforces Its Own ‘Muslim Ban’
As is well known, the Trump Administration in 2017 banned entry to visitors from seven countries. These included Iran, Syria, Libya, Somalia, Yemen, North Korea, and Venezuela. This was promptly attacked — and has been attacked ever since — as a “Muslim ban,” an example of Trump’s cruel “Islamophobia.” The administration patiently explained that the […]
UAE Fatwa Council denounces Muslim Brotherhood as ‘terrorist group,’ urges Muslims to steer clear of it
The Muslim Brotherhood is a global entity, so the latest reaffirmation against it by the UAE is beneficial, despite the reasons for this new declaration. Saudi Arabia and the UAE’s ruling family view the Brotherhood “as an ideological competitor and sees its promotion of political activism, including support for elections, as a direct threat to […]
UAE Official: Hamas and the PA Are ‘Corrupt’ and ‘Murderers’
After the United Arab Emirates startled the world – and especially many in the Arab world – by announcing its normalization of relations with Israel, the country, its leaders, and the Emirati people became the target of Palestinian rage. Hysterical Palestinians accused the UAE of a great “betrayal” and of “stabbing us in the back.” […]
UAE minister defies global Islamic fury and backs Macron’s remarks on Muslims needing to integrate in West
Amid upheaval across the Muslim world over France’s Muhammad cartoons and defense of the freedom of expression, the United Arab Emirates’ minister of state for foreign affairs, Anwar Gargash, has come out in support of French President Emmanuel Macron’s comments about Muslim integration. Despite Gargash’s good intentions, however, the widespread backlash against Macron, with tens […]