Al-Azhar Grand Imam statements in US Congress
A Congressman Joseph Pettis, republican from Pennsylvania quoted extracts from the statements of Al-Azhar Grand Imam Mohamed Sayed Tantawi during a session for discussing US Foreign Policy. The Congressman said that Tantawi rejected the Jihad for which Osama Bin Laden calls against US.
The Congressmen pointed out to Tantawi saying that Jihad is non-binding to Moslems and that Islam rejects terrorism. He also highlighted Tantawi saying that killing innocent people is a heinous act not approved by religion.
This is considered the first time when statements by Ulema are quoted inside the Congress. Pettis is considered one of the most prominent republicans who supports freedom of religion.
He had said before the Congressmen that the war launched by US against terrorism is not a war between the west and East or a war against Islam.
