Haj Amin al-Husseini-A Lesson From History

Husseini meets Hitler in Berlin, November 28, 1941



I have often raised the specter of Adolf Hitler and Nazi Germany in my postings, using them as a warning from history-specifically the folly of appeasing evil-as was done in Munich in 1938. Recently, I pointed out the fact that Mein Kampf, translated into Arabic, is still a top seller in the Middle East. Millions in that part of the world still regard Hitler as a hero and martyr. Why? Simple. He killed 6 million Jews. Today, you hear all the voices of those who are fighting the State of Israel insisting that they are not anti-Jewish-only anti-Zionist. This is a falsehood perpetrated to convince the world that the Palestinians are innocent victims of Israel and its policies. Today, there is an organization in the Middle East called the Muslim Brotherhood, founded in 1928 by Hassan al Banna, an anti-Semite. This organization actually gave birth to the radical Islamic movement. Today, they insist that they are moderate. They only want to bring democracy to Egypt, which is their historic base. They oppose the autocratic government of Hosni Mubarak. In actuality, they are still a radical organization, one that has given birth not only to the Muslim Student Associations in the US, but Hamas as well. One of their earliest leaders from the 1920s was the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, Haj Amin al-Husseini. He was not only the most important Islamic leader of his time, but he was also a rabid anti-Semite and ally of Hitler.

Husseini was appointed Grand Mufti of Jerusalem in 1921 by the British, who controlled the region after World War I. It was a disastrous choice, but made for what appeared to be political reasons. In reality, Husseini hated the British, and wanted them out of the Holy Land. He also hated Jews and fought relentlessly to keep them from migrating into the Holy Land. On countless occasions in his life, Husseini spurred his followers to go out and kill Jews.

He also did his part to put that idea into practice outside the Middle East. Eventually having to flee Jerusalem, he found his way to Nazi Germany, where he was given refuge by Hitler.


Husseini reviews Bosnian Muslim recruits to Waffen SS July 1943


Residing in Berlin during World War II, Husseini made numerous radio broadcasts back to the Middle East urging his followers to fight Jews. More importantly, during World War II, he was instrumental in helping form a Muslim division in Bosnia to fight on the German side. That division also participated in mass killings of Jews in that region. It is believed that Husseini actually visited Auschwitz and hoped that Germany would sweep through the Holy Land, where they would complete the "Final Solution".*

In summary, the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, a leader of the Muslim population in the Holy Land and an important early figure in the Muslim Brotherhood, was a war criminal.

After the war, Husseini made his way to France, where surprisingly, he was protected. Though charges against him were outstanding in Tito's post-war Yugoslavia, he was never extradited, and in the end, this monster was never prosecuted because the Allies did not want to set the Arab world against them (sound familiar?) He was able to return to the Middle East, where he continued his efforts to drive out Jews. Then came 1948 and the establishment of the State of Israel. Husseini was relentless in his calls for war and to drive the Jews from the Middle East. Beginning in 1947, he began his relationship as mentor to a young Yassir Arafat in his work to establish Fatah and eventually the PLO. What resulted was the beginning of modern Islamic terrorism.

Husseini died in Beirut in 1974. Yet, his legacy of hate and anti-Semitism, a mentality he did so much to further, is still alive today. I would urge the reader to learn more about Husseini and connect the dots between Husseini, the Muslim Brotherhood, Hamas, and yes, the Muslim Student Associations in America.

* Icon of Evil, Hitler's Mufti and the Rise of Radical Islam, David Dalin and John Rothman. New York, Random House, 2008, pp 51-52.