Ben-Gurion University Lecturer Sparks Outrage by Praising Extremist Cleric

A Ben-Gurion University lecture presenting the late extremist cleric Yusuf al-Qaradawi as a moderate figure regarding women's rights has sparked sharp public outrage in Israel.

Al-Qaradawi, who passed away in 2022 at the age of 96, was one of the foremost ideologues of the Muslim Brotherhood. Operating primarily from Qatar and utilizing broadcasts on Al Jazeera, he served as a primary religious authority providing ideological justification for suicide bombings against Israeli civilians during the Second Intifada, arguing that such attacks constituted legitimate acts of jihad rather than prohibited suicide.

Beyond endorsing terrorism, al-Qaradawi frequently espoused virulent antisemitism. In a notorious 2009 sermon broadcasted internationally, he characterized the Nazi Holocaust as divine punishment meted out to the Jewish people, declaring that he hoped to die as a martyr in battle against Jews. His ideology maintained profound ties with Hamas, whose leadership he openly supported during high-profile visits to the Gaza Strip.

Despite this extensive record of extremism, a university lecturer chose to highlight al-Qaradawi as an example of relative moderation concerning the status of women in Islam. Responding to criticism from local media, the lecturer defended the presentation, asserting that academic institutions must examine controversial figures from diverse perspectives and expose students to complex ideological frameworks.

The human rights organization B'Tsalmo strongly condemned the incident. Shai Glick, CEO of the organization, criticized the glorification of a terrorist sympathizer within an Israeli academic institution and called upon the university administration to take immediate disciplinary action, demanding an official apology and the retraction of the statements.