Conspiracy Theories and Muslim Brotherhood Antisemitism under Sadat

• Published in: Religions
• Main Author: Kiki Santing
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2022-02-01
• Subjects: Muslim Brotherhood; antisemitism; conspiracy theories; Sadat
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/13/2/143

This paper highlights how the Muslim Brotherhood instrumentalized antisemitic conspiracies in its journal <i>al-Daʻwa</i> in its bid to strengthen its socio-political authority under Sadat. After discussing theoretical insights on conspiracy theories and (Muslim and Muslim Brotherhood) antisemitism, the paper zooms in on the return of the Muslim Brotherhood under Sadat, focusing on the movement’s internal dynamics and its growing socio-political ambitions, followed by a content analysis of antisemitic conspiracy theories found in <i>al-Daʻwa</i>. The final part of the paper analyses the different dimensions and the functions of these antisemitic conspiracies for the movement. The paper concludes that through the antisemitic conspiracies, the Muslim Brotherhood has positioned itself as a religious, moral and political authority. Although <i>al-Daʻwa</i> promulgated classical (European) antisemitic conspiracies, these were utilized by the movement for purposes other than mere hatred and distrust of the Jews and Jewish–Muslim polemics.