30 October 2001

Lawmaker Says Grand Shaykh of Al-Azhar in Egypt Condemns bin Laden

One of the leading exponents of freedom of religion in the House of Representatives is quoting one Islam's most noted authorities to condemn the terrorist actions of Usama bin Laden's al-Qaida organization and the Taliban regime in Afghanistan that supports him.

Representative Joseph Pitts (Republican of Pennsylvania) in an October 30 speech to the House of Representatives quoted the Grand Shaykh of Al-Azhar in Egypt, whom he referred to as "the highest and most respected Islamic authority in the world," on the types of acts forbidden by the Koran.

Shaykh Tantawi has stated that the Koran "specifically forbids the kinds of things the Taliban and al-Qaida are guilty of," Pitts said.

Shaykh Tantawi, Pitts continued, has said that the "jihad" Usama bin Laden has called for against America "is invalid and not binding on Muslims."

Pitts quoted the Grand Shaykh as saying, "Islam rejects all of these acts." The Shaykh added that terrorism is un-Islamic, Pitts said.

"Killing innocent civilians is a horrific, hideous act that no religion can approve," Pitts quoted the religious leader as saying.

Pitts is a member of the Helsinki Commission, the arm of Congress that participates in the international human rights group known as the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe.

The Pennsylvania lawmaker also belongs to the Human Rights Caucus, and in 1997 he founded the Religious Prisoners Congressional Task Force to advocate for prisoners of conscience.

Pitts writes on his congressional website that "even in the 21st century, Christians, Jews, Muslims, and Buddhists are all still oppressed in many places."

The Congressman, a member of the House International Relations Committee, has held hearings on religious persecution in various lands and, according to his website, frequently writes letters to presidents, visits with ambassadors, and travels to foreign countries "to spread the idea that men and women should be free to believe and worship according to their convictions."

Following is the text of Pitts' October 30 speech from the Congressional Record:

Mr. PITTS. Mr. Speaker, since September 11, we in Congress have joined the President in making clear that this is not a war between the West and the East or a war against Islam. This is not a war between America and Afghanistan. In fact, we are doing as much as we can right now to help the people of Afghanistan. This is a war between all civilized nations and the barbaric terrorists and those who harbor them.

Just a few days ago, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, the highest and most respected Islamic authority in the world, who resides in Egypt, also made this clear. The Grand Imam said that the Koran specifically forbids the kinds of things the Taliban and al-Qaida are guilty of. He said the jihad Usama bin Laden has called for against America is invalid and not binding on Muslims. He said that "Islam rejects all of these acts." He called terrorism un-Islamic. In fact, he says, "Killing innocent civilians is a horrific, hideous act that no religion can approve."

Mr. Speaker, this war may take a long time to win, but we will win it and the world will remain united against terrorism and removing evil terrorists like Usama bin Laden from the caves where they hide.