Dr Hany El-Banna is the Founder of Islamic Relief; Chairman of the Muslim Charities Forum and Zakat House; and President of The Humanitarian Forum.
Here are excerpts from Hany El-Banna’s official bio:
- Born in Egypt, Dr Hany El-Banna completed his MBBCH Medicine at Al Azhar University, Cairo, where he also obtained a Diploma in Islamic Studies in 1976. He completed a Doctorate of Medicine (MD) in foetal pathology from the University of Birmingham Medical School in 1991.
- Dr Hany El-Banna is the founder of Islamic Relief and he is also the founder and chairman of various charitable organisations including the Humanitarian Forum, the Muslim Charities Forum (MCF) and the Zakat House.
- Dr El-Banna has also supported the foundation of the Somali Relief and Development
Forum, Humanitarian Group for Syria and the Yemen Relief and Development Forum. He is a member of the Three Faiths Forum (UK).
In 2008 Hany El-Banna was a member of the Board of Directors of Islamic Relief Canada. According to Islamic Relief Canada’s official website “Dr El Banna has been with Islamic Relief Canada since its incorporation in 2005, serving as the chairman.” Hanny El-Banna introduced by Islamic Relief Canada as the its Chair of the Board of Directors.
In 2001 the Union of Good included Islamic Relief in the list of NGOs who participated in its “101 Days Campaign” in support of Palestine. Dr. Ahmed Al-Rawi, a former director of Islamic Relief Worldwide, was a member of the Board of Trustees of the Union of Good in 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005.
Here are some of El-Banna’s Facebook posts:
January 21, 2018 – (originally in English and Arabic) الشعب الذى يصنع الحياة لا يقهره الموت.
سوريا لن تموت، غزة لن تقهر، العراق لن يضيع، ليبيا لن تنحر، اليمن لن يجيع وإفريقيا لن تسحر،
باحبك يا بلدى، باحبك يا مصر. Death can’t defeat the life maker’s nations. Syria doesn’t die, Gaza never cry, Iraq doesn’t lie, Libya never lye, Yemen doesn’t spy and Africa will fly high. I love you my country, I love Egypt.
Note: El-Banna translated “غزة لن تقهر” as “Gaza never cry”. The wordقهر means in English coerce; compel; constrain; force; oblige. The sentence “غزة لن تقهر” means Gaza will never be subdued/ defeated.
January 21, 2015 – (originally in English and Arabic) الشعب الذى يصنع الحياة لا يقهره الموت.
سوريا لن تموت، غزة لن تقهر، العراق لن يضيع، ليبيا لن تنحر، اليمن لن يجيع وإفريقيا لن تسحر، باحبك يا بلدى، باحبك يا مصر. Death can’t defeat the life maker’s nations. Syria doesn’t die, Gaza never cry, Iraq doesn’t lie, Libya never lye, Yemen doesn’t spy and Africa will fly high. I love you my country, I love Egypt.”
Note: El-Banna translated “غزة لن تقهر” as “Gaza never cry”. The wordقهر means in English coerce; compel; constrain; force; oblige. The sentence “غزة لن تقهر” means Gaza will never be subdued/ defeated.
August 4, 2014 – (originally in English and Arabic) “تفاءلوا، ان الانسان قد يضيع ولكن الدين لا يضيع. غزة لا تموت. Be optimistic, Man is at loss but religion will not be lost. Gaza doesn’t die.”
August 1, 2014 – (originally in English and Arabic) “داعش لا تمثل الاسلام ولا المسلمين، هى نتاج مستورد ومدعوم من أعداء الاسلام. ISIS does not represent Islam or Muslims. It’s imported and supported by their enemies.”
July 29, 2014 – (originally in English and Arabic) “عيد مبارك، أباطرة الطغاة يمنعون المسلمون من بناء حضارة تنقذ البشرية، ويسمحون لجماعتهم الإرهابية من تشويه الرسالة الاسلامية. غزة لا تموت. Eid Mubarak, The world tyrant leaders prevent Muslims from building the humanity’s saving civilisation and release their terrorist organisations to demonise Islamic Nations. Gaza doesn’t die.”
July 26, 2014 – (originally in English and Arabic) “رمضان كريم، اذا وجدت إماما جاهلا، سياسيا منافقا، إعلاميا كاذبا واقتصاديا سارقا، فاعلم انك فى العالم العربى، باحبك يا غزة. Ramadan Kareem,
If you find an ignorant Imam, hypocrite politician, lying media presenter and a corrupt businessman know that you are in the Arab region. I love Gaza.”
July 25, 2014 – (originally in English and Arabic) “رمضان كريم، الإيمان والحياة لا يفترقان، وهما فى غزة. Ramadan Kareem, Faith and life are inseparable, the are in Gaza. Ramadan Kareem”
July 24, 2014 – (originally in English and Arabic) “لا توجد قوة تمنع الشهداء من مؤازرة الأحياء، غزة لا تموت. No power can stop the martyred supporting the living. Gaza does not die.”
July 18, 2014 – (originally in English and Arabic) “رمضان كريم من كيب تاون، من لا يرحم غزة لن يرحمه الله. غزة لا تموت. Ramadan Kareem from Cape Town, Those who are not merciful to Gaza, Allah will not be merciful with them. Gaza does not die.”
July 18, 2014 – (originally in English and Arabic) “رمضان كريم من كيب تاون، حكومية المجتمع المدنى جريمة ضد الانسانية، غزة لا تموت. Ramadan Kareem from Cape Town, Governmentalisation of civil society is a crime against humanity. Gaza doesn’t die.”
