Qaradawi calls on Muslims to protect Egypt’s churches

Noted Islamic cleric, Dr Yusuf Al Qaradawi, has called on prominent members of the Muslim clergy in Egypt to help protect the churches in the country which has a large Christian population, saying he suspected sinister elements might try to incite communal violence to divert attention from the anti-government demonstrations.

The scholar hinted that he suspected that to deflect attention of the people from anti-government demonstrations the vested interests in Egypt might try to incite communal frenzy. “I, therefore, urge the officials of Al Azhar [the world’s most prominent Islamic religious institution] to come out and march in their religious robes with the message that the churches in Egypt must be protected at all costs,” the scholar said.

The Peninsula, 3 February 2011