Agence France-Presse

JUNE 7, 2013

Saudi Arabia’s Grand mufti Sheikh Abdulaziz Al-Shaikh, welcomed an about-turn last month by influential Qatar-based cleric Yusuf Al-Qaradawi, who had previously backed Hezbollah, particularly after its 2006 war with Israel.

Qaradawi “has returned to the stance taken by the kingdom’s top scholars and which was clear on this sectarian repulsive movement ever since it was created,” Shaikh said. “We support” Qaradawi in his stance and call on “all clerics of the Muslim world to stick together and cooperate during this critical moment in history,” he added.

In last month’s speech, Qaradawi, who has millions of supporters around the Arab world, particularly in the ranks of the Muslim Brotherhood, said he had been at fault for previously backing Hezbollah and urged Sunni volunteers to join the Syrian rebels.

Commenting on the statement Director of ODFS, Ribal Al-Assad, said:

“I am appalled by the stance taken by Saudi Arabia’s Grand Mufti, these individuals have used their positions to incite followers to commit sectarian violence in Syria and the Middle East. The country is on the precipice and religious leaders should be using their influence to quell tensions not inflame them.

If these preachers are not stopped then a regional sectarian war seems to be inevitable – this would undoubtedly have long term global repercussions. With this in mind I urge the international community to take a robust stance against such figures and the governments that support them; they should all be held to account for their actions.”