July 17, 2014 – (originally in English and Arabic) “رمضان كريم من كيب تاون.لا ينام قلب يحب غزة، فالبلايين تدعوا لها والمولى فى صفها. Ramadan Kareem from Cape Town, Those who love Gaza don’t sleep, billions pray for her and Allah is always there.”
July 16, 2014 – (originally in English and Arabic) “رمضان كريم من جوهانسبرج، فلنحزن على أنفسنا ولا نحزن على غزة، فغزة لم تشتكى ولا تموت. لله درك يا غزة. Ramadan Kareem from Johannesburg,
We should feel sorry for ourselves not for Gaza. Gaza doesn’t complaint or die. Allah for you Gaza.”
July 16, 2014 – (originally in English and Arabic) “رمضان كريم من جوهانسبرج، من تخلى عن دينه، تخلت عنه الحياة، لن نتخلى عن غزة. Ramadan Kareem from Johannesburg, Those who ignore their faith, life ignores them. Forever we love Gaza.”
July 12, 2014 – (originally in English and Arabic) “رمضان كريم، لا تحزنوا، شهداء غزة يبعثون الحياة فى قلوب الامم، هنيئا للابرياء الشهداء. غزة لن تموت. Ramadan Kareem, Don’t feel sad, Gaza’s innocent martyrs raise life in the hearts of nations. We are glad for them, Gaza forever.”
August 28, 2013 – (originally in Arabic) “I do not accept the killing of any innocent people of Egypt, the beloved children of Syria, the children of Lebanon [our] brothers, and the dear youths of Gaza. Know that all of these and other honorable martyrs have proudly defended their homeland from the theft of its treasures by the foolish cowards from among the helpless enemies of our nation. The martyrs will not die and the cowards will not live. And you, our nation, are victorious over these losers.”
November 20, 2012 – (originally in Arabic) “غزه لن تموت , فأهلها شهداء علينا إن عاشوا وشهداء أحياء عند ربهم يرزقون إن ماتوا. Gaza will live forever. It’s people are the witnesses on our failure to support them before humanity and are the living martyrs when killed before Allah.”
Hany El-Banna – “Who spoils the Arab youth and creates terrorism?”
On November 23, 2013 El-Banna posted on his Facebook account a short article:
Who spoils the Arab youth and creates terrorism?
1. Dictatorship governments who are absenting the youth through football hooliganism and make football their life mission. Football is great sport but not a Religion or a God to worship.
2. Low level or the absence of freedom from these countries.
3. The high level of corruption amongst government officers and departments.
4. Politicisation of state institutions such as judiciary, security, media, religious …..
5. Appointment of security and military officers as heads of state institutions and non government organisations.
6. The plethora of TV satellites in the absence of monitoring criteria and regulatory institutions.
7. The plethora of ” clown’s talk shows ” presented by groups of non professional, biased, not trusted mercenaries who have lost their credibility and integrity.
8. The weak or absence of civil society sector and organisations that can monitor government performance, fight corruption and strengthen the nation’s social fabric.
9. Politicisation of journalism and nationalisation of it’s institutions.
10. Enforcement of the no permit policy to political parties and the absence of credible political parties.
11. The existence of economical states within the state run by military and security forces who are having facilities that is not given to the public.
12. The out of date monarchy regimes.
13. Forcing new and strange moral values.
14. Forcing the normalisation policy on Arab nations regardless of what is happening to the Palestinian people.
15. Politiciasation of foreign government and non government funds.
16. Treating youth and women as projects not as real leading partners to build the nation.
17. Adopting new role models and cultures that is not compatible with the current moral value system and culture.
18. The huge gap between the rich and the poor.
19. The rise of ” Aggressive Capitalism “, which found only in text books and not practised by the capitalist countries.
20. Loss of Arab identity within the new globalisation culture.
21. The rise of the number of unemployment and unmarried.
22. The plethora of the unqualified “Religious Callers” as a reaction to government’s nationalisation and politiciastion of state religious institutions.
23. The satellite drama particularly in Ramadan.
24. Other TV festivity, awards and programs that don’t reflect the viewers need.
25. The discrepancy in the government salary scales between government officers, consultants and advisors.
The solution is livelihood, freedom and social justice. Religion is a part of solution not a part of the problem.
Hany El-Banna’s interviews with Hamas official daily newspaper and radio station
On May 24, 2011 Felesteen, the official daily newspaper of Hamas, published an extensive interview with Hany El-Banna on his personal life story, the establishment of Islamic Relief, its vision and activities.
On November 8, 2016 Hany El-Banna posted an advertisement by the Gaza-based Al-Aqsa Voice radio station inviting the public to listen to an interview with him. Al-Aqsa Voice is the official radio station of Hamas.
In the 45 minute interview El-Banna told Al-Aqsa Voice his personal life story, his involvement in establishing and running Islamic Relief Worldwide (IRW), the establishment of IRW’s office in the Gaza Strip, IRW’s activities in the Gaza Strip and Bosnia, the establishment of the Comité de Bienfaisance et de Secours aux Palestinien (CBSP) in France (independent organization; “sharing an integrated vision” with CBSP; “working with them”) and its activities in Gaza, the nature of relationship between Islamic Relief Worldwide and Islamic Relief’s organization in other countries, the principle of neutrality, partnership with Palestinian civil society organizations, Palestinian government and international organizations.