Egypt's mufti condemns Islamic State as criminal group

The Grand Mufti of Egypt Shawqy Ibrahim Abdulkareem Allam, Monday condemned the Islamic State (IS) as a terrorist and criminal group which in no way represent Islam.
Speaking at the Foreign Affairs Committee of the European Parliament this evening he said the name "Islamic State" of the group is a misnomer and stressed that Islam does not endorse violent acts and expulsion of people from their homes.
"IS is carrying out activities which are alien to Islam. They don't represent Islam in any way," underlined the mufti.
Allam said that only the ulema (Islamic scholars) should have the right to speak in the name of Islam.
"Islam needs to reconcile the religious reality and the reality of the modern life. And that is extremely urgent for us," he said.
The Egyptian Mufti called for a new form of cooperation and serious dialogue with the West on cultural, economic and political relations, "so we can find a common ground between ourselves.
"We need to accept and respect the differences in our values," he said.
Allam replied to a number of questions posed by the members of the EP committee on various issues such as the death sentence against members of the Muslim Brotherhood, women and human rights in Egypt and the situation of the Copts. (end) nk.bs