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What Islamists Are Doing and Saying on COVID-19 Crisis

COVID-19
COVID-19
By Andrew Hanna

Islamic governments, parties, militias and religious leaders reacted in disparate ways to the eruption of the COVID-19 coronavirus across the Middle East and North Africa. ISIS instructed its followers not to travel to Europe, an epicenter of the disease. Conservative Sunni clerics cited conspiracy theories that blamed Shiites and atheists for triggering the worldwide pandemic. Some clerics in Egypt, Iraq, Jordan and Morocco even debated whether the outbreak was divine punishment against nonbelievers. Moderate Islamist parties collaborated with governments and offered followers practical advice on how to avoid contracting the virus.

The region hosts a wide spectrum of Islamic movements and parties or governments. At one end, they include moderate political groups such as Ennahda, a self-described Muslim democratic party and part of Tunisia鈥檚 coalitions governments since 2011. At the other end are extremist jihadi movements, such as al Qaeda and the Islamic State for Iraq and Syria (ISIS). In between are governments led by Islamist parties, as in Turkey, or that rule based on Sharia, as in Saudi Arabia. The following is a rundown of what Islamic governments, parties, militant groups, and prominent clerics have done or said.

Governments

Turkey

On March 12, Turkey confirmed its first case of COVID-19 after almost three weeks of听听it had no cases. On March 19,听Erdogan听听that critics of the government response were 鈥渕alicious,鈥 as the health crisis intersected with political concern about growing challenges to his ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJj8o8ojMdw

鈥淪ome have tried to stir chaos, demoralize our people with false news and complained about not seeing any cases in our country,鈥 he told reporters. 鈥淗owever, we, along with our people, have risen to this challenge wisely and determinedly as we always do in the face of attacks against our country. We have frustrated those malicious people, who rubbed their hands as they expected the virus to take our country captive and will continue to do so. Turkey鈥檚听greatest strength is its unity, solidarity and brotherhood.鈥 Since December 2019, new parties听听by top AKP officials have threatened to weaken Erdogan鈥檚 grip on Turkey鈥檚 politics. Erdogan also called on Turks to show solidarity, stay home and practice social distancing when in public.

On April 6, Turkey stricter measures to limit the viral spread. The government made wearing face masks on public transportation mandatory and closed 31 cities to non-essential traffic. But it did not impose a mandatory quarantine as advised by medical professionals and opposition politicians.听On April 19, Turkey鈥檚 number of confirmed cases 鈥 82,329 鈥撎齨eighboring Iran鈥檚. By early May, Turkey was among the top eight most infected in the world.

Saudi Arabia

On March 2, Saudi Arabia听 its first Covid-19 case, a man who had traveled to Iran and Bahrain. It听听the first death on March 24. Reflecting regional tensions, the kingdom blamed predominantly Shiite Iran for infecting the Gulf and, on March 8, isolated its own Shiite population in the eastern Qatif Province. Most of the cases in Qatif came from people who had returned from pilgrimages in Iran, despite the longstanding Saudi ban on travel to Iran. The Saudi Foreign Ministry听听Tehran for 鈥渁llowing Saudi citizens entry to its territories without stamping their passports鈥 and accused Iran of 鈥渄irect responsibility in increasing COVID-19 infections.鈥

Riyadh also curtailed both domestic and international traffic to its own pilgrimage sites. On February 26, it听听the unprecedented step of suspending the听umrah,听a shorter version of the Hajj pilgrimage. It also closed access to the Kaaba in Mecca and the Prophet鈥檚 Mosque in Medina, the two holiest shrines in Sunni Islam. By March 4, all Saudi citizens and residents were banned from making the听umrah.听On April 2, Saudi Arabia a 24-hour curfew on Mecca and Medina. It later the curfew to five additional cities, including the capital city of Riyadh. On March 31, Saudi Arabia Muslims to postpone plans to make the Hajj pilgrimage in 2020.

