Middle East Newsline


Related to the below story, also via LGF


Al Azhar is a prominent Sunni Muslim school and sponsored by our friends in the Egyptian government.

CAIRO [MENL] -- The most prominent Sunni Muslim seminary, sponsored by the Egyptian government, has called for holy war against the United States and its allies.


The Cairo-based Al Azhar seminary issued a ruling on Monday that called on Muslims to wage a "jihad," or holy war against the United States and allied forces that participate in the war against Iraq. The seminary said all Muslims are required by their religion to join the jihad once the United States attacks Baghdad. The communique referred to the United States as the crusader.


"The jihad against the crusader forces is a commandment on all Muslims should the foreign forces begin hostilities," Al Azhar's Supreme Council said in the ruling.


The communique was the most explicit call by Al Azhar for Muslims to attack U.S. interests throughout the Middle East. For months, Al Azhar and its spiritual leader, Mohammed Sid Tantawi, had remained silent on the issue of a Muslim response to a U.S. war against Iraq.