Cairo: The head of Al Azhar, one of the most prestigious centres of Sunni Islamic learning, on Wednesday condemned “barbaric crimes” committed by Daesh in Iraq and Syria.
Militants are acting “under the guise of this holy religion and have given themselves the name ‘Islamic State’ in an attempt to export their false Islam,” Shaikh Ahmad Al Tayyeb told the opening session of a two-day international conference in Cairo on fighting extremism.
“I wonder and ask why this blind division exists that has tainted Arab blood,” Shaikh Al Tayyeb said, adding that religious, political and economic factors were behind the emergence of groups such as Daesh.
But “some feel that our suffering is also a plot by Israel so it remains the most powerful country in the region, and that possibility cannot be excluded”, he said.
Shaikh Al Tayyeb called on the US-led coalition that is fighting Daesh “to confront those countries who support terrorism financially and militarily”.
“But we should not ignore our own responsibility for the emergence of extremism that has led to the formation of organisations such as Al Qaida and other armed groups.”
The United States launched its first air strikes against Daesh in Iraq in August, and in late September extended the campaign to Daesh targets in Syria, joined by aircraft from several Arab allies.
The Cairo conference, organised by Al Azhar, has delegates from several countries including Saudi Arabia, Iran and Morocco taking part.
