Sheikh al-Azhar sides with the Iraqis

Grand Mufti of al-Azhar, Dr. Muhammad Sayid Tantawy, called for the Arab and International cooperative efforts to work for the stability of Iraq and to end the bloodshed before it results in a sectarian war. He asked the Iraqi government to attack, with an iron fist, those who participate in explosions against civilians, and he described these activites as "the worse form of mischief on earth".

Sheikh al-Azhar confirmed during his meeting with the Iraqi representative Abbas Fadhil al-Hassan that "anyone, who participates in the killing, explosion and sabotage activities that are happening on Iraq's land, is impossible to be Muslim, he is a saboteur; and stopping those mischievous is a must, and standing up to them is a legitimate duty." [Arabic report]

I think this is a very positive statement, especially coming from the highest Sunni authority in Egypt. My hope is that this will be followed by similar statements from Imams in other Arab and Muslim countries; and then maybe, Arabs and Muslims wake up and realise that the so called resistance is just a figment of their imagination. Or am I asking too much?

When I read it, I thought I thought this is big and it must've been reported somewhere; but I was wrong, I didn't find it in the MSM. However, someone did report it, guess who? Juan Cole! Yes, Mr Cole reported it; but read what he wrote, and tell me if it has the same meaning as to what I've translated above!

The Grand Imam of al-Azhar Seminary, Shaikh Muhammad Sayyid al-Tantawi --a preeminent Sunni religious and legal authority-- called the bombings in Iraq "the worst form of corruption in the land." The latter phrase is from the Quran. He called for Arab intervention to stop the country sliding into civil war.

Mr Cole, why did you translate only parts of it? What were your intentions by reporting it the way you did? You are not trying to twist the information, are you? Or is that how "informed" you are? Tsk!