|
A MOSQUE IN MUNICH: NAZIS, THE CIA, AND THE RISE OF THE MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD IN THE WEST |
|
CAST OF CHARACTERS The Main Actors ROBERT H. DREHER: CIA agent working in Munich for a front organization, the American Committee for Liberation (Amcomlib). Backed the Muslim Brotherhood. GERHARD VON MENDE: Turkic studies expert who pioneered the use of Muslims against the Soviets in the Nazi era; ran a similar intelligence bureau after the war in West Germany. SAID RAMADAN: Exiled senior leader of the Muslim Brotherhood, with close ties to Western intelligence. Led Islamists in the battle to seize control of the Munich mosque project. Other major players, grouped by their primary allegiance: The Americans IBRAHIM GACAOGLU: Feisty Muslim leader; served the Germans during World War II but later accepted U.S. aid. AHMAD KAMAL: California author and Muslim activist who cooperated with U.S. intelligence but ran a rogue operation in Munich. ROBERT F. KELLEY: Head of Amcomlib's Munich operations. B. ERIC KUNIHOLM: Amcomlib's political director in New York headquarters; strong backer of using Muslims against the Soviet Union. RUSI NASAR: Uzbek activist supported by Amcomlib and other agencies in anti-Soviet activities. SAID SHAMIL: North Caucasian leader close to U.S. intelligence; worked closely with Dreher. GARIP SULTAN: Worked for von Mende during World War II and immediately afterward; later worked for Amcomlib. The Germans BAYMIRZA HAYIT: Uzbek historian and von Mende's right-hand man. ALI KANTEMIR: Dagestani leader, loyal to von Mende. HASSAN KASSAJEP: Secretary of Mosque Construction Commission; tried to mediate between ex-soldiers and students. VELI KAYUM: Self-styled "Khan" of the Uzbeks; mercurial and unreliable. NURREDIN NAMANGANI: Uzbek imam of an SS division; later employed by von Mende to take control of Munich's Muslims. The Muslim Brotherhood [1] MAHDI AKEF: Current "supreme guide" of the Muslim Brotherhood; headed the Munich mosque for three years. GHALEB HIMMAT: Syrian businessman and head of the Munich mosque for thirty years; lives near Nada in the Italian Alps. HAJ AMIN AL-HUSSAINI: Former Grand Mufti of Jerusalem; worked with von Mende and the Nazis during the war and with Ramadan afterward. YOUSSEF NADA: Egyptian businessman who helped arrange financing for the Munich mosque; helped set up the Brotherhood in the United States. YOUSSEF QARADAWI: One of the most influential spiritual figures in the Muslim Brotherhood today; helped rebuild the Brotherhood in the 1970s by focusing on the West. IBRAHIM EL-ZAYAT: Took control of the Munich mosque association from Himmat after the 9/11 attacks. _______________ Notes: 1. People considered close to the group or its ideology; not necessarily formal members of the Egyptian political party.
|