On April 23, Saudi Arabia the lockdown for the month of Ramadan; it allowed people to shop at supermarkets and malls from 9am to 5pm. But the government the curfew for the Eid holiday after a surge of new infections. 

Libya

On March 24, Libya鈥檚 Health Ministry the country鈥檚 first case, a 73-year-old man who returned from Saudi Arabia via Tunisia. The Islamist-dominated government faced a viral outbreak in the midst of a civil war and political instability that has fractured the country since 2011. On March 12, Tripoli a curfew from 6pm to 6am on attendance at mosques and most public spaces. The government , 鈥淭hose who don't abide by the curfew and lockdown will be subject to punishments.鈥 On March 16, the government all land crossings and airports for three weeks and ordered all schools and universities closed for two weeks. On March 30, Libya its curfew hours from 2pm to 7am. On April 17, it a 24-hour curfew for ten days. The government restrictions after the ten-day period ended. 

The country鈥檚 ongoing civil war complicated the government鈥檚 efforts to combat the coronavirus. The World Health Organization that continued fighting would inhibit public health authorities from containing the virus. Arab and Western governments 鈥 had supported rival parties to the conflict 鈥 for a truce. On March 19, the government in Tripoli , but three days later it Gen Khalifa Haftar, whose forces have besieged the capital since April 2019, of breaking the truce. On March 23, both sides fighting. On April 18, Tripoli a new offensive against Haftar鈥檚 forces in the western city of Tarhouna.

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Islamist Parties

Ennahda (Tunisia)

On March 2, Tunisia confirmed its first case of coronavirus, a Tunisian man who had  to Italy. On March 17, the government a 12-hour curfew from 6am to 6pm, closed its borders, suspended flights and shuttered mosques, restaurants and cafes. Ennahda, an Islamist party that has held positions in government since 2011, collaborated in the government campaign to contain the coronavirus. Rachid al Ghannouchi, the Ennahda leader and Speaker of the National Assembly, 鈥渢otal solidarity with all state institutions鈥 and appealed for Tunisians to donate to mitigate the economic repercussions of the pandemic. Ennahda, however, a draft law that would allow the prime minister to legislate by decree during the crisis.

Rachid al Ghannouchi
Ennahda leader Rachid al Ghannouchi

Ennahda also used its social media to bolster the government鈥檚 efforts to combat the coronavirus. It regularly retweeted posts from a government-run account () that provided daily updates on the number of infected and instructions to citizens such as 鈥溾 or 鈥.鈥 On May 10, Tunisia recorded zero new cases for the first time since March.

Hamas (Gaza)

On March 21, Palestinian health officials in Gaza the first cases of COVID-19 in two individuals who had attended a conference in Pakistan. The crisis led Hamas, the Islamist party that rules Gaza, to shift its primary focus from tensions with Israel to survival of its people. On March 22, it its armed wing, the al Quds Brigade to sanitize the streets to avert an outbreak in one of the world鈥檚 most densely populated areas. It also  all public gatherings and Friday prayers.

Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh called for a 鈥渃omplete end to the Israeli siege鈥 on the Gaza Strip to allow international assistance, including medical equipment. He to Qatar and Turkey to provide humanitarian assistance during the epidemic. On April 2, Haniyeh that Hamas was willing to make 鈥減artial concessions鈥 on prisoner exchanges for a humanitarian release of 鈥渆lderly prisoners and patients鈥 held by Israel. But on May 5, Hamas 鈥渘o significant progress鈥 had been made in prisoner swap talks. 

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Muslim Brotherhood (Egypt)

In mid-February, dozens of foreigners on a Nile Cruise positive for COVID-19. On March 5, Egypt the first case of an Egyptian with coronavirus. The Minister of Religious Affairs soon blamed the Muslim Brotherhood for 鈥渟preading the coronavirus among innocent people,鈥 a claim by Egyptians online. The Brotherhood had no official statement but some Muslim Brotherhood supporters that the virus was divine punishment against the military regime. 

