Al Azhar Grand Sheikh condemns all form of terrorism

Sheikh Muhammad Sayed Tantawi the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar mosque, who is acknowledged as the highest spiritual authority for nearly a billion Sunni Muslims, said Islam condemned terrorism in all its forms.

In a wood-panelled room in Cairo's medieval Islamic district, the sheikh said that Islam considers anyone who kills an innocent person as killing the whole of humanity.

The grand sheikh said that terrorism is aggression against innocent men, women and children, but the jihad is legitimate self-defence against injustice and oppression.

He said that prophet Muhammad told Muslims who are defending their religion not to kill women, young boys or those who were worshipping.