Former Mufti of Egypt Ali Gomaa: The Sharia Allows Police to Fire at a Crowd; Qaradhawi Has Alzheimer's | CBC TV (Egypt) - August 23, 2013

Top Muslim Scholar in Egypt Defends Himself Against Criticism of His Fatwas
Photo of the Grand Mufti Sheikh Ali Gomaa courtesy of the BBC
BBC: Egypt's top Muslim scholar has defended himself against criticism for a series of controversial fatwas he has issued.

With tears in his eyes, Grand Mufti Sheikh Ali Gomaa told reporters his religious edicts were never influenced by pressure from the authorities.

Fierce criticism followed his recent ruling that speeding drivers cannot be condemned for killing people who deliberately stand in their way.

It became public days after just such a case involving a police car.

The mufti also offended many by saying that 26 Egyptian illegal migrants who drowned trying to reach Europe were the victims of their own greed rather than martyrs.

Sheikh Gomaa represents the Dar al-Ifta which is the official interpreter of Islamic law in Egypt based on the Koran and teachings of the Prophet Muhammad. Egypt's mufti rejects criticism (more)

Mark Alexander