The government鈥檚 scapegoating of the Brotherhood, which was forced underground after it was banned in 2013, followed weeks of government misinformation. In mid-February, Egypt鈥檚 health minister falsely Egyptians could not contract the virus. Pro-regime talk shows that the virus was a biological weapon designed to cripple China鈥檚 economy. On March 13, police three people for allegedly spreading false information about the virus on Facebook. Authorities press credentials from a Guardian reporter who wrote about Canadian research estimates that Egypt had thousands more cases than had been officially reported.

On April 22, the Brotherhood a new initiative called 鈥淥ne People鈥 to help Egyptians deal with the economic repercussions of COVID-19. 鈥淲e launched the campaign and we will introduce practical measures with the aim of overcoming all obstacles and challenges,鈥 said Ahmed Thabet, the campaign spokesperson. 

Hezbollah (Lebanon)

On February 21, Lebanon confirmed the first case of the coronavirus in a 45-year-old woman who had traveled to Iran. Hezbollah initially reacted faster and more extensively than Lebanese state institutions. It nearly 25,000 health care professionals and more than 100 emergency vehicles to handle COVID-19 patients. Hezbollah reserved beds for coronavirus patients at its Beirut hospital where it once treated wounded fighters. Members of the group鈥檚 civil defense forces sanitized streets in the country鈥檚 Shiite-populated south and delivered food to the poor. Hezbollah fighters even to Iran to distribute food supplies and disinfect streets in the holy city of Qom. 

But the health crisis also deepened Lebanese political tensions and led to questions about Hezbollah鈥檚 longstanding ties with Iran. Hezbollah鈥檚 political opponents the group鈥檚 physical contacts with Iranian officials for the initial spread of COVID-19 to Lebanon. On March 11, Hezbollah at least four senior leaders after a meeting in Beirut with Iranian military officials who later for the virus. Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah self-quarantine as a precautionary measure. In a televised speech on March 13, Nasrallah the crisis was 鈥渘ot for settling scores or bickering鈥 among Lebanon鈥檚 religious sects. On April 10, he the fight against the coronavirus to the group鈥檚 2006 war with Israel.. 

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Militant Groups

The Islamic State (Iraq and Syria)

On February 24, Iraqi officials in Najaf confirmed the first case of the coronavirus in an person who had traveled to Iran. The Islamic State, a Sunni jihadi movement, blamed Shiites for the first cases of coronavirus in Iraq and called the outbreak a 鈥渟ign鈥 that Shiites should 鈥渁bandon polytheism.鈥 As the virus spread to Europe, the Islamic State adjusted its message and the disease a 鈥減ainful torment鈥 for all 鈥淐rusader nations鈥 in the West, according to in its al Naba newsletter. The group urged followers not to travel to Europe to commit terrorist attacks during the epidemic to avoid contracting the virus. Instead, the group its followers in Iraq and Syria to free ISIS prisoners being held in camps.

The Islamic State stepped up its attacks in Iraq during the pandemic. On April 28, Baghdad the group for a suicide bombing that killed three security officials. On May 2, Islamic State militants 10 Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) fighters near the city of Samarra with gunfire and a roadside bomb.  The PMF is an umbrella group of mostly Shiite militias formed in 2014 to fight ISIS.

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Hayat Tahrir al Sham (Al Qaeda affiliate in Syria)

On March 23, Syria its first coronavirus case in a 20-year-old woman who arrived from abroad. Hayat Tahrir al Sham (HTS), the most powerful Sunni jihadi group in Syria, instructed its followers not to let the virus distract them from their fight against Shiites and other non-believers. On March 24, Abu Mariya al Qahtani, a HTS commander, the virus a 鈥渢emporary epidemic鈥 that paled in comparison to Shiites who 鈥渉ave corrupted the religion of the people and their earthly life.鈥

On March 28, HTS in its Iba鈥 newsletter that the virus had been sent by God to kill disbelievers who 鈥渟hed the blood of Muslims all over the world.鈥 It also told followers 鈥渘ot to be preoccupied with tracking the news and reports鈥 of the virus. HTS took limited steps to prepare for a potential outbreak. It down schools and mosques and transported suspected coronavirus patients to Turkey. Al Qahtani followers to 鈥渒eep distant from gatherings and avoid hand-shaking鈥 and to 鈥渟tay in your place鈥 as the epidemic spread.

