Last week, according to CNN, an Egyptian court declared Hamas a terrorist organization. Egypt, historically a mediator between Israelis and Palestinians, has generally tried to work toward peace in the region. By joining the United States and the European Union in designating Hamas as a terrorist organization, Egypt has threatened this mediator status.
Fortunately, they were able to quickly transfer assets offshore before they were confiscated.
Coincidently the Hampshire mosque, a very poor organization with less members than directors, has recently invested over a million dollars to purchase the former Adventure Outfitters building to build a authentic Sunni mosque.
WE WANT IT TO BE A SURPRISE
The mosque has left the ADVENTURE OUTFITTERS sign on the building to prevent the celebrations and excitement that usually follow when a community welcomes a new Saudi financed Sunni mosque to their neighborhood.
Hampshire mosque building plans
Hamas is, according to the Council on Foreign Relations, a spinoff of Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood — also recognized as a terrorist organization by Egypt. Understandably, when President Mohammed Morsi, a member of the Muslim Brotherhood, was ousted in a coup during the summer of 2013, some changes were in order. Last month, the same court designated the armed wing of Hamas, the Al-Qassam Brigades, as a terrorist organization.
On 24 March 2014, an Egyptian court sentenced 529 members of the Muslim Brotherhood to death.[106] By May 2014, approximately 16,000 people (and as high as more than 40,000 by one independent count),[107] mostly Brotherhood members or supporters, have been imprisoned since the coup.[108]
The New York Times reported that “Leaders of the Muslim Brotherhood, which became the leading political movement in the wake of Egypt’s 2011 popular uprising, are languishing in prison, unfairly branded as terrorists. … Egypt’s crushing authoritarianism could well persuade a significant number of its citizens that violence is the only tool they have for fighting back.”[109]
Former Muslim Brotherhood supporter Mohammad Abdelaal was disappointed to see Morsi’s Islamic State fail and its leaders arrested. Fortunately the organization has not been declared a terrorist organization by the US yet.
Chaplain Abdelaal and his wife, Chaplain Lozovaya (Liza) have recently become vocal advocates of Mt Holyoke College’s new transgender policy.
Mr. and Mrs. Abdelaal/Lozovaya
