Youssef Nada, a prominent leader of the Muslim Brotherhood’s economic and international affairs division, passed away in Europe at the age of 94. Born in Alexandria in 1931, Nada became involved with the Muslim Brotherhood during his teenage years and rose to prominence as a businessman with a self-proclaimed “steel and cement empire.” He also established the al-Taqwa Islamic Bank, which faced investigations by the United States and Switzerland for alleged links to terror financing.
According to the Muslim Brotherhood’s online encyclopedia, Ikhwan Wiki, Nada joined the group in 1947 and participated in the Canal Wars against British forces in 1951. After the failed 1954 assassination attempt on Egyptian leader Gamal Abdel Nasser, which was attributed to the Brotherhood, Nada was imprisoned alongside other members. Following his release, he left Egypt, eventually settling in Europe, where he spent much of his life between Italy and Switzerland.
Nada described himself as the Muslim Brotherhood’s “foreign commissioner” and, in his autobiography, referred to himself as the movement’s “de facto foreign minister.” He claimed to have been deeply involved in the Arab Spring and accurately predicted the Muslim Brotherhood’s brief electoral victory in Egypt in 2012.
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Throughout his life, Nada maintained close relationships with influential figures, including Saif al-Islam al-Banna, the son of the Brotherhood’s founder, Hassan al-Banna. Photographs and records indicate his connections with prominent leaders such as Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, and Sheikh Yusuf al-Qaradawi, the Muslim Brotherhood’s spiritual leader, who was known for controversial endorsements of violence.
Following the September 11 attacks, Nada faced accusations from the United States of financing al-Qaeda and was listed by several countries as a person of interest. However, these charges were later dropped due to insufficient evidence.
Remembered as a Dedicated Advocate
The Muslim Brotherhood mourned Nada’s death, praising him as “a steadfast preacher who dedicated his life to calling others to Allah.” They highlighted his role as a mediator between Saudi Arabia and Iran and his efforts to address the Algerian government’s conflict with the Salvation Front.
Reports indicate that London-based Brotherhood leader Osama Farid Abdel Khaleq has taken over the management of the group’s economic operations in Europe, a role he had unofficially assumed even before Nada’s passing.
A Movement’s Global Reach
The Muslim Brotherhood, established in Egypt in 1928 after the fall of the Ottoman Empire and Caliphate, positioned itself as a socio-political movement advocating for a return to Islam as the foundation of personal, political, and national identity. Known as “Islamism,” this ideology calls for the integration of Islamic law (Shari’a) into modern governance.
The Brotherhood’s influence extends globally, supported by political parties, NGOs, and states like Qatar and Turkey. Hamas, in its founding charter, identifies itself as the Palestinian branch of the Muslim Brotherhood. The group has also been linked to the ideological roots of Salafi Jihadism through the writings of Sayyid Qutb, a disciple of Hassan al-Banna.
Dr. Ehud Rosen, an expert at the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS), emphasized Nada’s pivotal role in transforming the Brotherhood into an international network. “Nada was instrumental in managing the Brotherhood’s finances and fostering its intellectual expansion,” Rosen noted. “His death comes at a time when the Brotherhood’s impact continues to shape discourse even in prestigious institutions like the Ivy League.”
Youssef Nada leaves behind a complex legacy of influence, controversy, and enduring ties within the Muslim Brotherhood’s global network.
