| Submit your comments on this article |
| Africa: North |
| Grand Imam Al Azhar imam urges Iraqis to fight terrorists |
| 2005-07-18 |
| The grand imam of Egypt's Al Azhar Mosque, the Sunni world's most prestigious seat of learning, called on the people of Iraq to unite to rid the country of terrorists and urged other countries to help. "The Iraqis, men, women, children and elderly people should unite and work solidly together to chase those evil terrorists everywhere until Iraq's land is purged of their filth and viciousness," Mohammad Saeed Tantawi said in a statement on Thursday. "All other countries and individuals should extend help to Iraq to enable its people to exterminate those wantons and despots," Tantawi said. The statement included 10 items explaining "the pillars of Islam" that deal with religious, ideological and political issues supporting Tantawi's ideas, with excerpts from the Holy Quran to support his points. Islam does not differentiate between people, whatever their origin, Tantawi argued, in what is one of the strongest condemnations of the violence plaguing Iraq since the end of the US-led invasion in May 2003. Tantawi's influence however, is limited, since he is appointed to his position by the government and is seen to espouse its policies and attitudes on a wide range of issues. "Chasing these criminals determinedly and steadily until finishing them off is a duty of everyone, be it a ruler or anybody else and anyone who shelters them is considered partner to their crimes," Tantawi said. The grand imam said the most heinous crimes committed by those "corrupt on earth ... is the killing of innocent people, kidnapping honest people and then killing them in a savage way." He strongly condemned Wednesday's killing of 27 people, including 18 children and teenagers by a suicide bomber in Iraq and said "this massacre was carried out by a vicious criminal from those terrorists whose corruption has spread everywhere." Tantawi also mentioned last week's kidnapping and killing of Egypt's top envoy to Iraq by the Al Qaida terrorist organisation saying "those sinners charged him [the envoy] with false accusations then killed him in a way that only God know how ugly, mean and low it was." |
| Posted by:Anonymoose |
| #4 Maybe more ambassadors from various uncooperative Arab countries need to be kidnapped and killed by "terrorists". |
| Posted by: Kalle (kafir forever) 2005-07-18 22:49 |
| #3 I would hope that the butcher's bill, paid daily in Iraq, is coming home to roost for the terrorists. Maybe it is just wishful thinking on my part, but this IS the kind of thing I have been hoping to hear. Late, yes; but it seems to hit all of the right points. Sounds like the terrorists have crossed over some unseen line. Finally. |
| Posted by: Whiskey Mike 2005-07-18 21:52 |
| #2 Grand Imam Al Azhar imam urges Iraqis to fight terrorists he means Jews. |
| Posted by: PlanetDan 2005-07-18 21:14 |
| #1 Grand Imam Al Azhar imam urges Iraqis to fight terrorists he means Jews. |
| Posted by: PlanetDan 2005-07-18 21:13 |