CIP Denounces Bombing of Egyptian Christian Church

by Irfan Al-Alawi and Stephen Schwartz
CIP
January 1, 2011

http://www.islamicpluralism.org/1691/cip-denounces-denounces-bombing-of-egyptian

The Centre for Islamic Pluralism, an international network of moderate Muslim intellectuals, journalists, ulema, and Sufi shaykhs in 25 countries and territories, firmly denounces the atrocious attack on a Christian church in Alexandria, Egypt, on New Year's Eve, December 31, 2010. According to media, 21 people were killed and more than 80 injured in a bomb explosion.

We at CIP entertain no doubt that this latest attack on Christians living in Muslim-majority lands, following the deadly campaign against local Christians by the so-called 'Islamic State of Iraq', an affiliate of Al-Qaida, represents only one feature of a general terrorist offensive. The same 'takfiris', or preachers of fundamentalism and exclusion of Shias and Sufis from Islam, are, as the whole world knows, pathological enemies of non-Muslims. In this manner, the 'takfiris', whether aligned with Saudi Wahhabism, South Asian Deobandism, or the Muslim Brotherhood, violate the sacred principles of traditional Islam, which include respect for the revelations and observances of 'People of the Book'.

CIP calls on all its members and correspondents to recite prayers for the victims in the Alexandria massacre and to add their voices to the denunciation of extremism within Islam in this and other cases.

Related Topics:  Iraq, Irfan Al-Alawi, Muslim-Christian Relations, Terrorism, Wahhabism, WahhabiWatch receive the latest by email: subscribe to the free center for islamic pluralism mailing list