International Union Of Muslim Scholars, Which Preaches Jihad And Terrorism, Working To Tighten Cooperation With Islamic Centers In Ireland And Elsewhere In Europe

Memri

05-06-2025

Wanis Al-Mabrouk, assistant secretary-general of the International Union of Muslim Scholars (IUMS), recently visited Ireland's capital Dublin as part of the organization's efforts to strengthen its ties with Islamic centers and communities in Europe. In the course of his visit he met with prominent figures in Ireland's Muslim community and with mosque imams from across the country, and discussed cooperation between them and the IUMS, including the possibility of their joining the union.
Currently numbering about 100,000 members in 92 countries, the IUMS serves as an organ of the Qatari regime for spreading an extremist and anti-West Islamist ideology. It routinely promotes hateful rhetoric and incitement to jihad, terrorism and antisemitism, in line with Qatar's decades-long support for various terrorist groups worldwide (see the Appendix).
The IUMS has special ties with Ireland because it was founded there in 2004 by Sheikh Yousuf Al-Qaradawi. The union was headquartered in Dublin until 2010, when it came to be sponsored by Qatar and moved its headquarters to Doha.[1] Sheikh Al-Qaradawi, who was born in Egypt and settled in Qatar in the 1960s, was a leading authority for the Muslim Brotherhood movement, and was known for his extremist positions in praise of jihad and terrorism and even suicide bombings, and for his extreme anti-West views and his aspiration for Islamic control of Europe.[2] Due to his views he was designated a terrorist by several Arab countries and banned from entering several Western countries, including the U.S. His successors in the IUMS, Ahmad Al-Raissouni and the current chair Ali Al-Qaradaghi, have expressed similar opinions and praised jihad and terrorism.
IUMS logo
Below are details about Wanis Al-Mabrouk's visit to Dublin.
IUMS Assistant Secretary-General Wanis Al-Mabrouk Visits Dublin To Strengthen Ties With Islamist Centers In Europe
According to the IUMS official website, Al-Mabrouk's visit to Dublin was part of the union's "efforts to strengthen ties with the Islamic communities and centers in Europe." In the course of his visit he delivered a Friday sermon, organized a three-day seminar and met with Muslim community leaders and with mosque imams from around the country. He "discussed the IUMS vision and goals, avenues for future cooperation, and the possibility of integrating new members into the IUMS in the near future." The website added that "the visit was held as part of the IUMS ongoing interest in supporting and aiding Muslim minorities in Europe… so as to consolidate their positive presence and their balanced integration into [European] societies."[3]
Wanis Al-Mabrouk on his visit to Ireland (Images: Iumsonline.org, May 29, 2025)
Appendix: MEMRI Reports And Clips About The IUMS And Its Members
Over the years, MEMRI has monitored the extremist discourse disseminated by the IUMS which includes incitement to jihad and terrorism, and contains blatant antisemitism. The following are examples of these MEMRI reports:
Special Dispatch No. 11903 - Fatwa By International Union Of Muslim Scholars (IUMS), Based In And Funded By Qatar, Declares 'Armed Jihad' Against Israel Obligatory For All Muslims, Calls To Urgently Form 'Islamic Military Alliance' Against Israel - 03/31/25
Special Dispatch No. 11611 - Since Hamas' October 7 Attack On Israel, Qatar's Unreserved Support For Hamas, Incitement Against Israel, Continues On The Political, Media, Educational And Religious Levels - 10/10/24
