Mufti claims insults against Azhar threaten Egypt security
Egypt's Grand Mufti Shawky Allam claimed in a statement Monday that insults against Al-Azhar and it's grand sheikh are a threat to national security and urged the Foreign Affairs Ministry to take all necessary action against those who insult the institution.
The statement, reported by state news agency MENA, came as a reaction to inflammatory remarks by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan against Al-Azhar Grand Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayyeb, who the Turkish leader slammed for supporting the "military coup" against deposed president Mohamed Morsi.
"I was shocked when I saw the support of al-Tayyeb for the military coup. How could you do that? [This is the end] of the grand sheikh of Al-Azhar," Erdogan was quoted as saying by Turkish newspaper Today Zaman.
"History will curse the grand sheikh of Al-Azhar and those like him, as similar sheikhs were cursed in Turkey before," he added.
Allam said in his response that Egyptians acknowledge the historical role played by Al-Azhar, which represents a frame of reference for all Egyptians and the entire Islamic world, adding that the role played Tayyeb to serve the nation and Islam should be highly appreciated.
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