Muslim Brotherhood conspiracy theories allege that the Obama administration is advancing the Brotherhood's goals; and that Huma Abedin, a member of former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's staff, is advancing the Muslim Brotherhood's agenda.
Theory about Huma Abedin
In July 2012, Representative Michele Bachmann delivered a letter to the State Department's inspector general's office in which she tied Huma Abedin, an aide to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, to the Muslim Brotherhood and stated that the Muslim Brotherhood was directing the Obama Administration's approach to the Middle East. Bachmann's letter also questioned how Abedin was able to receive security clearance.
McCain also criticized Bachmann's letter, which was cosigned by Republican congressmen Trent Franks, Louie Gohmert and Lynn Westmoreland, as "nothing less than an unwarranted and unfounded attack on an honorable woman, a dedicated American and a loyal public servant." In addition to McCain, Republican leader John Boehner, and Ed Rollins, who had managed Bachmann's 2012 presidential campaign, criticized Bachmann. Boehner called Bachmann's accusations "dangerous" and Rollins called them "vicious" smears that "reached the late Senator Joe McCarthy level". Senator Lindsey Graham said the charges were "ridiculous" and that Abedin "is about as far away from the Muslim Brotherhood view of women and ideology as you possibly could get". Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner (R-WI) called the comments on Huma Abedin in "that letter ... the wrong thing to do".
The Anti-Defamation League condemned the letter as well, referring to it as "conspiratorial" and saying that the Representatives involved should "stop trafficking in anti-Muslim conspiracy theories". Middle East scholar Juan Cole sarcastically avered that Bachmann herself might be a supporter of the Muslim Brotherhood based on her having previously expressed support for the Mujahideen-e Khalq.
Abedin was subsequently placed under police protection after she received threats of violence, possibly connected to the allegations.
See Also
- Conspiracy theories in the Arab world
References
