INSTITUTE FOR THE STUDY OF ISLAM AND CHRISTIANITY

5 November 2002

For Immediate Release

The Jews: “Enemies of Allah, descendants of Pigs and Apes.” Islamic Religious Leader’s Outrageous Statements Make Mockery of Joint Muslim/Christian Dialogue Initiative

Muhammad Sayyid Al-Tantawi, the Sheikh of Egypt’s influential al-Azhar University and one of the most significant Sunni Muslim religious leaders in the world, described Jews as “the enemies of Allah, descendants of pigs and apes” in a weekly sermon in April 2002 according to a report just released by the Middle East Media Research Institute.

During the same month a website linked to al-Azhar reported that Tantawi “confirmed that any suicide attack against an Israeli, whether child, woman or youth, is a legitimate act and an Islamic duty until the Palestinian people reclaim their land and repel the unjust Israeli aggression” and “demanded that all sections of the Palestinian people increase suicide attacks against the Zionist aggression.”

In January Sheikh Tantawi signed a historic agreement with Anglican Archbishop Dr George Carey at Lambeth Palace in London instituting a Joint Committee between the two institutions and establishing a formal programme of dialogue at the highest level between Anglican Christians and Sunni Muslims. Sheikh Tantawi’s role in the meeting was significant as he is widely seen as the nearest thing that the greatly diverse Sunni Muslim community (which accounts for approximately 90% of the world’s Muslims) has to a supreme authority or figurehead.

In the historic agreement the al-Azhar and the Anglican Communion pledged to “encourage religious leaders to use their influence for the purpose of reconciliation and peace making” and to “work together against injustice and the abuse of human rights among different nationalities.” However, Sheikh Tantawi’s comments in April only three months later have made a mockery of these ambitious aims. Although his comments were made at a time of significant concern for the rights and freedoms of the Palestinian community at the height of Israeli occupation of the West Bank, nevertheless Tantawi’s words are still indefensible. Far from promoting “human rights” and “reconciliation” Sheikh Tantawi appears to have been engaging in the worst kind of racism and incitement to hatred and violence.

Tantawi’s comments describing the Jews as “sons of pigs and apes” are drawn directly from classical Islamic tradition which interprets the Qur’anic verses 5:63, 2:65 and 7:166 as applying to all Jews. Islamic tradition holds that groups of Jews were transformed into pigs and apes as punishment for refusing to accept Islamic teaching. The tradition dehumanises the Jewish people and as a natural result makes harsh treatments of them more acceptable.

In January 2002 several Christian evangelicals expressed concern that in their desire to see good and harmonious relationships between Christians and Muslims (an excellent and laudable aim in itself) Anglican leaders involved in the dialogue process may be tempted to turn a blind eye to uncomfortable facts such as the persecution of Christians in many Islamic countries. Now, when this kind of language can be indulged in, not by a militant, a fanatic or an extremist, but by one of the most significant religious leaders of mainstream Islam and a signatory of the Lambeth agreement, apparently without exciting any sort of discussion or condemnation from the other parties, it seems that these fears have been justified.

At a recent symposium held in Cairo by the Egyptian Writers’ Association Ahmad Abd Al-M’uti Higazi, the Egyptian poet and intellectual, was deeply critical of al-Azhar and Sheikh Tantawi arguing that far from promoting moderation and tolerance they are “producing terrorism”. In one recent article he argued that by promoting a literalist fundamental interpretation of the Qur’an they are serving “only to root the principle of quote-hear-obey” and that “They kill creativity and lead to the atrophy of the Arab mind” rather than opening the door for more modern liberal interpretations of traditional Islamic teaching.

Commenting on these recent developments Patrick Sookhdeo, International Director of the Institute for the Study of Islam and Christianity, said “Sheikh Tantawi’s statements are clearly outrageous and indefensible. It is right that dialogue takes place, but such dialogue must be a two-way process. It cannot allow for language which incites hatred or demonises those it disagrees with.” Referring to the comments of Ahmad Abd Al-M’uti Higazi and other similar Arab intellectuals and liberals he said “It is clear that there are those who are interested in being involved in a genuine dialogue. What Anglican leaders must ask themselves is whether the partners with whom they are dialoguing are the right ones.”

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Notes for Editors

The Institute for the Study of Islam and Christianity (ISIC) is the educational arm of BARNABAS FUND