http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2007/867/eg2.htm
Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875
18 - 24 October 2007
Issue No. 867
A promiscuous interpretation
Is the grand imam of Al-Azhar joining in the attack against independent press,
asks Mona El-Nahhas
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Tantawi
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During a religious celebration attended by President Hosni Mubarak and
broadcast live on Egyptian TV last week Sheikh Sayed Tantawi, the grand imam of
Al-Azhar, appeared to argue that journalists who publish libellous material
should be flogged 80 times, claiming that such action was sanctioned in the
Holy Quran.
During the course of his speech Tantawi cited a verse from the Quran which
states that anyone who accuses a woman of adultery without being able to
produce four eyewitnesses should be flogged 80 times. A similar punishment, he
went on to argue, should be meted out to anyone who damages the reputation of
an honourable man.
The state-owned Al-Akhbar newspaper, and Sawt Al-Azhar, the mouthpiece of
Al-Azhar, subsequently published the text of a fatwa from Sheikh Tantawi
reiterating his arguments. It has aroused controversy among Al-Azhar scholars.
Sabri Abdel-Raouf, professor of comparative jurisprudence at Al-Azhar, told
Al-Ahram Weekly that the Quran specifies the punishment only for those who
accuse a woman of committing adultery without proof. It cannot, he said, be
extrapolated to include other forms of libel.
The controversial fatwa follows a series of recent cases in which seven
journalists working for independent and opposition newspapers have so far
received jail sentences. The seven had been accused of libelling senior figures
in the ruling National Democratic Party (NDP), including President Mubarak and
members of his family, and of falsely attributing statements to Justice
Minister Mamdouh Marei.
Ibrahim Eissa, the editor-in-chief of Al-Dostour, also faces charges of
spreading rumours related to the health of President Mubarak.
Tantawi's speech has been denounced by many journalists as an attempt to
provide a religious justification for attempts by the regime to undermine press
freedom. In pandering to the agenda of the regime, they argue, Tantawi has
shown himself unfit to occupy such a senior religious post and should be
dismissed.
The Press Syndicate issued an angry statement following Tantawi's comments: "we
have been shocked by the grand imam's words and the way he appears to be
joining in a growing campaign of intimidation against journalists and
opinion-makers." The Press Syndicate, the statement continued, "was deeply
saddened that such eccentric religious opinions will contribute in tarnishing
the image of Islam."
"The syndicate had expected that Al-Azhar would align itself with justice and
freedom, principles that Islam both condones and preaches."
A second statement, issued by the syndicate's Freedoms Committee, called upon
journalists to boycott any reporting of Tantawi's activities.
Member of parliament and editor-in-chief of the independent Al-Osbou, Mustafa
Bakri, said he would submit an interpellation to Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif
calling for Tantawi to be dismissed.
Tantawi, who was appointed by presidential decree 10 years ago, is no stranger
to controversy, and it is not the first time his relations with the press have
been strained. In the past he has insulted journalists during interviews,
demanding they leave his office after asking questions he deemed impertinent.
Interviewed by Al-Mehwar satellite channel, Tantawi appeared to make an attempt
to appease journalists when he said that his comments -- which he defended --
were not aimed at any specific group. The ruling, he said, was general. He
added that he maintained a good relationship with all journalists whose aim was
to tell the truth
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