– The Muslim Council of Elders to establish an International Legal Committee to file a lawsuit against #CharlieHebdo
From his office at Al-Azhar Al-Sharif in Cairo, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Dr. Ahmad al-Tayyeb, Shaykh al-Azhar, chaired an emergency meeting of the Muslim Council of Elders via video conference to discuss the recent systematic hate campaign targeting Islam, its Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), and its sacred symbols under the pretext of freedom of expression.
During the meeting, the Council strongly condemned the murder of a French teacher as well as the attempted stabbing of two Muslim women near the Eiffel Tower in Paris, emphasizing that all violent attacks are acts of terrorism, regardless of the identity of the perpetrators or their motives.
The Council expressed its firm rejection of the misuse of ‘freedom of expression’ to justify insults against Islam’s honorable Prophet (peace be upon him). It stressed that freedom of expression should be exercised with social responsibility, ensuring respect for the rights of others and preventing religions from being exploited for political purposes.
Additionally, the Council reiterated its call for Muslims in the West to uphold the values of coexistence, peace, citizenship, and human fraternity. It encouraged Muslim communities to positively integrate into their societies, contributing to their development while preserving their cultural and religious identities.
The Council also warned Muslims in Western societies against reacting to provocations from far-right groups that distort the image of Islam, incite hatred against Muslims, and promote stereotypes portraying Islam as a religion of terrorism and isolation.
At the conclusion of the meeting, the Council announced the formation of an international legal committee to file a lawsuit against the French magazine *Charlie Hebdo* for publishing cartoons insulting the honorable Prophet (peace be upon him). The Council emphasized that such insults should be countered through peaceful, rational, and legal means, declaring that *”actions speak louder than words, and it is time for legal action.”*