Special Dispatch No. 11595 - Former Vice President Of International Union Of Muslim Scholars (IUMS) Mauritanian Islamic Scholar Muhammad Al-Dadow Al-Shanqiti: The Most Noble Death A Person Can Have Is While Waging Jihad; This Is Not A War Against Israel, But The Infidel World; The Forces Of Evil Have Gathered Against Hamas - 10/02/24
Special Dispatch No. 11553 - Head Of Qatar-Funded IUMS Describes Perpetrator Of Terror Attack At Jordan-Israel Border Crossing As 'Hero' Whose Action Reflects The Sentiments And Ideas Of The Muslim Nation - 09/12/24
Special Dispatch No. 11519 - Member Of Qatar-Backed International Union Of Muslim Scholars (IUMS) Says Gaza War Can Be Used To Teach Children Important Lessons: 'This War Is Pure Jihad'; Children 'Should Be Raised On Love Of Jihad'; The War Is Religious And Ideological, Not A Dispute Over Borders - 08/22/24
Special Dispatch No. 11413 - London Central Mosque Hosts Jihad Supporter Jassem Bin Muhammad Al-Jaber, Member Of Qatar-Backed International Union Of Muslim Scholars (IUMS), Which Incites Terror - 06/24/24
Special Dispatch No. 11226 - Calls For Terrorist Operations Against Israel From Jordanian Territory – Hamas And Muslim Brotherhood Officials, Clerics Close To Qatar: Jordanians Must Buy Arms And Undergo Military Training; Fighting Jews Is 'Islamic Duty' - 03/25/24
Special Dispatch No. 11221 - Member Of Qatar-based, Funded International Union Of Muslim Scholars (IUMS) Touhami Medjouri Calls On All Muslims To Join Hamas' War Against Israel, Target Interest Of U.S., U.K., France, And Germany Everywhere - 03/21/24
Special Dispatch No. 11164 - Member Of Fiqh Councils In Europe And North America: The Islamic Nation Must Wage Jihad To Help The Palestinians; Sykes-Picot Borders Have No Legal Status In Religious Laws Of Jihad - 03/04/24
Clip No. 10699 - Hamas MP Marwan Abu Ras Calls On West Bank To Rise Up Against The Palestinian Authority: Mahmoud Abbas Is a Traitor; May Allah Take Revenge On Criminal, Nazi America - 12/02/23
Special Dispatch No. 11027 - In Interview With Pro-Afghan Taliban Media, Secretary-General Of Qatar-Funded International Union Of Muslim Scholars (IUMS) Dr. Ali Al-Qaradaghi, Alleges Zionist Propaganda Against Muslims, Cites Quran To Argue That 'Allah Has Called Media Jihad As The Greatest Jihad'; 'We Should Not Neglect The Significance Of Effective [TV] Channels In Languages Like Pashtu, Farsi, And Urdu' - 12/19/23
Clip No. 10727 - Former Sec.-Gen. Of The Qatar-Based IUMS Mohammad Salim Al-Awa: If The Two-State Solution Is Realized, It Will Be Temporary, Because Palestine Is Ours In Its Entirety – From The River To The Sea - 12/14/23
MEMRI Daily Brief No. 554 - Qatar-Funded International Union Of Muslim Scholars (IUMS) Delegation Meets With Taliban Ministers In Kabul: 'The Islamic Emirate's Mujahideen Achieved Success Against The World's Great Powers – Similarly The Palestinians, With Their Strong Will, Will Definitely Win This War' Against Israel - 12/13/23
Clip No. 10599 - Qatar-Based International Union Of Muslim Scholars (IUMS) Issues Fatwa Obligating Palestinians In West Bank And Within 1948 Borders, Israel's Neighbors, All Arab And Muslim Countries To Intervene Militarily On Behalf Of Gaza - 10/31/23
Special Dispatch No. 10925 - Qatar-Based And Funded International Union Of Muslim Scholars (IUMS) Publishes Old Article By Senior Hamas Official Describing Takeover Of Gaza Border Region, Israeli City Of Ashkelon, In Preparation For Liberation Of Palestine And Realization Of Prophetic Promise - 11/01/23
Special Dispatch No. 10836 - In Statement, Qatar-Based And Funded International Union Of Muslim Scholars (IUMS) Calls 'Al-Aqsa Storm' Operation An 'Effective' And 'Mandatory Development Of Legitimate Resistance,' States: Muslims Must Support Their Brothers In Al-Aqsa, Jerusalem And Gaza - 10/08/23
