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1991 Muslim Brotherhood memorandum

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Explanatory Memorandum by the Muslim Brotherhood is a memorandum written in 1991 in Arabic and attributed to Muhammad Akram, a senior Hamas leader and a member of the Muslim Brotherhood's executive committee in North America. The memorandum outlines a strategic plan for the United States and Canada whose objective is to "eliminate and destroy Western civilization from within".

Discovery of the memorandum

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The document was discovered accidentally by the FBI in 2004 during a search of the home of Ismail Elbarasse, who was acting as a fundraiser for Hamas, in Annandale, Virginia. Elbarasse had been stopped by a traffic officer in Maryland, who suspected a woman of filming the support structures of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge.[1] The FBI obtained a search warrant for Elbarasse's residence and, during the search, a hidden basement was found containing more than 80 boxes of the Muslim Brotherhood's archives in North America. The memorandum was one of the most important documents found in this search. A document was also discovered linking the Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development (HLF), initially set up as a tax-exempt charity, to supporting terrorist organizations and subsidizing Hamas.[2]

Contents of the memorandum

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The memo sets out the Muslim Brotherhood's plan to gain influence in the United States and Canada through the following strategy: unify all Muslims under Brotherhood leadership, establish powerful organizations, and cooperate with non-Muslims.[3][4]

These actions are part of a settlement process called the "Civilization-Jihadist Process".[5][6]

The document portrays life in the United States as a form of grand jihad aimed at destroying Western civilization from within.[7][8]

The memorandum aims to "sabotage" the structures of Western society by the hands of believers, so that it is annihilated and "the religion of Allah becomes victorious." [9][10]

According to the memorandum, the Muslim Brotherhood's plan to achieve its objective includes several tactics.[11]

Notably, create a coalition of Muslim organizations and establish Islamic centers in every city; these social community centers are to disseminate Muslim Brotherhood propaganda through its various channels (CAIR, ISNA, MSA).[12][13]

According to the plan, each central organization in a city should have its own local branches that it coordinates. The local branches of Islamic organizations would include communication and arts centers: print shops, media libraries, publications in Arabic and English, artistic groups, photographers, producers, journalists, and communications specialists.[14]

In addition, the memorandum proposes a strategy of cooperation with a wide range of intermediaries such as research and study centers, universities and schools, teacher training centers, scientific associations in schools, university training centers, and organizations dealing with Islam, etc.[15]

Reactions

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The memorandum posits that there is in the United States a network of radical Islamist groups operating in a manner contrary to democratic values.[citation needed]

However, some point out that the wording does not dictate action under a single directive, which could suggest that these organizations might not actually operate under the command of the Muslim Brotherhood.[citation needed]

References

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  1. ↑ Merley, Steven. The Explanatory Memorandum: From the Archives of the Muslim Brotherhood in America (Report).
  2. ↑ "Revised January 13, 2012 "The United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit" United States of America vs Mohammad El-Mezain; Ghassan Elashi; Shukri Abu Bakr; Mufid Abdulqader; Abdulrahman Odeh; Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development, also known as HLF. No. 09-10560, Filed December 7, 2011, p. 11" (PDF). Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  3. ↑ Akram, Mohamed (1991-05-22). "An Explanatory Memorandum on the General Strategic Goal for the Group in North America" (PDF). United States v. Holy Land Foundation, Gov't Exhibit 003-0085 (English translation). pp. 20–21. Retrieved 25 October 2025.
  4. ↑ Vidino, Lorenzo (2025-07-15). The Muslim Brotherhood in America (PDF) (Report). Program on Extremism, George Washington University. pp. 10–11. Retrieved 25 October 2025.
  5. ↑ Akram, Mohamed (1991-05-22). "An Explanatory Memorandum on the General Strategic Goal for the Group in North America" (PDF). United States v. Holy Land Foundation, Gov't Exhibit 003-0085 (English translation). p. 20. Retrieved 25 October 2025.
  6. ↑ Vidino, Lorenzo (2025-07-15). The Muslim Brotherhood in America (PDF) (Report). Program on Extremism, George Washington University. p. 11. Retrieved 25 October 2025.
  7. ↑ Akram, Mohamed (1991-05-22). "An Explanatory Memorandum on the General Strategic Goal for the Group in North America" (PDF). United States v. Holy Land Foundation, Gov't Exhibit 003-0085 (English translation). p. 20. Retrieved 25 October 2025.
  8. ↑ Vidino, Lorenzo (2025-07-15). The Muslim Brotherhood in America (PDF) (Report). Program on Extremism, George Washington University. p. 11. Retrieved 25 October 2025.
  9. ↑ Akram, Mohamed (1991-05-22). "An Explanatory Memorandum on the General Strategic Goal for the Group in North America" (PDF). United States v. Holy Land Foundation, Gov't Exhibit 003-0085 (English translation). p. 20. Retrieved 25 October 2025.
  10. ↑ Vidino, Lorenzo (2025-07-15). The Muslim Brotherhood in America (PDF) (Report). Program on Extremism, George Washington University. p. 11. Retrieved 25 October 2025.
  11. ↑ Akram, Mohamed (1991-05-22). "An Explanatory Memorandum on the General Strategic Goal for the Group in North America" (PDF). United States v. Holy Land Foundation, Gov't Exhibit 003-0085 (English translation). pp. 18–23. Retrieved 25 October 2025.
  12. ↑ Akram, Mohamed (1991-05-22). "An Explanatory Memorandum on the General Strategic Goal for the Group in North America" (PDF). United States v. Holy Land Foundation, Gov't Exhibit 003-0085 (English translation). pp. 23–24, 31. Retrieved 25 October 2025.
  13. ↑ Vidino, Lorenzo (2025-07-15). The Muslim Brotherhood in America (PDF) (Report). Program on Extremism, George Washington University. pp. 10–12, 16. Retrieved 25 October 2025.
  14. ↑ Akram, Mohamed (1991-05-22). "An Explanatory Memorandum on the General Strategic Goal for the Group in North America" (PDF). United States v. Holy Land Foundation, Gov't Exhibit 003-0085 (English translation). pp. 25–26. Retrieved 25 October 2025.
  15. ↑ Akram, Mohamed (1991-05-22). "An Explanatory Memorandum on the General Strategic Goal for the Group in North America" (PDF). United States v. Holy Land Foundation, Gov't Exhibit 003-0085 (English translation). p. 23. Retrieved 25 October 2025.
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