Algerian scholars call on Egypt's mufti not to approve death sentences

The Algerian Muslim Scholars Association, the largest Islamic scholarly body in the country, called on Egypt’s mufti and the grand shaikh of Al-Azhar on Tuesday not to approve the death sentences issued against the political opponents of the regime in Cairo, Anadolu has reported. As an alternative to death sentences, the association called for the two main Islamic authorities in Egypt to engage in comprehensive dialogue with all political opponents.

“We call upon you, honoured people, asking you not to be involved in the approval or remain silent towards the bloodshed of Muslims, whatever their ideologies are,” the Algerian scholars said in their statement. “Executing people of different ideologies, such as Grand Shaikh Yousef Al-Qaradawi and Dr Mohamed Morsi, the first ever freely-elected Egyptian president, will lead to more violence in Egypt. Bloodshed leads nowhere except to more bloodshed.”

The association noted that the statement addressed Egyptian scholars in general but the grand shaikh and mufti in particular. It called for all Egyptian and other Muslim scholars to take a united stance in calling for comprehensive dialogue in Egypt.

Egypt’s Criminal Court issued life sentences and the death penalty to a wide range of Muslim Brotherhood leaders and members recently, including those in exile, many of whom are the core of Muslim scholars in various Arab countries. The death penalties have to be approved by the mufti before those sentenced can be executed.