Special Dispatch No. 10786 - Condemning France's School Abaya Ban, Arab Intellectuals And Prominent Muslim Scholars Question French Secularism, Accusing The State Of Fomenting Hostility Toward Islam As A Distraction From Domestic And International Failures - 09/08/23
Special Dispatch No. 10783 - On X Platform, Prominent Islamist Figures, Jihadi Clerics Commemorate Anniversary Of Execution Of Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood Ideologue Sayyid Qutb, Glorify His Legacy - 09/06/23
Special Dispatch No. 10769 - At IUMS-Sponsored Seminar In Turkey Featuring Grand Mufti Of Libya Sadiq Al-Ghariani And 'Ali Al-Qaradaghi: Jihad In Palestine Is A Personal Religious Duty For Every Muslim - 08/25/23
Clip No. 10408 - Indian Islamic Scholar Salman Husaini El-Nadwi Of IUMS Board Of Trustees: We Must Engage In Jihad By Means Of The Quran, 'Raid' Europe, America And Call People To Islam In Every City, Village, Home - 07/22/23
Special Dispatch No. 10699 - Reactions In Qatari Media To Riots In France: It Is A Racist Country Unworthy Of Hosting The Olympic Games Next Year; The Riots Are Divine Punishment For Its Crimes Against Islam And Muslims - 07/07/23
Special Dispatch No. 10656 - Qatar-Affiliated Journalists, Clerics: The Egyptian Border Guard Who Murdered Three Israeli Soldiers Is 'A Real Hero,' 'A Martyr' And 'The Pride Of The Arabs' - 06/08/23
Special Dispatch No. 10645 - Islamist Figures And Institutions Embrace Anti-LGBT Statement By U.S.-Based Clerics And Scholars, While Hardliners And Liberals Reject It - 06/02/23
Special Dispatch No. 10608 - Ahead Of Turkish Presidential Election, Dozens Of Prominent Islamist Scholars, Headed By Secretary-General Of Qatar-Funded-And-Operated International Union Of Muslim Scholars (IUMS) 'Ali Al-Qaradaghi, Endorse President Erdoğan, Call On Turkish Muslims To Reelect Him - 05/12/23
Special Dispatch No. 10557 - Qatar-Funded And Operated International Union Of Muslim Scholars (IUMS) And Hamas Leaders In Qatar Call Palestinians To I'tikaf In Al-Aqsa Mosque With Intention Of Waging Jihad Prior To April 5 Clashes, Declare April 7 As 'Day Of Rage' - 04/07/23
Special Dispatch No. 10553 - Member Of The International Union Of Muslim Scholars: Muslims Must Liberate Al-Aqsa By Any Means; It Is The Blood Of The Jihad Fighters That Lights The Flame Of Al-Aqsa; The Day Of Judgement Will Come When The Muslims Fight And Kill The Jews - 04/05/23
Special Dispatch No. 10463 - Islamic Religious Scholars From Palestine, Egypt, Sudan, Libya Meet With Afghan Taliban Government Leaders, Applaud 'Victory Of Jihadi Struggle Of Afghans' - 02/06/23
Special Dispatch No. 10464 - International Union Of Muslim Clerics (IUMS) Member: The Jerusalem Terrorist Who Killed Seven Civilians Is A 'Hero' And A 'Role Model'; The Quran Explicitly Calls To Wage Jihad For The Sake Of Allah - 02/06/23
Special Dispatch No. 10356 - Youssef Al-Qaradawi's Successor Ali Al-Qaradaghi Shares Mentor's Hardline Views And Positions On West, Christianity, And Jihad, Actively Promotes Muslim Brotherhood Ideology To Millions Of People On Multiple Platforms - 12/05/22
Special Dispatch No. 10327 - In Qatar On The Eve Of The World Cup, Continuing Expressions Of Homophobia And Disgust Over LGBTQ+ Visitors To The Country - 11/18/22
Special Dispatch No. 10287 - Islamists, Prominent Arab Figures Say French Company's Guilty Plea For Paying ISIS Proves West's Involvement In Founding, Funding ISIS - 10/28/22
Special Dispatch No. 10253 - Prominent Islamists And Arab Intellectuals Condemn UAE For Opening Hindu Temple In Dubai, While Liberal Muslims Consider It Promotion Of Tolerance - 10/11/22
