IUMS denounces violence and massacres against peaceful protesters, reminds army of duty to protect all sides
All praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon God’s messenger, on his family, companions and followers:
The International Union of Muslim Scholars has followed with extreme concern, grief, and attentiveness the latest developments of incidents leading to the death and injury of large numbers of peaceful protesters in Cairo and Alexandria on June 6,7th in addition to the state of upheaval and security breakdown that additionally involved arresting over a number of Islamic leaders and sending them to jails in some other governorates. Yet the most catastrophic incident was the scene happening around dawn today July 8th outside the presidential palace and Republican Guards headquarters where a large number of over 50 persons were martyred among them a number of children, and hundreds were injured among peaceful protesters that stood by the legitimate authority and called for its return, an incident that threatens the emergence of sedition as warned in our first statement unless reasonable people and rulers fulfill their duty regarding the situation.
In light of these risks and tragedies, the union affirms the following:
1- The union condemns all acts of violence and terrorization from any side whatsoever, and particularly denounces the massacres committed outside the Republican Guard headquarters in Egypt that left behind a large number of victims in the lines of peaceful protesters, including children, and hundreds of injuries in an act of cowardice that sparks sedition and we beseech Allah to protect Egypt from its consequences.
2- The union calls on everyone to guard Allah in the souls, sanctities, and possessions prohibited by Allah and made as sacred as Mecca, as the sacred the months, and the Holy Mosque and be fearful of spilling blood for Allah has said that {if any one slew a person - unless it be for murder or for spreading mischief in the land - it would be as if he slew the whole people: and if any one saved a life, it would be as if he saved the life of the whole people.} [Quran 5:32] and that {If a man kills a believer intentionally, his recompense is Hell, to abide therein (For ever): And the wrath and the curse of Allah are upon him, and a dreadful penalty is prepared for him.} [Quran 4:93] and as many hadiths indicate that a believer’s life is more sacred than the Holy Kaaba and that (A believer is in a space of his religion unless they spill a prohibited blood). So we demand everyone: the police, army, and protesters to adhere to the peacefulness of protests, prevents corruptors, infiltrators, and thugs from spoiling the atmosphere of democracy and peacefulness as this is the particular responsibility of the army, security, police as it is the duty of every Muslim and every citizen in general.
3- The union calls the great Egyptian people, especially the revolutionaries that united around the goals of the Jan 25 revolution to unite around these goals, protect their revolution, its great gains, democracy and eliminate injustice, corruption, and tyranny in respect of the blood of martyrs and the sacrifices of honorable people among Egyptians who sacrificed for the sake of freedom, dignity, justice and stability.
4- The union demands reasonable and wise figures to intervene immediately to bring back the legitimate authority, and protect Egypt from implicit and explicit seditions. The union also calls all free people in the world and those who defend the values of freedom, democracy, and constitutional life to intervene peacefully and positively to protect common human values, return rights to their legitimate owners, and respect the will of the Egyptian people which was expressed twice: once by electing the president, and another by approving the constitution in a two-third majority vote. But if the will of the people is disregarded, then what good is left and what supposed interest is being sided with?!
It is illogical to demand the national coalition for supporting the legitimacy to return to their homes and mosques while they call for the return of the legitimacy and respect of the will of the great Egyptian people but refrain from asking others to return to the truth and legitimacy.
5- The union values the stances of countries that stood by the legitimacy and backed it, particularly at this critical stage. The union wishes that all democratic, free, peace-loving nations of the world will deal with the issue of constitutional legitimacy in Egypt according to principles of transparency, loyalty, and honesty away from double standards and selectivity.
6- The union warns the states and nations of the region from the dangers of remaining silent and casting a blind eye to the violation of constitutional legitimacy and toppling it as a military coup against the constitutional and electoral legitimate authority is dangerous antecedent that can threaten the security and stability of the region.
7- The union emphasizes the right to fair political participation by all sides and political powers without exclusion or marginalization to any of these social powers. Egypt belongs to all Egyptians with their different religions, affiliations and political inclinations.
8- The union calls all political powers in Egypt, with all their constituents and different ideologies to make use of the bitter experiences undergone, forsake exclusivist political paths to build a future Egypt and achieve the aspirations of the great Egyptian people in a way that preserves for Egypt its power and dignity, and its central role in leading the Arab and Muslim nation since the power of any country lies in the power of all its constituents.
9- Despite the abovementioned, the union maintains a conviction that there can be no substitute for large-scale social dialogue where all sides participate and all shades take part in formulating its results to take Egypt out of the bottleneck and blocked horizon that doesn’t serve anyone’s best interest. Mutual compromises and overcoming personal and category-based interests are among the main foundations for solving problems and dilemmas away from the spirit of exclusiveness and revenge.
Finally, in case of willingness to show such a sublime spirit of sacrifice and giving for the sake of restoring legitimacy and achieving reconciliation in application of the well-known verses and hadiths, the union is ready to act as a mediator in following God’s words { In most of their secret talks there is no good: But if one exhorts to a deed of charity or justice or conciliation between men, (Secrecy is permissible): To him who does this, seeking the good pleasure of Allah, We shall soon give a reward of the highest (value).} [Quran 14:114].
10- The union urges all honorable brothers that stood by the legitimacy, of Islamists and other players on the political scene in Egypt – to adhere to the peacefulness of protests, and prevent infiltrators from stirring sedition.
We have no doubt that Allah will defend His soldiers and religion, and he establishes the truth and falsifies falsehood but there’s an ordained time and arrangement for every incident and it is another great trial after which comes soon victory, God wills it.
{And Allah has full power over His affairs, but most among mankind know it not}
Doha on: 29 Shaaban, 1434 H
Dated: 8 July, 2013
Dr. Ali Al-Qaradaghi Dr. Yusuf Al-Qaradawi
IUMS Secretary General IUMS President