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GOVERNMENT, RELIGIOUS FIGURES IN EGYPT RESPOND TO ERDOGAN'S CRITICISM OF SHEIKH
Today's Zaman, Turkey
Aug 28 2013
28 August 2013 /TODAY'S ZAMAN, İSTANBUL The Egyptian interim prime
minister and Ministry of Foreign Affairs as well as religious figures
from the most populous Arab nation have denounced remarks by Turkish
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan earlier this week that slammed
the country's leading Islamic cleric for endorsing the military coup
in Egypt.
Speaking at a university in the northern province of Rize on Sunday,
Erdogan said he was disappointed by Grand Sheikh of Al-Azhar University
Ahmet el-Tayeb's endorsement of the coup by backing an army-sponsored
roadmap on July 3 that removed President Mohammed Morsi, suspended
the constitution and called for early presidential and parliamentary
elections.
"How could you ever do it?" Erdogan asked. "That scholar [the Al-Azhar
sheikh] is finished. History will curse men like him as history cursed
similar scholars in Turkey before."
Erdogan's remarks were denounced by Egyptian interim Prime Minister
Hazem el-Beblawi, who in a statement on Tuesday said the grand
imam holds great value for Egypt and the Islamic and Arab worlds. He
underlined that the imam heads "one of the largest Islamic institutions
of the world, which works to spread Islam's accurate tolerant
teachings," the Egyptian al-Ahram daily reported Beblawi as saying.
Beblawi said in the statement that el-Tayeb has played a "national
role" in his efforts for Egypt and the country's greater good.
Also on Tuesday, Coptic Orthodox Pope Tawadros II in Egypt telephoned
el-Tayeb, denouncing Erdogan's remarks about the sheikh, the Egyptian
state Middle East News Agency (MENA) reported.
Tawadros' secretary, Father Angelos Issac, said the pope condemned
"foreign interference in Egypt's domestic affairs," saying that
"both the Church and Al-Azhar need to support the Egyptian people,
army and police in the great 30 June revolution."
Al-Azhar and the Coptic Church endorsed the July 3 military coup
in Egypt.
According to a news report on MENA, presidential media advisor Ahmed
El-Muslimani also criticized Erdogan, saying after a meeting with
the grand sheikh of Al-Azhar on Tuesday that it is time to tell the
"Turks and their likes" that "tolerance and moderation are the basis
for any renaissance."
The Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs called attacks on Egypt's
Islamic institution an "insult to all Egyptians."
A statement issued by the ministry on Monday said it condemns Erdogan's
"continuous profaning of the Egyptian state's institutions, against
the backdrop of his support for the Muslim Brotherhood," Ahram Online
reported.
The statement said Erdogan's remarks raised doubts about "the
significance and motives" behind Turkish officials' continuous rebuke
of the Egyptian army.
"The foreign ministry calls on religious clerics in Turkey and the
world to address these abuses and respond firmly and decisively
in order to preserve the status of Al-Azhar, which is a beacon of
tolerant and moderate Islam," said the statement.
Similarly on Monday, Egyptian Grand Mufti Shawqi Allam called on
Egyptian officials to respond to everyone who insults the Islamic
institution and its grand imam, saying that any insult to Al-Azhar
is considered a "national security threat."
AK Party deputy Bal says Turkey should not lose Egypt
Deputy İdris Bal of the ruling Justice and Development (AK Party)
warned Turkey in a report he prepared about the recent developments in
Egypt about its foreign policy on that country, saying that Ankara's
stance could cost the country to lose the most populous Arab nation.
Noting that it is natural for Turkey to criticize the July 3 military
coup in Egypt, the deputy warned that Ankara should still be careful
about its moves regarding Egypt. "As our relations with Iran, Iraq,
Syria, Israel, Armenia and Greece are already strained, we should not
add Egypt to the list of countries with which Turkey has problems. We
should be careful," warned Bal.