Inquiry & Analysis Series No. 1652 - Al-Qaradawi: Qatar's Islamist Empire Builder - 10/03/22
Special Dispatch No. 10234 - Jihadi Clerics, Afghan Taliban Eulogize Jihadi Muslim Brotherhood Ideologue Yusuf Al-Qaradawi - 09/28/22
Special Dispatch No. 10222 - Analysts Describe New Indonesian President Of International Union of Muslim Scholars (IUMS) As Muslim Brotherhood Loyalist, Say His Appointment Reflects Muslim Brotherhood Intention To Expand In East Asia - 09/23/22
Clip No. 9786 - President Of International Union Of Muslim Scholars (IUMS) Moroccan Islamic Scholar Ahmad Al-Raysouni In Controversial Interview: We Should Organize A Jihad March In Western Sahara And Algeria's Tindouf; Establishing Mauritania Was A Mistake; Normalization With Israel Is A Mark Of Shame; Moroccan Jews Who Emigrated Were Traitors - 07/29/22
Special Dispatch No. 10040 - Ahead Of FIFA World Cup In Qatar, Homophobic Incitement In Country Continues - 06/27/22
Special Dispatch No. 9950 - Following Yesterday's Terror Attack In Elad, Israel, In Which Three Israelis Were Murdered, Users Tweet Praise For The Attack, Incitement To More Axe And Knife Attacks - 05/06/22
Clip No. 9569 - Palestinian Islamic Scholar Mraweh Nassar: Muslims Must Cut Off The Head Of The Zionist Snake If They Want To Solve Their Problems; The Zionist Occupation Is Ending – These People Will Be Eliminated - 05/16/22
Special Dispatch No. 9912 - Prominent Salafi Cleric Ali Al-Salabi: Major Islamic Conquests Took Place During Ramadan; Muslim Conquest Of Iberian Peninsula Was Natural Outcome Of Muslim Strategy During Invasions – Protecting Borders, Spreading The Religion, And Waging Jihad Beyond Borders - 04/19/22
Special Dispatch No. 9902 - In Statement, International Union Of Muslim Scholars (IUMS), Which Is Funded By Qatar And Turkey, Praises Perpetrators Of Recent Terror Attacks In Israel, Calls On Palestinians To March To And Remain In Al-Aqsa Mosque Until Ramadan's End, Urges 'The People Of Palestine In Every Place, And From All Factions, To Carry Out All Forms Of Jihad Activity' - 04/15/22
Special Dispatch No. 9866 - Opinion Shapers In Qatar Praise Terror Attacks In Israel And Their Perpetrators - 03/31/22
Inquiry & Analysis Series No. 1621 - Religious Authorities Across The Muslim World: Homosexuality Is A Dangerous Abomination That The West Is Trying To Impose On Us - 02/02/22
Inquiry & Analysis Series No. 1613 - Despite Qatar's Promise To Respect Gay Community In World Cup, Incitement Against It In Qatari Media Continues - 12/15/21
Special Dispatch No. 9556 - International Union Of Muslim Scholars To Taliban Delegation: We Appreciate Your Jihad, Will Help You As Much As We Can In Establishing Islamic Rule - 09/20/21
Special Dispatch No. 9530 - Member Of Qatar-Supported International Union Of Muslims Scholars: The Taliban Are Paragons Of Steadfast Jihad; We Do Not Fear Them But Fear For Them - 09/01/21
Clip No. 8915 - Hamas MP, Member Of IUMS Board Marwan Abu Ras: It Is The Religious Duty Of The Islamic Nation To Help The Palestinians Massacre The Enemy, Strike Their Necks - 06/05/21
Inquiry & Analysis Series No. 1576 - As Qatar Mediates Between Israel And Hamas, It Holds Mass Rally For Hamas In Doha Supporting Armed Struggle And Jihad Against Israel – Participants Included Hamas Political Bureau Head Isma'il Haniya - 05/21/21
Clip No. 8951 - Palestinian Islamic Scholar Mraweh Nassar: Western Society Attacks Islam For Sanctioning Polygamy Yet It Is Full of Infidelity; Christian Monks Would Fornicate With Nuns, Kill Their Fetuses - 05/02/21
