The Egyptian Embassy in Sri Lanka says that Egypt has been wrongly associated with the name of the Qatari citizen, fundamentalist theologian and hate preacher Yusuf Al-Qaradawi, during the proceedings of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry probing the Easter Sunday attacks.

Issuing a statement, the embassy further stated that Al-Qaradawi has been residing in Qatar since the 1960s and holds the Qatari citizenship only.

“Being one of the fountainheads of the banned terrorist Muslim Brotherhood organization, fanning religious hatred and promoting a cult of violence, Al-Qaradawi has been stripped of the Egyptian citizenship, banned from Egypt decades ago, and escaped a life sentence in absentia issued by Egyptian courts of law.” 

The embassy noted that charges against him include the implementation of acts of terrorism and violence inside Egypt that resulted in the loss of dozens of lives, the preparation of terrorist schemes in cooperation with the leaders of the Muslim Brotherhood, embracing extremist Takfiri ideas, conspiring against the Egyptian people to perpetuate chaos and undermining the national security of Egypt. 

“His name appears on the terror list of Egypt and several other peace-loving countries.”

Egypt said that it is deplorable that he remains unchecked by his host country and continues to receive support and sponsorship. Egypt and other Arab countries have collectively designated 59 individuals and 12 institutions that have financed terrorist organizations and received support from certain countries in the region, including Al-Qaradawi and his so called “International Union of Muslim Scholars”.

“Egypt and its enlightened institutions will continue providing support to Sri Lanka in eradicating extremism. Both countries are facing the same threats and confronting the same enemy,” the statement said.

Read Full Statement Below...

“Egypt and Sri Lanka on the Same Page in Combatting Extremism”

The Embassy of Egypt observed with much concern the local media coverage on Ada Derana of the first evidence given by prelate Ven. Galaboda Aththe Gnanasara Thero before the Presidential Commission of Inquiry into the Easter Sunday attacks on 13 June 2020, where Egypt has been wrongly associated with the name of the Qatari citizen, fundamentalist theologian and hate preacher Yusuf Al-Qaradawi.

In this regard, the Embassy wishes to enlighten the Sri Lankan media and public opinion on a set of facts and clarifications. Al-Qaradawi has been residing in Qatar since the 1960s and holds the Qatari citizenship only. Being one of the fountainheads of the banned terrorist Muslim Brotherhood organization, fanning religious hatred and promoting a cult of violence, Al-Qaradawi has been stripped of the Egyptian citizenship, banned from Egypt decades ago, and escaped a life sentence in absentia issued by Egyptian courts of law. Charges against him include the implementation of acts of terrorism and violence inside Egypt that resulted in the loss of dozens of lives, the preparation of terrorist schemes in cooperation with the leaders of the Muslim Brotherhood, embracing extremist Takfiri ideas, conspiring against the Egyptian people to perpetuate chaos and undermining the national security of Egypt. His name appears on the terror list of Egypt and several other peace-loving countries. It is deplorable that he remains unchecked by his host country and continues to receive support and sponsorship. Egypt and other Arab countries have collectively designated 59 individuals and 12 institutions that have financed terrorist organizations and received support from certain countries in the region, including Al-Qaradawi and his so called “International Union of Muslim Scholars”. 

Along the same line, Al-Azhar, Egypt’s prestigious seat of enlightened Islamic education, has expelled Al-Qaradawi long ago, considering him an incendiary extremist ideologue. Al-Azhar and its renowned Observatory for Combating Extremism have been in the forefront of countering extremist ideologies and practices and rejecting acts of religious violence worldwide. Al-Azhar has condemned in the strongest terms the heinous Easter Sunday attacks in Sri Lanka and expressed its full solidarity with the Sri Lankan government and people. Al-Azhar Sri Lankan graduates have previously confronted and refuted the extremist ideas of the National Tawheed Jamaat leaders in Sri Lanka on several occasions prior to the Easter Sunday attacks, one of which has been highlighted in the Sri Lankan press. It is worth mentioning that several Muslim and non-Muslim countries have approached Al-Azhar for assistance in modernizing education and confronting Islamic extremism, including Christian Buddhist- and Hindu-majority countries. 

Egypt and its enlightened institutions will continue providing support to Sri Lanka in eradicating extremism. Both countries are facing the same threats and confronting the same enemy.