A selection of quotes from the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood leadership showing support for violence

This is a selection of quotes - I will be adding more as time permits.

From MEMRI (Middle East Media Research Institute):

Leader of the Muslim Brotherhood Sheik Mahdi Akef: We Are Ready to Send 10,000 Men to Palestine, But It Is the Egyptian Government that Should Arm Them

Video Clip

Following are excerpts from an interview with Sheik Muhammad Mahdi 'Akef, Leader of the Muslim Brotherhood, which aired on Al-Hiwar TV on November 30, 2007.

Interviewer: During the Israeli aggression against Lebanon, you said that the Muslim Brotherhood was prepared to arm ten thousand young men, and to send them to Lebanon in order to support the resistance. Does this apply to Palestine too?

'Akef: This applies to any country under occupation. One of the principles of the Muslim Brotherhood is to rid the Arab and Islamic nation of any foreign rule. The Muslim Brotherhood must support all the forces of resistance in the Arab and Islamic world.

Interviewer: From where will they get the weapons?

'Akef: I don't know. I was talking about men, not weapons. I said we would recruit ten thousand men...

Interviewer: Armed men...

'Akef: No, you added the word "armed." The government must arm these people. When I fought in Palestine, the government knew about it. The government trained and armed us. As you know well, the military commanders worked with the Muslim Brotherhood. When we fought the English in 1951 in the [Suez] Canal, the government knew about it. We would undergo weapons training within [Al-Azhar] University.

Leader of Muslim Brotherhood Mahdi 'Akef: Arab and Islamic Countries Should Obtain Nuclear Technology "For Military Purposes"

Video Clip

Following are excerpts from an interview with Muhammad Mahdi 'Akef, Head of the Muslim Brotherhood, which aired on Al-Alam TV on May 14, 2006.

Muhammad Mahdi 'Akef: The Western world - American and Europe - is not fighting Egypt but Islam. They do not want Islam to survive. Therefore, whoever protects Islam is fought against.

The Arab and Islamic countries suffer from severe backwardness, and the Western world wants to make them even more backward. It does not want these countries to progress at all.

[...]

The Muslims are required to remain backward in all fields, not only the nuclear field. All fields of advanced modern technology are closed to the Arabs and Muslims - let alone the nuclear field.

Is it not the duty of all countries to have nuclear technology for peaceful purposes? Even if it is for military purposes... Doesn't America have this? Doesn't Israel have this? Doesn't Europe have this? Are all the countries entitled to this, except for the Arabs and Muslims? Brother, this is illogical, inconceivable, and unjustified.

From IkhwanWeb.com, the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood's official English language website:

Akef: How Can We Support Hamas

Wednesday, March 1, 2006
Hamas in the middle of a storm, how do we support it?

A Message from Mr. Mohammad Mahdi Akef – Chairman of the Muslim Brotherhood

In the name of Allah; and peace and blessings be upon His messenger and his proponents.

Resistance is the Consience of the Ummah[Editor's note: "resistance" is the Palestinian's way of stating support for attacks targeting not just the Israeli military, but also deliberately targeting innocent civilians]
Palestinian resistance is the conscience and dignity of our Ummah. It gave life to the Ummah, and revived its weak hope. It frustrated the Zionist project that targeted the heart of the Ummah, not Palestine only. It forced the whole world to recognize the Palestinian people after harshly denying their existence. As a result, the Ummah protected it; and the people supported it sincerely. Had it not been for hindrances and obstacles set up by the governments, thousands and may be millions desiring to liberate the land, freeing sanctities, and restoring rights, would have joined the Palestinian resistance, indifferent to accusations from old and new colonization countries.

From IslamOnline.net, formed by Sheik Yusuf Al-Qaradawi, the spiritual leader of the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood:

Qaradawi Criticizes Al-Azhar for Condemning Jerusalem Attacks

DOHA, Dec. 4 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - A leading Muslim religious scholar in Qatar on Tuesday criticized Sheikh Mohammad Sayyed Tantawi, the highest authority in Sunni Islam, for his condemnation of "any attack on innocent civilians," in the wake of weekend attacks that killed more than 26 Israelis.

"How can the head of Al-Azhar incriminate mujahideen [fighters] who fight against aggressors? How can he consider these aggressors as innocent civilians?" asked Sheikh Yusuf Qaradawi, quoted by Qatari newspapers.

Tantawi, Sheikh of Cairo's al-Azhar University, the oldest university in the world, said Monday that Islamic Shari'ah law, "rejects all attempts on human life, and in the name of Shari'ah we condemn all attacks on civilians, whatever the community or state responsible for such an attack."

Tantawi was referring to both Israel and the Palestinians in his statement.

"We disapprove of all whose who justify attacks against children by reasoning that the children will join the army when they grow up."

These arguments "are odious. I reject them and they are contrary to the recommendations of the prophet Mohamed," said Tantawi, who was appointed by Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.

"Has fighting colonizers become a criminal and terrorist act for some sheikhs?" Qaradawi asked. He added that "Israeli society was completely military in its make-up and did not include any civilians."

In Israel, "men and women are soldiers," added Qaradawi. "They are all occupying soldiers."