Leading cleric blames Saddam

BBC ^ | April 6, 2003

[Scoop]

The chief Islamic cleric in Egypt has criticised the Iraqi president for not going into exile and sparing his country the trauma of invasion.

Sheikh Muhammad Sayyed Tantawi, the grand imam of al-Azhar mosque in Cairo, said Saddam Hussein's oppression of his people, and his wars against Iran and Kuwait, had been "terrorism".

But the man seen as the highest religious authority for Sunni Muslims also accused the United States and Britain of waging an "unjust aggression" against the Iraqi people.

"Whoever attacks others, spilling blood, harming the other's honour and land is a terrorist," he said, referring to the US-led coalition.

Sheikh Tantawi said the war was not a crusade against Islam and condemned Saddam Hussein for not accepting a call from the United Arab Emirates to resign in order to prevent war.

"Had this initiative gone through, it would have preserved the blood of many Muslims and we would not be seeing the massacres under way against the Iraqi people," he said.

"The war against the Iraqi people must, must, must stop as soon as possible," he added at a news conference at the mosque.

Though appointed by the Egyptian Government, Sheikh Tantawi is seen as the spiritual leader of about one billion Sunni Muslims - who include supporters of Saddam Hussein's regime.

The cleric gave his blessing to any volunteers who wanted to help Iraqis fight the invaders, even potential suicide attackers.

"Whoever wants to go to support the Iraqi people, I welcome that, I welcome that, I welcome that," Sheikh Tantawi said.

"I say to him go with peace and I wish you well. We do not prevent anyone from going to help those who are facing injustice."

He added: "Martyr operations against the invading forces are permitted under religious law."

[AgThorn]

No wonder this is a confusing religion ...

Saddam is bad, but US/Britian is bad too ...

Saddam has brought this on himself, and this is NOT a war against Muslims ... BUT ..

It's OK to martyr yourself against those that are invading and freeing the Iraqi's from Saddam ...

Sheesh! and I thought the Quran was a hard book to read, this cleric must be bipolar!!

[patriciaruth]

Whoever wants to go to support the Iraqi people, I welcome that, I welcome that, I welcome that," Sheikh Tantawi said.

Y'all come!

I understand most of the deaths and injuries now are among foreigners in the fedayeen Saddam.

Just heard a report that the Republican Guard is pretty much wiped out, with only Saddam's Baghdad Guard left, plus, of course, the fedayeen.

We're running out of people to kill, so this is good news, Sheikh Tantawi.

[RLJVet]

Religion of Peace?! Just trying to follow this guy's opinion is a severe disturbance.

[ApesForEvolution]

False, gutter, bottom-feeding, worthless attempt to please a dead god...

[ApesForEvolution]

You feeling ok? These are peace-loving islamotrash here you know...

[anguish]

"Whoever attacks others, spilling blood, harming the other's honour and land is a terrorist,"

I wonder if Sheikh Muhammad Sayyed Tantawi said the same when his country attacked Israel?

[patriciaruth]

Apes! Showing concern for my health? I always thought you were nondiscrinatory and disdained everyone.

[Paul Ross]

"I say to him go with peace and I wish you well. We do not prevent anyone from going to help those who are facing injustice."

Hello, Earth to Imam Tantawi: The U.S. IS helping those who face injustice. And your little fatwah is only aiding and abetting Saddam's injustice still further. Hence, you are unjust, and by the Koran need to kill yourself....

But if you insist, just as many jihadists as you can to the great Jihadi-BUG-Zapper! we have going in Iraq.

[ApesForEvolution]

"I always thought you were nondiscrinatory and disdained everyone."

Now *that* is a totally errant comment. I call'em like I see'em. That *does* take a lot of the gray out.

[patriciaruth]

We're gonna attack Borneo next. You in?

[ApesForEvolution]

I'll settle for Damascus, Tehran, a few other ME locales, Pyongyang and then sooner or later Paris.

[dighton]

"It's Saddam's fault, but kill the infidels anyway."

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

What logic they have in the ME!

OFFICIAL BUMP(TOPIC)LIST

[TexasCowboy]

"We're gonna attack Borneo next. You in?"

Yep, I'm in!
We gotta be careful of those suicide orangutans, though.
They fill up on mangoes then jump out of the canopy on unsuspecting passers-by; they blow up real good!

[Bogey78O]

To clarify:

Cleric blames Saddam... for putting Arab dictatorships in jeopardy.