Al Azhar Scholar: "Shia Killing in Egypt Is Political Crime"

(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - Mustafa Al-Sawaheli, Arabic language and literature professor at Al-Azhar University, made the remark in an interview with IQNA, adding that all Egyptian citizens are facing lack of security due to government’s failure to ensure security. He underlined the sanctity of all humans’ blood no matter what their faith or religion is, saying that based on Islamic teachings, even the life of non-Muslims such as Christians, Jews and Buddhists who live in the Muslim world must be respected. Al-Sawaheli quoted a Hadith by Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) as saying that anyone who unjustly kills someone that is in Islam’s protection, will never smell the scent of Heaven. “Therefore, violating the rights of our religious brothers who have differences of opinion with us in religious matters is impermissible, let alone slaying them.” He stressed that those killing Shia citizens in Egypt have waged war against Islamic values. “The perpetrators of this crime must realize that even if someone or a group does something differing from our values and belief, it is no justification for shedding their blood.” The Al-Azhar scholar pointed to the respect for the rights of Sunni Muslims in Iran, saying that in Iran no one has the right to violate the rights of the Sunni minority and that such attitude must be seen about Shia minorities in other countries, too. He further said there is a sinister motivation behind tragedies like the Shia killing and that is fomenting discord and spreading sedition among different Islamic schools. “Such actions are not in the interest of the Muslim Ummah and those who commit them are enemies of Islam.” Al-Sawaheli stated that all Islamic centers including Al-Azhar as well as political factions in Egypt have condemned the crime and strongly oppose such actions. On Sunday, June 23, extremist Takfiri mobs attacked a house in a village in Giza province of Egypt and killed four Shia Muslims in the house including Allameh Sheikh Hassan Shehata, spiritual leader of Shia Muslims in the country.End item/ 149