During a meeting with former Lebanese Prime Minister, Fouad Al-Sanioura, Egypt’s Grand Mufti, Shawqi Allam, refused to call the Jihadist group in Iraq as the Islamic State.
Allam stated that the group does not represent Islamic values or law, state news agency MENA reported.
Allam met on Tuesday with Al-Sanioura to discuss the criminal acts of the previously known Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL) – also known as Daesh – against Iraqi Christians and others.
Allam also highlighted that their crimes are a shame to Islam and Muslims, and that regional and international cooperation is needed to fight such groups.
In mid-July, thousands of Christians in Mosul fled after the Islamic State gave them an ultimatum to convert to Islam, pay jizya (protection money), leave or risk death.
The exodus raised concern throughout the international community, and neighbouring countries began to accept the fleeing Christians as refugees.
Mosul has been under insurgent control since June, but there have been hit and run attacks by government forces and allied Kurdish peshmerga fighters.
Inl Baghdad on Wednesday, car bombs exploded in crowded markets in Shi’ite Muslim districts, killing at least 10 people, police said.
Source : Ahram online
