RNA - The head of Al-Azhar, one of the most prestigious centres of Sunni Islam learning, on Wednesday condemned "barbaric crimes" committed by the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria.
He said that the Takfiri terrorists plan to portray a false image of Islam, adding that they are acting “under the guise of this holy religion and have given themselves the name ‘Islamic State’ in an attempt to export their false Islam.”
He referred to religious, political and economic factors as the causes of the emergence of the terrorist group
"But we should not ignore our own responsibility for the emergence of extremism that has led to the formation of organisations such as Al-Qaeda and other armed groups."
“I wonder and ask why this blind division exists that has tainted Arab blood,” Sheikh Tayeb said.
Sheikh Tayeb called on the US-led coalition that is fighting IS "to confront those countries who support terrorism financially and militarily".
Delegates from several countries, including Iran, Saudi Arabia and Morocco, have participated in the conference.
The US-led coalition has launched hundreds of airstrikes against the ISIL militants in Iraq and Syria. Many of the countries joining the anti-ISIL coalition, such as Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar, have been staunch supporters of the ISIL elements in the Middle East.
The ISIL terrorists control large parts of Syria and Iraq. They have committed heinous crimes such as beheading and mass execution of people in the areas under their occupation.
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