Mohammad Riad al-Shaqfeh

al-Shaqfeh was born in Hama in 1944 into a family of well known scholars. His father, Sheikh Khalid al-Shaqfeh, was President of the Society of Hama.[2]

He attended High School in Hama, graduating in 1963, and then studied at the University of Damascus's Faculty of Engineering, graduating with a bachelors in Civil Engineering in 1968.[2]

al-Shaqfeh joined the Muslim Brotherhood in 1961, whilst he was still in High School. He became a member of the Muslim Brotherhood Management Centre in Hama in 1978, and then Head of the Centre in 1979. He left Syria at the end of 1980.[1][2] He was elected to the leadership of the Brotherhood in 1983, and became a member of the Executive Committee of the National Alliance to save Syria in 1990, and a member of the Alliance's Political Bureau in 1999.[2]

In July 2010 the General Committee of the Syrian Muslim Brotherhood met in Istanbul for their leadership elections. The group elected al-Shaqfeh to succeed al-Bayanouni as Supreme Leader. A month after his election al-Shaqfeh declared his intent to continue the suspension of anti-government activities by the Muslim Brotherhood, and spoke in October 2010 of his hope of resolving issues with the Syrian government through the help of Turkey. He also expressed a willingness to change the name of the organisation, were his other demands met, and the group allowed to return to Syria, although there was no response from the Syrian government.[1]

At the beginning of the protests the Brotherhood, under the auspices of al-Shaqfeh, refrained from participation, only issuing a statement on the protests at the end of April 2011. The statement called for the overthrow of the Syrian government. The Brotherhood later took part in the establishment of the Syrian National Council in Istanbul in October 2011, and was believed to be the most powerful group within the Council. The Brotherhood was represented by al-Shaqfeh and his deputy, Mohammad Farouk Tayfour.[1]

During a 2012 interview with Dubai TV, al-Shaqfeh stated that the Syrian Muslim Brotherhood desired the return of the Golan Heights to Syria, and would pursue the return with all means available, including potential military force. Shaqfeh also stated that the Muslim Brotherhood did not believe a post-revolutionary Syria would ever recognise Israel, which he called "alien to this region." On the issue of Hatay Province, which is claimed by Syria although controlled by Turkey, al-Shaqfeh claimed the issue would be discussed eventually, although the focus should be on the Golan Heights. This prompted the interviewer to accuse the Brotherhood of playing down claims to Hatay due to the Brotherhood perceived closeness to the Turkish government.[3]

• Muslim Brotherhood of Syria

• Muslim Brotherhood, Syria