The US, Israel and ignorance of religious teachings were the chief reasons behind the recent bout of tension between Egypt's Muslim and Christian communities, Al-Azhar dialogue consultant Mahmoud Azab declared this week.
"Israel–and its malicious endeavors–is the main reason for the current tension between Muslims and Christians," Azab told Al-Masry Al-Youm.
Azab, an adviser to Al-Azhar–the highest religious authority in the Sunni-Muslim world–said the second reason for brewing sectarian tension was the US-led occupation of Muslim countries, which, he noted, had "awakened the spirit of jihad among young Muslims."
"The third and most important reason behind what is happening–in the region in general and Egypt in particular–is the ignorance of Islamic and Christian teachings," he added, "with each side discussing the other’s religion in the absence of objective, academic study."
Azab went on to express doubt that recent al-Qaeda threats against Christians in Egypt would be taken seriously.
"No one knows whether or not these threats were fabricated by the US," he said. "No one can any longer determine the real source of news."
Last week, "al-Qaeda in Iraq" announced its intention to target Christians in Egypt in retaliation for the illegal detention by Egypt's Coptic Church of Christian women said to have converted to Islam.
“We stand by the Egyptian Church," said Azab. "Al-Azhar will stand up against anyone found attempting to harm it."
