Wagdy Abd El Hamied Mohamed Ghoneim[A] (Arabic: وجدي عبد الحميد محمد غنيم), normally shortened to Wagdy Ghoneim (born 8 February 1951) is an Egyptian Muslim[1] imam and writer. He was imam at the Islamic Institute of Orange County, California, in the United States, until 2005.[2] He was a fundraiser for the Toledo, Ohio based Hamas charity KindHearts.

In January 2005, Ghoneim left the US for Qatar, following his arrest for violating his immigration status. Bail was refused over concerns that his previous speeches and fund raising might have supported organisations such as Hamas. He was given a ten-year ban on re-entry to the country.[2]

In May 2009, he was placed on the British Home Office's list of "Individuals banned from the UK for stirring-up hatred"[3] for being "Considered to be engaging in unacceptable behaviour by seeking to foment, justify or glory terrorist violence in furtherance of particular beliefs and to provoke others to commit terrorist acts."

Other countries that have refused admission to Ghoneim include Canada, Switzerland and Tunisia.

Controversies

He said, prior to 30 June 2013 major protests, that who ever protests against the president Mohamed Morsi is a Kafir.[4] Ghoneim denounced Abdel Fattah el-Sisi's coup d'état after Morsi was toppled.[5]

The amputation of limbs for stealing is supported by Ghoneim.[6]

In April 2017, he justified attacks on Coptic churches, due to their support to President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi.[7]

On 26 July 2019, he has been banned from entering Tunisia because of hateful declarations against the former president Beji Caid Essebsi. Ghoneim stated that Tunisia is against Islam and its president is against the Quran and Sunnah.[8]

In April 2021, he criticized the Pharaohs' Golden Parade, calling the ancient Egyptians as infidels.[9]

Notes

^[A] : His name in Arabic text: وجدى عبد الحميد محمد غنيم; in IPA [ˈwæɡdi ʕæbdel.ħæˈmiːd mæˈħæmmæd ɣoˈneːm]; the initial name maybe transcribed as Wagdi, the middle name may also be transcribed as Abdelhamid / Abdel Hamid / Abd El Hamid. See Abdel.

References

  1. ↑ Washington Institute: "Egypt's Elections (Part 2): Salafis Use Education to Campaign" by Jacob Olidort 30 September 2015
  2. 1 2 U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Press release 4 January 2005
  3. ↑ "Home Office name hate promoters excluded from the UK". UK Home Office. 5 May 2009. Archived from the original on 8 May 2009. Retrieved 29 December 2015.
  4. ↑ "وجدي غنيم: الخارج على مرسي كافر ومتمرد على الإسلام - العربية.نت | الصفحة الرئيسية". Alarabiya.net. Retrieved 16 June 2013.
  5. ↑ وجدي غنيم (5 September 2013), وجدي غنيم ~ كلمتى الى الملتقى الإسلامي فى نيجيريا | Wagdy Ghoneim To the Islamic Forum in Nigeria, retrieved 22 March 2018
  6. ↑ "Clip #3182 Egyptian Cleric Wagdi Ghoneim in Support of Chopping Off the Hands of Thieves: Criminals Prefer It to Prison". MEMRI. 10 August 2011.
  7. ↑ "Egyptian Islamist in Exile Wagdi Ghoneim: Churches Attacked Because Coptic "Crusaders" Supported "Despicable-Sisi"". Middle East Media Research Institute. 8 April 2017.
  8. ↑ "Wajdi Ghonim interdit d'entrée en Tunisie". Business News (in French). 26 July 2019.
  9. ↑ "Turkey-Based Egyptian Islamic Scholar Wagdi Ghoneim Criticizes Cairo's 'Golden Parade' Of Mummified Pharaohs: The Hair Of One Female Mummy Was Showing; Al-Sisi Displays Corpses Of Infidels For Money". Middle East Media Research Institute. 5 April 2021.
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