The claims brought on behalf of the families of the 9/11 victims against the leading Muslim scholar Sheikh Yusuf Al-Qaradawi have been dismissed in the US District Court.

Sheikh Yusuf was among hundreds of individuals, companies and governments in the Muslim world named in proceedings brought in the Southern District of New York by attorneys working for the families of those killed in the 9/11 atrocities. However, the documentation filed contained nothing to link Sheikh Yusuf with Al Qaeda and therefore his legal team filed a Motion to Dismiss the claims against him in their entirety. Confronted with this, the Plaintiffs withdrew the claims voluntarily.

Sheikh Yusuf’s successful defence of the proceedings in the United States was conducted by a team comprising of Carter-Ruck Managing Partner Cameron Doley together with Amy Rothstein of Doar Rieck Kaley & Mack in New York.

Press Release

Press Release – 9/11 claim against Sheikh Yusuf Al-Qaradawi is dismissed

31 October 2006

The claims brought on behalf of the families of the 9/11 victims against the prominent Muslim scholar Sheikh Yusuf Al-Qaradawi have been dismissed by US District Judge Richard Conway Casey.

Sheikh Yusuf was among literally hundreds of individuals, companies and governments in the Muslim world named in multiple proceedings brought in the US District Courts (and consolidated in the Southern District of New York) by attorneys working for the families of those killed in the 9/11 atrocities. It is alleged that the named defendants were involved with Al Qaeda and were thus responsible, directly or indirectly, for the events of 9/11. The proceedings are generally referred to as the “three billion dollar claim”, reflecting the sum that the Plaintiffs’ attorneys seek in damages.

However, the documentation filed with the District Courts contained nothing linking Sheikh Yusuf with Al Qaeda and Sheikh Yusuf’s legal team therefore itself served a Motion to Dismiss the claims against him in their entirety. Confronted with this, the Plaintiffs’ attorneys withdrew the claims voluntarily and entered into a stipulation under which the claims were to be dismissed. It was this stipulation that was approved by Judge Casey.

Sheikh Yusuf Al-Qaradawi has never had any connection whatsoever with Al Qaeda and the actions of Al Qaeda are contrary to everything he stands for and everything he has taught. As even those having only a cursory knowledge of the subject will be aware, far from being an associate or supporter of Al Qaeda, Sheikh Yusuf has been one of its foremost critics in the Muslim world. He was, for example, a leading member of the panel of prominent Muslim scholars which issued a fatwa in the aftermath of 9/11 denouncing the attacks and stating that it was the duty of all Muslims to attempt to bring the terrorists to justice. Elsewhere, Sheikh Yusuf denounced the attacks as “a grave sin”. He also condemned the 2002 Bali bombings as a “heinous crime” and an act of “total barbarism”.

Sheikh Yusuf Al-Qaradawi is a citizen of the State of Qatar and is the President of both the International Union for Muslim Scholars and the European Council for Fatwa and Research. He is considered one of the leading Muslim scholars of the age.

Sheikh Yusuf’s successful defence of the proceedings in the US Federal Court was conducted by a team comprising Amy Rothstein (of Doar Rieck Kaley & Mack, New York) and Maitre Saad Djebbar and Cameron Doley (of Carter-Ruck Solicitors, London).

All enquiries should initially be directed to Cameron Doley. Telephone: + 44 (0)20 7353 5005.

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