Posted on 12/11/2008 2:40:14 PM PST by forkinsocket
BEIRUT, December 10, 2008 (MENASSAT) — Mohamed Sayed Tantawy, Grand Sheikh of the Islamic Al Azhar University in Egypt, has sparked controversy by suggesting that Israeli officials would be welcome at Sunni Islam's leading religious authority.
Speaking to Al Arab newspaper last week, Tantawy said that Al Azhar would be open to visits by high-level Israeli political representatives if it could help strengthen the peace process. The Sheikh has come under heavy criticism from various sides for his remarks, including from the Muslim Brotherhood which has demanded that the Grand Sheikh be questioned.
It is the second time in less than a month that the Muslim Brotherhood has issued such a call. After pictures showing Sheikh Tantawy shaking hands with Israeli President Shimon Peres at a UN-sponsored interfaith conference in New York last Muslim Brotherhood parliamentarian Hamdy Hassan demanded that the Sheikh be questioned.
"He acts like a government employee, according to their policies. He does not represent the institute, nor Muslims as a whole," Hassan was quoted as saying by Daily News Egypt.
Sheikh Tantawy later played down the hand-shake. "It was a passing hand-shake and I didn't recognize him. What did they want me to do, refuse to shake hands with a president of a country we are at peace with?" Tantawy told Al Arab.
The Israeli media offered its own versions of the story with one newspaper, Maarif, claiming it was in fact Sheikh Tantawy who initiated the hand-shake.
In Egypt, a number of newspapers, including the independent Al-Dustour, have called for Tantawy's dismissal. Tantawy has lashed out at the media that published the New York photos, calling them "a group of lunatics."
Tantawy also stirred controversy with some comments deemed "insulting to the Palestinian cause" on TV. Asked about the Israeli-imposed embargo of Gaza, Sheikh Tantay said he was not aware of a blockade taking place.
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Mohamed Sayed Tantawy, Grand Sheikh of the Islamic Al Azhar University in Egypt, has sparked controversy by suggesting that Israeli officials would be welcome at Sunni Islam's leading religious authority.
They're not welcome? I though Jimmy Carter settled all this 30 years ago, and that their were strong ties between Israel and Egypt. Economic, academic, true affection. Gosh, could Jimmah have lied?
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