Sheikh Ahmed el-Tayeb, the
grand imam of Cairo's al-Azhar mosque, on Tuesday during an
interview with Vatican media said that Muslims shouldn't be
confused with terrorists.
On Monday el-Tayeb had a historic meeting with Pope Francis
that included an embrace and 25 minutes of face-to-face talks.
"Terrorism exists, but Islam has nothing to do with this
terrorism and this is true for both the Muslim ulamas and for
Christians and Muslims in the East," el-Tayeb said.
"And those who kill Muslims, and also kill Christians, have
misunderstood the Islamic texts either intentionally or by
negligence," he said.
"Islam and Christianity have nothing to do with those who
kill, and the West was urged not to confuse this deviant and
misled group with Muslims. It was said with one voice that
Muslims and Christians are the masters of this land and
partners, and each one has a right to this land".
He was referring to a document drafted during last year's
General Conference for Ulama Muslims organised by al-Azhar, the
centre of Sunni Islam learning.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © Copyright ANSA
