A terror-linked Islamic cleric banned from the United States is instructing Western Muslims to leverage their citizenship to advance Islamic political agendas and reshape government policies toward Israel.
At a Glance
- Tareq Al-Suwaidan, a Kuwaiti Islamist with ties to Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood, urges Western Muslims to use their citizenship for political influence
- Al-Suwaidan is banned from entering the U.S. and Belgium due to his extremist connections
- He was named an unindicted co-conspirator in the Holy Land Foundation terrorism financing trial
- Al-Suwaidan encourages Muslim youth to vote against politicians who don’t support Islamic policy objectives
- He dismisses peace with Israel and minimizes Gaza civilian casualties while promoting Islamic resurgence
Strategic Political Activism for Western Muslims
Tareq Al-Suwaidan, a prominent Kuwaiti Islamic figure with documented ties to Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood, is actively encouraging Muslims living in Western democracies to strategically use their citizenship status to influence government policies and election outcomes. Despite being banned from entering the United States and Belgium due to his extremist connections, Al-Suwaidan continues to exert significant influence over Muslim communities in Western nations, particularly targeting youth with his message of political activism.
“This is your country and you should pressure your politicians to change their stand and you should make them fall down in elections if they don’t.”, said Tareq Al-Suwaidan.
His explicit instructions to Muslims in the United States and United Kingdom focus on using Western democratic systems to advance Islamic interests. Al-Suwaidan frames this political engagement as a duty, telling followers to vote against politicians who don’t align with his vision of supporting Islamic causes globally. His approach represents a sophisticated understanding of democratic processes, which he suggests Muslims should utilize while maintaining their Islamic identity and objectives.
Troubling Background and Extremist Connections
Al-Suwaidan’s credibility in security circles is severely compromised by his identification as an unindicted co-conspirator in the Holy Land Foundation case, which stands as the largest terrorism financing trial in U.S. history. This designation reflects the American government’s assessment of his connections to organizations funding terrorist activities. His dismissal in 2013 from his position as director of Al-Resalah TV channel came after he publicly acknowledged his affiliation with the Muslim Brotherhood, an organization classified as terrorist by several countries.
Al-Suwaidan has spoken extensively about what he characterizes as the eventual collapse of Western civilization and the restoration of an Islamic Caliphate governed by sharia law. These teachings, combined with his explicit support for terror against Israel and inflammatory statements about the Jewish state, have raised serious concerns among security experts about the potential radicalization of Muslim youth who follow his teachings.
Influencing Western Muslim Youth
Despite his controversial background, Al-Suwaidan maintains significant influence, particularly among young Muslims in Western countries. He claims close familiarity with Western society, frequently mentioning that he lived in the United States and educated his children there. This personal connection to the West enhances his credibility with Muslim youth navigating dual identities in Western countries.
“My children are in the States, studying there, and they tell me that what is happening in campuses is unbelievable.”, added Al-Suwaidan.
Al-Suwaidan describes Muslim youth in the West as possessing “dual power” derived from both their Islamic faith and their Western nationality. He encourages them to leverage this unique position to influence Western policy, particularly regarding Israel. His messaging regularly dismisses religious justifications for peace with Israel and minimizes concerns about civilian casualties and infrastructure destruction in Gaza, framing current events as part of a broader Islamic resurgence.
Security Implications for Western Nations
Al-Suwaidan’s recent calls for political action by Muslims in Western democracies have drawn increased scrutiny from security analysts concerned about the potential impact of his influence. His explicit strategy of encouraging Muslims to use democratic processes to advance an agenda aligned with organizations like Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood raises questions about foreign influence operations targeting democratic institutions. The combination of his extremist views with a sophisticated understanding of Western political systems presents a unique challenge for security agencies.
National security experts note the distinction between legitimate political participation by Muslim citizens and the potential exploitation of democratic systems by individuals with documented ties to terrorist organizations. Al-Suwaidan’s ongoing influence, despite being barred from entering several Western countries, demonstrates the challenging nature of countering ideological influence in an interconnected world where physical borders no longer limit the spread of ideas.
