Egypt's pro-unity Sunni scholars banned by al-Azhar from being interviewed

Rasa – Several senior scholars from Egypt’s renowned Sunni institution, al-Azhar University, have issued a statement claiming the university has banned them from being interviewed for their open support for Islamic unity.

News ID: 2300

Date: 07 April 2015 - 21:36

RNA – Several senior scholars from Egypt’s renowned Sunni institution, al-Azhar University, have issued a statement accusing the university of prohibiting them from giving interviews due to their support for Islamic unity.

The statement explained that several al-Azhar’s scholars, including Dr Ahmad Mahmoud Karimah, a professor of Shari’ah and Islamic Studies; Sa’duddin al-Hilali, a professor of contemporary jurisprudence; Sabri Abdul-Raouf, a professor of contemporary jurisprudence; and Aminah Nasir, a professor of philosophy and theology, are not allowed to speak to the media.

Sources say, due to Dr Karimah’s visit to the Islamic Republic of Iran and meeting with several Shi’ite sources of emulation was the cause of a wave of criticism in al-Azhar. Professor al-Hilali is another scholar who has sought Islamic unity and was present at several conferences held in Iran.

In response to al-Azhar’s actions, Dr Karimah responded by saying that al-Azhar prohibited him from speaking to the media because he did not announce that Shi’ites were infidels nor did he criticize them.

The Egyptian Sunni scholar stated that for several years, reformists and intellectuals have expressed their opinions about the activities and growth of extremism in al-Azhar University only to be pushed aside.

Dr Karimah denied all the accusations brought against him, calling them false lies.

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