Lebanon’s Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdel-Latif Derian blasted jihadi militant groups which he said were carrying out crimes against humanity and are not related whatsoever to Islam which is based on mercy and respect for human dignity.
In comments he made to Lebanese expatriates in Egypt, published Thursday, Derian said, “terrorism is infiltrating the world under the pretext of religion, while Islam is free of any criminal act against the human being.”
“The actions carried out by certain (militant) groups, undermining human dignity, freedoms and rights are not related to Islam in anyway, but are sheer terrorist and radical acts,” Derian said, stressing that Islam “is the religion of mercy and tolerance.”
The cleric, who represents the highest religious Sunni authority in Lebanon, also emphasized that dialogue was the only suitable means for settling inter-Lebanese divisions.
“(Political) matters in Lebanon could only be settled through dialogue which we support and hope it would lead to electing a new president of the republic, reactivating state institutions, and safeguarding Lebanon’s stability and sovereignty,” Derian said.
Derian is on an official visit to Egypt, during which he had met the Egyptian Mufti Sheikh Shawki Allam to discuss cooperation between them in order to encourage religious moderation and tolerance.
