Sheikh Yusuf Al-Qaradawi on Saturday declared that he will be stepping down from his position as president of the International Union of Muslim Scholars (IUMS).

Speaking at the opening session of the fifth general assembly in Istanbul, Al-Qaradawi said he “will yield the floor to the next chairman” and that this is the last time he will chair the meeting.
Al-Qaradawi added that he had told Sudanese scholar and Islamic preacher Essam Al-Bashir last year that he intended to leave after this general assembly.
He went on to accuse the West of plotting against Turkey to derail its advancement.
West plotting against Turkey: Qaradawi
“Turkey is facing plots by those who don’t like to see this nation [rising] and by the West,” Al-Qaradawi added.
“They would have succeeded [in their plots] but for Allah’s support for President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his brothers,” he said.
Bringing together more than 1,500 scholars from around the world, the IUMS’ general assembly will continue until Thursday.
Election will be held during the meeting to choose a new chairman, secretary-general and his deputies and board members.