For a (closeted) optimist like me, it seems that this is a precursor to 1792 (or if you prefer 1979). The divine right of kings to rule (backed by clerics backed by royalty) may be coming to an end in the Sunni world. Yusuf Qaradawi is the new Khomeni and he will take over as the most righteous Caliph. If all this happens, it will be certainly a case of living in interesting times.
At the least it is good to imagine the fat-cat exporters of global jihad trembling as they see the pitchforks assemble outside the castle walls. Could not happen to a nicer bunch of people.
Saudi Arabia
has formally designated the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist
organization, in a move that could increase pressure on Qatar whose
backing for the group has sparked a row with fellow Gulf monarchies. The U.S.-allied kingdom has also designated as terrorist the Nusra Front and the Islamic State in Iraq
and the Levant, whose fighters are battling Syrian President Bashar
al-Assad, the Interior Ministry said in a statement published by state
media.
Riyadh
fears the Brotherhood, whose Sunni Islamist doctrines challenge the
Saudi principle of dynastic rule, has tried to build support inside the
kingdom since the Arab Spring revolutions.
In an unprecedented move, Saudi Arabia,
the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Bahrain recalled their ambassadors
from Qatar on Wednesday, saying Doha had failed to abide by an accord
not to interfere in each others’ internal affairs.
Saudi
Arabia and the UAE are fuming over Qatar’s support for the Muslim
Brotherhood, and resent the way Doha has sheltered influential cleric
Yusuf Qaradawi, a critic of the Saudi authorities, and given him regular
airtime on its pan-Arab satellite channel Al Jazeera.
The
Interior Ministry said on Friday the royal decree would apply to both
Saudis and foreign residents who joined, endorsed or gave moral or
material aid to groups it classifies as terrorist or extremist, whether
inside or outside the country.
regards