Tunisia bans Yusuf al-Qaradawi from entering the country

CAIRO – 14 June 2017: Tunisian authorities have banned Muslim Brotherhood affiliate Shiekh Yusuf al-Qaradawi from entering the country, Tunisian television channel Nessma reported Wednesday.

According to Nessma, Qaradawi’s ban comes along with several other decisions by the Tunisian authorities against Muslim Brotherhood members. The decisions are backed by the Qatari government also, the report added, and the list includes several Brotherhood leaders around the world.

The decision comes during the rift between Qatar and the other Arab Gulf states, which led the latter to cut diplomatic ties with Qatar last week.

Tensions between Qatar and the other Arab Gulf states began May 24. The Qatari state-run news agency reported Sheikh Tamim’s statements regarding Gulf foreign policy with Iran, which Tamim reportedly described as “unwise.”

On Tuesday, Kuwaiti Emir Sabah Al-Ahmad began a tour that included Saudi Arabia, UAE and Qatar with the intention of mediating tensions between the three. No official details were published about the results of the meetings; however, Bahraini Foreign Minister Khalid bin Ahmed Al-Khalifa reported to Makkah Saudi newspaper Thursday that Kuwait’s attempts at reconciliation had “failed.”

Qaradawi is considered one of the most controversial clerics in the Gulf and Arab regions, mainly for his intolerant views and violence-inciting fatwas. His controversial views have cost him access to the U.S. since 1999, and in 2008 the U.K. Home Office said Qaradawi was denied a vista to enter the United Kingdom. In 2012, France also denied entry to Qaradawi.