Clip No. 8854 - Palestinian Islamic Scholar Mraweh Nassar: 'Humanity Will Not Thrive Until The Jewish Nation Is Annihilated... I Mean The Jews Living In Palestine' - 05/11/21
Special Dispatch No. 9325 - International Union Of Muslim Scholars (IUMS), Funded By Qatar And Turkey, Urges Muslims To Wage Jihad, Sacrifice Their Souls For Al-Aqsa - 05/09/21
Special Dispatch No. 9208 - Facebook Shuts Down Account Of International Union Of Muslim Scholars (IUMS), Which Frequently Calls For Terror And Jihad - 03/02/21
Special Dispatch No. 9173 - Fatwa Signed By Over 200 Mauritanian Muslim Clerics: Normalization With Israel Is 'A Betrayal Of Allah, His Messenger And The Muslims'; Jihad Against Israel Is A Religious Duty - 02/09/21
Special Dispatch No. 9073 - Senior Member Of International Union Of Muslim Scholars In Antisemitic Article Against Normalization With Israel: Muhammad Expelled The Jews From His Territory By Force - 12/07/20
Special Dispatch No. 8985 - Days After International Union Of Muslim Scholars (IUMS) Posts, On Its Website, Article By IUMS Secretary-General Claiming French Teacher's Beheading Was Staged By French Authorities, IUMS Removes It – Along With Articles Inciting Against President Macron - 10/22/20
Clip No. 8426 - Palestinian Islamic Scholar Mraweh Nassar: France Is Hostile To Muslims Because It Fears The Spread Of Islam; Macron's Wife Is A Relative Of Rothschild - 10/27/20
Clip No. 8374 - Sheikh Ali Al-Yousuf Of The International Union Of Muslim Scholars: Killing Of French Teacher Paty Was In Keeping With The Ruling Of The Shari'a But It Should Have Been Done By The Islamic State, Not By Just Any Individual - 10/18/20
Clip No. 8369 - Sec-Gen. Of International Union Of Muslim Scholars Ali Qaradaghi: Macron Has A Crusader Ideology, Still Lives In The Middle Ages; The West Is In Moral Crisis - 10/14/20
Clip No. 8366 - Sudanese Islamic Scholar Abd Al-Hayy Yousuf: Normalization With Israel Is Treachery; Allah Forbids Us From Being Allies With The Jews; It Is Obligatory For Muslims To Be Hostile To The Jews - 10/06/20
Special Dispatch No. 8974 - Secretary-General Of International Union of Muslim Scholars, 'Ali Al-Qaradaghi, Resumes Jihadi Incitement: Claims Murder Of French Teacher Was Staged By French Authorities And Real Killer Is Still Alive - 10/20/20
Special Dispatch No. 8807 - Qatari Doublespeak: Pretending To Fight Terrorism While Holding Conference With Sheikhs Supporting ISIS And Suicide Bombings - 06/18/20
Special Dispatch No. 8770 - Member Of Qatar-Supported IUMS: Coronavirus Is Divine Retribution For Oppression Of Muslims In China And Elsewhere - 05/28/20
Inquiry & Analysis Series No. 1501 - Qatar, Qatar-Backed International Union Of Muslim Scholars Blast Trump's Peace Plan: It Belongs In the Dustbin Of History, Must Be Opposed By Every Possible Means - 02/05/20
Special Dispatch No. 8367 - Petition By Muslim Brotherhood-Affiliated Clerics Calls For Economic Boycott Of UAE; Anti-MB Salafi-Jihadi Cleric: Boycott Is Not Enough; Petition Signatories Support Polytheistic Governments That Fail To Implement Allah's Laws - 11/15/19
Special Dispatch No. 8295 - IUMS Head Dr. Ahmed Al-Raissouni, Who Promotes Extremist, Antisemitic, Anti-Western Discourse, Joins Faculty Of Qatar University - 09/26/19
Special Dispatch No. 8135 - International Union Of Muslim Scholars, Supported By Qatar, Calls To Boycott Bahrain Conference On Deal Of The Century, Support Palestinians' Jihad - 06/24/19
Clip No. 7309 - IUMS Sheikh Sameer Saeed to Cape Town Mosque Congregation: You Will Be the Muslim Army to Protect Jerusalem; We Will Fight the Jews and Christians in the End Times - 06/14/19
