Dar Al-Ifta, the top Islamic authority in Egypt, revered by many Muslims worldwide, launched an Internet-based campaign on Sunday, challenging an extremist group in Syria and Iraq by saying it should not be called an “Islamic State.”

The campaign by the Dar Al-Ifta, seen as one of the world’s foremost authorities advising Muslims on spiritual and life issues, adds to the war of words by Muslim leaders across the world targeting the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), which controls wide swaths of both countries. Its violent attacks, including mass shootings, the destruction of Shi’ite shrines, the targeting of minorities, and beheadings—including American journalist James Foley—have shocked Muslims and non-Muslims alike.

The Grand Mufti of Egypt, Shawki Allam, previously said the extremists violate all Islamic principles and laws and described the group as a danger to Islam as a whole.

Egypt’s President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi also weighed in. On Sunday, speaking to editors of Egyptian newspapers, he said the extremist group is part of a plot aiming to “undermine Islam as a belief.”

He said the current religious discourse in the region only feeds “minds that believe that killing and bloodshed is the way to defend Islam,” in comments carried by MENA.

The Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia, Sheik Abdul-Aziz Al-Sheik, had also called the group Islam’s No. 1 enemy.

The world’s largest bloc of Islamic nations, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, said Saturday that the actions of the group, including Foley’s beheading as well as the targeting of minorities, have nothing to do with the values of Islam.
   »»» ASHARQ AL-AWSAT

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