On April 11, Iba鈥 an interview with Idlib鈥檚 health minister; he explained how the virus is transmitted and offered advice on how to prevent its spread. The same week, HTS closed markets and public spaces. 

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Al Qaeda Central

On February 24, Afghanistan confirmed its first case of the coronavirus, while Pakistan detected its first two cases on February 26.  The senior leadership of al Qaeda, which is based in South Asia, blamed the West for triggering the viral outbreak. On March 31, the group鈥檚 senior leadership in its English language media that the virus was a 鈥減unishment鈥 from God 鈥渇or the injustice and oppression committed against Muslims鈥 by Western governments. Al Qaeda mocked the United States for its failure to provide enough ventilators to patients in need and urged Muslims living in the West to 鈥渞evolt against oppression and oppression.鈥

The group鈥檚 senior leadership also called Islam a 鈥渉ygiene-oriented鈥 religion. It cited Quranic verses that referenced the importance of cleanliness, covering one鈥檚 face when coughing and self-quarantining during a viral epidemic. Al Qaeda鈥檚 magazine for women, Ibnat al Islam, its readers 鈥渋mmunity booster鈥 recipes for green tea.

Al Qaeda - The Way Forward
An al Qaeda statement on the coronavirus.

 

Islamic Clerics

International Union of Muslim Scholars (Qatar): On March 3, Yusuf al Qaradawi, chairman of the International Union for Muslim Scholars, issued a permitting Muslims to pray in their homes rather than attend Friday services at mosques. By March 14, IUMS issued an explicit to all congregational prayers. 

Al Azhar (Egypt): On January 25, Sunni cleric Ahmed Issa al Maasrawi of Egypt鈥檚 Al Azhar University that the viral outbreak came 鈥渁fter China isolated more than 5 million Uighur Muslims.鈥 But the country's top religious authority took the virus more seriously after Egypt confirmed its first case. On March 15, the university鈥檚 Council of Senior Scholars public authorities could cancel Friday prayers if necessary.

Iraq: Iraq had confirmed its first case of COVID-19 on February 24. Four days later, Shiite scholar Hadi Al Modarresi in a video that 鈥淎llah sent the disease鈥 to punish China. On March 10, Moadarresi in a tweet that he tested positive for the virus.

Jordan: On March 2, Jordan its first case of the coronavirus in a person who had traveled to Italy. On March 8, Sunni scholar Ahmad al Shahrouri that Jews were 鈥渕ore dangerous鈥 than the coronavirus. Speaking on Yarmouk TV, a Brotherhood-affiliated channel, he said that Muslims could be 鈥渟aved from these deadly diseases鈥 through pursuit of jihad.

Morocco: On March 2, Morocco its first case of the coronavirus in a Moroccan man who had been living in Italy.  On March 15, Hassan al Kettani, a prominent Salafist preacher, the kingdom鈥檚 plan to close mosques. He a fatwa on Facebook that said the Prophet Mohammed 鈥渘ever authorized the closure of mosques or suspension of group prayer.鈥 Omar Al Haddoushi, another leading Moroccan Salafist, echoed al Kettani and the disease a 鈥渟oldier of God鈥 that conquered 鈥済reat nations,鈥 such as China, who 鈥渄o not believe in God.鈥

Andrew Hanna is a research assistant at the U.S. Institute of Peace, which partners with the Woodrow Wilson Center on The Islamists.

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