Special Dispatch No. 8083 - Dr. Ahmed Al-Raissouni, Head Of The International Union Of Muslim Scholars Which Was Founded By Sheikh Yousef Al-Qaradawi In Dublin: Questioning The Holocaust Is Not Just A Right But An Obligation - 05/23/19
Special Dispatch No. 8076 - Ramadan Religious Lesson By Muslim Brotherhood Spiritual Leader Sheikh Yousef Al-Qaradawi, Published By Qatari Government Daily: The Jews Opposed Muhammad, Therefore Allah Cursed Them And Turned Them Into Apes And Pigs; The Christians Were Stricken With Ideological Blindness And Strayed - 05/21/19
Special Dispatch No. 7984 - International Union Of Muslim Scholars Urges Imams To Preach Armed Jihad Against Israel To Save Al-Aqsa - 04/04/19
Inquiry & Analysis Series No. 1413 - French Manifesto Calling To 'Declare Obsolete' Violent Quranic Verses Sparks Fury From Islamic Religious Establishment, Writers In Arab Media - 08/20/18
Special Dispatch No. 7264 - Sheikh Yousuf Al-Qaradawi Calls For Resistance, Jihad And Martyrdom Following Trump's Recognition Of Jerusalem As Israel's Capital - 01/04/18
Clip No. 5297 - Palestinian Scholar Samir Said: The Jews Have a Criminal, Satanic Nature and Are the Enemies of Mankind - 01/21/16
Special Dispatch No. 6059 - Senior Sunni Cleric: Both ISIS And The Fight Against It Serve The Interests Of The West And The Shi'ite Regimes - 05/28/15
Special Dispatch No. 5316 - Al-Qaradhawi's Support For Jihad And Martyrdom During Gaza Visit And In Biography Of Hamas Bomb Maker Yahya 'Ayyash - 05/28/13
Special Dispatch No. 5298 - Saudi Professor And IUMS Member Tareq Hawwas In Antisemitic Diatribe: 'If Only Hitler Had Finished Them Off' - 05/10/13
Special Dispatch No. 5227 - International Union of Muslim Scholars (IUMS)Attacks UN For Promoting Resolutions Banning Polygamy, Underage Marriage, Marital Rape, Promotion Of Gender Equality - 03/08/13
Clip No. 3598 - Hamas MP Marwan Abu Ras: The Jews Are Behind Every Catastrophe on Earth - 09/12/12
Inquiry & Analysis Series No. 785 - Antisemitic and Anti-Israel Articles on Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood Website - 01/13/12
Special Dispatch No. 3823 - Article on Muslim Brotherhood Website: U.S. Terrorism Worse than Bin Laden's - 05/09/11
Clip No. 3426 - Moroccan Cleric Abd Al-Bari Al-Zamzami: Husbands May Have Sex with Dead Wife's Corpse; Women May Use Carrots as Vibrators - 05/11/11
Special Dispatch No. 3600 - Sheikh Yousuf Al-Qaradhawi in Friday Sermon at Cairo's Tahrir Square: Pray for the Conquest of Al-Aqsa - 02/18/11
Sheikh Al-Qaradhawi Says He'll Boycott Interfaith Conference Due To Attendance Of Jews - 10/26/10
Clip No. 2624 - Muhammad Salim Al-Awa, Secretary-General of the International Union of Muslim Scholars: Copts Amass Weapons in Egyptian Churches and Are "Preparing for War against the Muslims" - 09/16/10
Special Dispatch No. 3093 - Sheikh Yousef Al-Qaradhawi Calls for Jihad of Self-Sacrifice and for Rejecting the Political Process - 07/13/10
Special Dispatch No. 2843 - Sheikh Yousuf Al-Qaradhawi Gives Broad-Ranging Interview to BBC Arabic on His Support of Mayrtdom Attacks, His Condemnation of the U.S. Military Base in Qatar, His Position on Shi'ites, His Relations with the Egyptian Government, and More - 03/04/10
Special Dispatch No. 2709 - Sheikh Al-Qaradhawi on Christmas Celebrations in Muslim Countries: 'I Wanted To Warn My People That This Is Prohibited, Shameful, And Inappropriate... Ignorance Of What Islam Obliges Us To Do...;' '[Can] Muslims in Europe and America... Celebrate Ramadan... in the City Centers[?]' - 12/21/09
Special Dispatch No. 2662 - Sheikh Al-Qaradhawi Explains His Objections to Muslim-Christian Interfaith Dialogue - 11/30/09
Special Dispatch No. 2285 - The Struggle for Power, Influence, and Control Surrounding Sheikh Yousef Al-Qaradhawi - 03/19/09