Egypt’s Sisi again calls for ‘religious revolution’

Sisi also called for countering “extremist” views and erroneous religious beliefs, adding that the Islamic value of tolerance must be promoted.

By ARIEL BEN SOLOMON
Egypt's President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi looks on as he delivers a speech in Cairo. (photo credit: REUTERS)
Egypt's President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi looks on as he delivers a speech in Cairo.
(photo credit: REUTERS)
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi again called on Sunday for a “religious revolution” against extremism within the Islamic world in an interview on a religious public radio station.
Sisi said the global Islamic community needs to rethink and revolt “for religion and not against it,” Ahram Online reported.
The Egyptian president was interviewed on the 51st anniversary of the Holy Koran radio station.
Sisi called for countering “extremist” views and erroneous religious beliefs, adding that the Islamic value of tolerance must be promoted, according to the report.
He has been leading a fight against an Islamist insurgency at home and has allied with anti-revolutionary Gulf states, which have provided needed economic aid.
In January, Sisi made a similar call for a “religious revolution,” warning, “the Islamic nation is being torn apart and destroyed” by extremism, according to excerpts published by MEMRI (the Middle East Media Research Institute).
Speaking at Al-Azhar University in Cairo, one of the world’s top centers for Sunni learning, Sisi said, “I am addressing the religious scholars and clerics. We must take a long, hard look at the current situation.”
“It is inconceivable that the ideology we sanctify should make our entire nation a source of concern, danger, killing and destruction all over the world,” he said.
“It has reached the point that [this ideology] is hostile to the entire world. Is it conceivable that 1.6 billion [Muslims] would kill the world’s population of 7 billion, so that they could live [on their own]? This is inconceivable,” said Sisi according to MEMRI.