Meeting of the Committee on Foreign Affairs&nbsp;with Shawki Ibrahim Abdel-Karim ALLAM, Grand Mufti of Egypt, in the EP in Brussels. Statements by Abdel-Karim ALLAM, Grand Mufti of Egypt, Alojz PETERLE (EPP, SI) and Ana GOMES (S&amp;D, PT)

Committee on Foreign Affairs

Brussels

exchange of views

meeting

EU - Egypt (T)

GOMES, Ana (S&D, PT)

ALLAM, Shawki Ibrahim Abdel-Karim (EG)

PETERLE, Alojz (EPP, SI)

Exchange of views with Shawki Ibrahim Abdel-Karim ALLAM, Grand Mufti of Egypt: extracts from the meeting of the Committee on Foreign Affairs

Arrival and welcome of Abdel-Karim ALLAM, Grand Mufti of Egypt , (1 shot)

SOUNDBITE (Arabic), Abdel-Karim ALLAM, Grand Mufti of Egypt , It is impossible to find the words to talk about the attacks that took place this morning; we are extremely dismayed and distressed. And unfortunately I cannot find adequate words to express my feelings, because the terrorist attacks that took place today are causing suffering not only those in Belgium today.

SOUNDBITE (Arabic), Abdel-Karim ALLAM, Grand Mufti of Egypt , And that is why we have to pull together and it is now time to us to work hand in hand, to work together so today is the right time to re-commit, to working together and to dismantle terrorist networks now more than ever.

SOUNDBITE (Arabic), Abdel-Karim ALLAM, Grand Mufti of Egypt , Egypt has been a leader sending warning to terrorism at all levels and we continue to deploy all our efforts to dismantle terrorism intellectually and on religious basis as well.

SOUNDBITE (Arabic), Abdel-Karim ALLAM, Grand Mufti of Egypt, We have created an observatory in order to tackle these misinterpretations of Islam and in order counter these messages (of Daesh ) by using sights, by using the correct interpretation. We have set up a specialist centre dedicated combatting the propaganda on these misinterpretations.

SOUNDBITE (English), Alojz PETERLE (EPP, SI), Those who misuse religion don't like dialogue and they don't follow 'Darul-ifta'. This is one more reason for us to develop Interreligious and inter-cultural dialogue. You mentioned the differences between Islam and some other religions, as far as doctrine is concerned. I think it is very important that dialogue is continued within Islam itself.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ana GOMES (S&amp;D, PT), My colleague has referred to the Sunni -Shia divide that we see also being at the heart of many of the problems in your region of world but of course in our own region. There is a Sunni-Sunni divide and we see that frightens in your neighbouring country Libya and possible in your own Egypt. Because frightens in Libya we see Egypt, Saudi Arabia, The Emirates supporting one party against another party Turkey and Qatar and probably a lot of that has to do with the conflict in Egypt itself.

SOUNDBITE (Arabic), Abdel-Karim ALLAM, Grand Mufti of Egypt , Thank you very much for your words of support when you said that you would understand the difficult times which Egypt is currently experiencing. Let me say that the entire Muslim world, in fact the whole world is suffering; suffering does not know borders or frontiers which affect all of us and it requires on the part of all of us that we bring to bear solidarity in order of us to cooperate combating terrorism.