Cairo: The top Islamic authority in Egypt, revered by many Muslims worldwide, launched an Internet-based campaign yesterday challenging an extremist group in Syria and Iraq by saying it should not be called an “Islamic State.”
The campaign by the Dar Al Ifta, the top authority that advises Muslims on spiritual and life issues, adds to the war of words by Muslim leaders across the world targeting the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (Isil) group, which controls wide swaths of Iraq and Syria. Its violent attacks, including mass shootings, destroying Shiite shrines, targeting minorities and beheadings including American journalist James Foley, have shocked Muslims and non-Muslims alike.
The Grand Mufti of Egypt, Shawki Allam, previously said the extremists violate all Islamic principles and laws and described the group as a danger to Islam as a whole. Now, the Dar Al Ifta authority he oversees will suggest foreign media drop using ‘Isil’ in favour of the ‘Al Qaida Separatists in Iraq and Syria,’ or the acronym ‘QSIS,’ said Ebrahim Nejm, an adviser to the mufti.
This is part of a campaign that “primarily aims to correct the image of Islam that has been tarnished in the West because of these criminal acts, and to exonerate humanity from such crimes that defy natural instincts and spreads hate between people,” Nejm was quoted as saying by Egypt’s state news agency Mena. “We also want to reaffirm that all Muslims are against these practices which violate the tolerate principles of Islam.”
Social media campaign
Nejm said the Internet and social media campaign will include opinions by Islamic scholars from around the world about the group and its claims to represent Islam. It also will include a hashtag campaign on Twitter and videos from Muslims denouncing the group and its methods.
The campaign comes as the Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia, Shaikh Abdul Aziz Al Shaikh, also has called the group Islam’s No. 1 enemy.
Muslims around the world have battled against the backlash that followed the rise of Al Qaida and the September 11, 2001, terror attacks in the US. Scholars and activists groups have sought for years to disassociate themselves from militants touting their own extremist versions.
They say the Isil group is another, one that appears more ambitious and aggressive than Al Qaida.
The Isil group has a sophisticated media and Internet-based campaign that has drawn in foreign fighters, which may explain why Islamic scholars chose to adopt a similar approach. But it’s unclear how successful this latest push against the group will be.
Dar Al Ifta is famed among scholars of Islamic jurisprudence and has offered training to many Muslims from around the world since the late 1800s. But its opinions are advisory and are often viewed as too close to official Egyptian government positions.
