Al-Azhar's Grand Imam Ahmed El-Tayyeb said on Monday that a joint meeting between Sunni and Shia scholars is only possible if the latter issue clear religious edicts from major references in Iran and Iraq that prohibit insults of the prophet's companions and spouses.
He also called for an end to what he said were attempts to spread the Shia doctrine in Sunni states.
His comments came during a meeting with Iraqi Vice President Khodair Al-Khozaei, who said he is certain that Al-Azhar is capable of uniting the Muslim world.
On the one hand what he said as a precondition for talks between Shia and Sunni scholars seems ridiculous, because their Sunni governments had done, and always do, cruel things against Shia minority in their countries. What they have done in their country is not simply insulting Shia, but they are killing, arresting and torturing Shia scholars and deporting them from their country.
From the other hand Shia major references, especially in recent years, have always shown their strong desire to create unity among all Muslims by issuing clear religious edicts against insulting any prophet's companions and spouses. Imam Khamenei and other Shia major references in Iran already have played their role in this field and now it is Sunni scholar's turn to adopt their tough stance on the state terrorism against Shias.
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Source: ABNA