Fuqra/MOA condemns Shiites as non-Muslims and believes that Shiite Islam was created by Jewish adversaries as part of a Zionist conspiracy. However, the group has occasionally spoken positively about former Iranian President Ahmadinejad and the Syrian dictatorship backed by Iran.
Sheikh Gilani has had ties to Gulbuddin Hekmatyar and his Hezb-i-Islami party. He is known to be backed by the Iranian regime.[1]
After Iranian President Ahmadinejad accused the U.S. government of orchestrating the 9/11 attacks, MOA praised his comments and said his agenda is similar to that of the Mahdi, the messianic figure that is supposed to appear at the End Times:
“President Ahmadinejad called on the U.N. to upgrade its organization by restructuring as it is the “key structure for coordinating the common global management.” Imam Al-Mahdi’s, peace be upon him, mission will be a global management for peace, security and the realization of human rights. Could this profound knowledge be what led to the premature exit of ‘missing delegates’ – a puerile means to distract from a poignant message?”[2]
MOA’s newspaper is giving positive coverage to Iranian-backed Syrian dictator Bashar Assad, who is part of the Allawite ethnicity that is an offshoot of the Shiites. Its articles consistently paint the Syrian rebels as terrorists acting on behalf of a conspiracy against Islam. One biased article legitimized the Syrian parliamentary elections and used them to make Assad appear popularly supported.[3]
Both the Iranian and Syrian regimes are designated as State Sponsors of Terrorism by the U.S. State Department for supporting Hezbollah, Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, Al-Qaeda, the Taliban and others.
Sheikh Gilani and his organization have historically had a hostile attitude towards Iran, but it also condemns U.S. accusations and pressure on Iran.
MOA’s newspaper is giving positive coverage to Iranian-backed Syrian dictator Bashar Assad, who is part of the Allawite ethnicity that is an offshoot of the Shiites. Its articles consistently paint the Syrian rebels as terrorists acting on behalf of a conspiracy against Islam. One biased article legitimized the Syrian parliamentary elections and used them to make Assad appear popularly supported.[3]
Both the Iranian and Syrian regimes are designated as State Sponsors of Terrorism by the U.S. State Department for supporting Hezbollah, Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, Al-Qaeda, the Taliban and others.
Sheikh Gilani and his organization have historically had a hostile attitude towards Iran, but it also condemns U.S. accusations and pressure on Iran.