He added that if Turkey loses its relationship with Egypt, it will
have to face economic and political repercussions in addition to the
impact this would have on Turkish security.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
Today's Zaman, Turkey
Aug 28 2013
28 August 2013 /TODAY'S ZAMAN, İSTANBUL The Egyptian interim prime
minister and Ministry of Foreign Affairs as well as religious figures
from the most populous Arab nation have denounced remarks by Turkish
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan earlier this week that slammed
the country's leading Islamic cleric for endorsing the military coup
in Egypt.
Speaking at a university in the northern province of Rize on Sunday,
Erdogan said he was disappointed by Grand Sheikh of Al-Azhar University
Ahmet el-Tayeb's endorsement of the coup by backing an army-sponsored
roadmap on July 3 that removed President Mohammed Morsi, suspended
the constitution and called for early presidential and parliamentary
elections.
"How could you ever do it?" Erdogan asked. "That scholar [the Al-Azhar
sheikh] is finished. History will curse men like him as history cursed
similar scholars in Turkey before."
Erdogan's remarks were denounced by Egyptian interim Prime Minister
Hazem el-Beblawi, who in a statement on Tuesday said the grand
imam holds great value for Egypt and the Islamic and Arab worlds. He
underlined that the imam heads "one of the largest Islamic institutions
of the world, which works to spread Islam's accurate tolerant
teachings," the Egyptian al-Ahram daily reported Beblawi as saying.
Beblawi said in the statement that el-Tayeb has played a "national
role" in his efforts for Egypt and the country's greater good.
Also on Tuesday, Coptic Orthodox Pope Tawadros II in Egypt telephoned
el-Tayeb, denouncing Erdogan's remarks about the sheikh, the Egyptian
state Middle East News Agency (MENA) reported.
Tawadros' secretary, Father Angelos Issac, said the pope condemned
"foreign interference in Egypt's domestic affairs," saying that
"both the Church and Al-Azhar need to support the Egyptian people,
army and police in the great 30 June revolution."
Al-Azhar and the Coptic Church endorsed the July 3 military coup
in Egypt.
According to a news report on MENA, presidential media advisor Ahmed
El-Muslimani also criticized Erdogan, saying after a meeting with
the grand sheikh of Al-Azhar on Tuesday that it is time to tell the
"Turks and their likes" that "tolerance and moderation are the basis
for any renaissance."
The Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs called attacks on Egypt's
Islamic institution an "insult to all Egyptians."
A statement issued by the ministry on Monday said it condemns Erdogan's
"continuous profaning of the Egyptian state's institutions, against
the backdrop of his support for the Muslim Brotherhood," Ahram Online
reported.
The statement said Erdogan's remarks raised doubts about "the
significance and motives" behind Turkish officials' continuous rebuke
of the Egyptian army.
"The foreign ministry calls on religious clerics in Turkey and the
world to address these abuses and respond firmly and decisively
in order to preserve the status of Al-Azhar, which is a beacon of
tolerant and moderate Islam," said the statement.
Similarly on Monday, Egyptian Grand Mufti Shawqi Allam called on
Egyptian officials to respond to everyone who insults the Islamic
institution and its grand imam, saying that any insult to Al-Azhar
is considered a "national security threat."
AK Party deputy Bal says Turkey should not lose Egypt
Deputy İdris Bal of the ruling Justice and Development (AK Party)
warned Turkey in a report he prepared about the recent developments in
Egypt about its foreign policy on that country, saying that Ankara's
stance could cost the country to lose the most populous Arab nation.
Noting that it is natural for Turkey to criticize the July 3 military
coup in Egypt, the deputy warned that Ankara should still be careful
about its moves regarding Egypt. "As our relations with Iran, Iraq,
Syria, Israel, Armenia and Greece are already strained, we should not
add Egypt to the list of countries with which Turkey has problems. We
should be careful," warned Bal.
He added that if Turkey loses its relationship with Egypt, it will
have to face economic and political repercussions in addition to the
impact this would have on Turkish security.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress