The Vatican called on Muslim leaders to condemn “without any ambiguity” the brutality of jihadists of the Islamic State of Iraq “that no cause, and certainly no religion, could justify.” Dalil Boubakeur, the rector of the Great Mosque of Paris, responded.
The Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue highlighted in a statement that the situation of Christians and members of the Yazidi community requires “a clear and courageous position on the part of religious leaders, especially Muslims.” It stated: “Everyone must unanimously and unambiguously condemn these crimes and denounce the use of religion to justify them.”
Echoing the Vatican, the Great Mufti Chawki Allam, who represents the highest religious authority in Egypt, stated that the Islamic State is “an extremist and bloodthirsty group and is a danger to Islam and Muslims, tarnishing their image, shedding blood and spreading corruption.”
Boubakeur also responded: “I hope that Muslim countries can leave behind their hesitation and cold indifference concerning the massacres of Christians and of Yazidis. It’s a case where Muslims must not be silent, it’s my personal belief.” According to Boubakeur, “Muslims are still not in a phase where they express themselves, they are in situations that may explain, but not excuse, their relative lack of expression about the work of radicals.”
