Hereford Diocese

SHEIKH MUHAMMAD SAYYED TANTAWI, GRAND IMAM OF AL-AZHAR, AND HIS CONTRADICTORY STATEMENTS ON SUICIDE ATTACKS
Sayyid Tantawi, who had been Grand Mufti of Egypt since 1986, became Grand Imam of al-Azhar University in Cairo on 17 March 1996. Al-Azhar is the most respected Sunni centre of religious scholarship, and its Grand Imam is seen as the highest spiritual authority by most Sunnis worldwide.

Egyptian critics claim that as Mufti, Tantawi's views tended to echo those of the government, issuing fatwas that often contradicted those issued by al-Azhar. They also allege that since he became Sheikh of al-Azhar, he has wavered between his former line as Mufti and a new al-Azhar line. He is obviously under pressure from various sides, including the Egyptian government, al-Azhar scholars, Islamists and the non-Muslim world. As a result his statements are often seen as contradictory and vacillating on issues ranging from female genital mutilation (FGM) and the wearing of the hijab to jihad and suicide bombings.

Another way of interpreting his contradictory statements is by acknowledging what scholars of Islam have identified as the permissibility of using different discourses for different audiences, offering them what they want to hear while hiding the speaker's real intentions. In Islamic jurisprudence, this is known as taqiyya (dissimulation), which is allowed in cases of constraint or when necessary in the interest of the Muslim community and to avoid harm to Muslims.

FOR INTERNATIONAL AUDIENCES
When facing western and international audiences, Tantawi tends to condemn all suicide bombings as un-Islamic and contrary to shari'a (Islamic law). In 1998, following the attacks on the US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania, Tantawi stated that "Any explosion that leads to the death of innocent women and children is a criminal act, carried out only by people who are base, cowards and traitors, because a rational man with just a bit of respect and manliness, refrains from such operations altogether."

Following the 11 September 2001 attacks on the Twin Towers, Tantawi condemned the killing of civilians in the attacks as a gruesome act, denounced by the three monotheistic religions. In December 2001, following a wave of suicide attacks against Israel, Tantawi, at a press conference, condemned terrorism in all its forms and declared that shari'a "rejects all attempts on human life, and in the name of shari'a we condemn all attacks on civilians, whatever their community or state responsible for such an attack". Tantawi clarified that he did not agree with the view that all Israelis were legitimate targets because this contradicted Muhammad's orders to his soldiers not to kill women or young boys.

FOR MUSLIM AND ARAB AUDIENCES
In statements made to Arab and other non-Western audiences and media, Tantawi seems to take a hardline position, totally opposed to the moderate statements made to western media and audiences. In 1998, Tantawi again in an interview to al-Hayat, declared that Palestinian suicide attacks are legal under shari'a, stating that: "It is every Muslim, Palestinian and Arab's right to blow himself up in the heart of Israel".
ON THE US-LED INVASION OF IRAQ
As far back as 1998, Tantawi had called for a Muslim jihad to support Iraq in case of an American attack on Baghdad. Tantawi called the 2003 invasion an act by terrorists, and gave his blessing to volunteers wishing to help the Iraqis fight against their invaders. He stated that in the face of such aggression, martyr operations (suicide attacks) were permitted by shari'a. Attempts to stop the US invasion of Iraq were legitimate jihad, and resisting the attack was a binding Islamic duty: "Whoever wants to head for Iraq to support the Iraqi people, the door is open, and I say the door of jihad is open until the day of judgement". Tantawi also criticised Saddam Hussein for not going into exile, thus sparing Iraq the trauma of invasion and much bloodshed. Again it seems clear that Tantawi accepts suicide operations in Iraq as permissible under shari'a.

TANTAWI'S SUPPORT OF VIOLENCE CONTRADICTS HIS SIGNED PLEDGES
In January 2002 Tantawi co-chaired the so-called First Alexandria Declaration of the Religious Leaders of the Holy Land with Archbishop George Carey, in which key Muslim, Christian and Jewish leaders committed themselves to supporting the peace process in the Middle East and condemned incitement to hatred and the use of violence against innocents: "We call upon all to oppose incitement, hatred and misrepresentation of the other . . . According to our faith traditions, killing innocents in the name of God is a desecration of His Holy Name and defames religion in the world". That same month Tantawi also co-signed a historic agreement with then Anglican Archbishop Dr George Carey at Lambeth Palace, London, establishing a Joint Committee between al-Azhar and the Anglican Church and a programme of dialogue at the highest level aimed at encouraging reconciliation and fighting religious fanaticism. It is obvious that his statements in support of suicide bombings against civilians stand in total contradiction to these commitments. Three months later, in a weekly sermon in April 2002, Tantawi described Jews as "the enemies of Allah, descendants of pigs and apes", a statement that is clearly based on religious fanaticism, misrepresents the other, and is an incitement to hatred.