Egypt’s Grand Mufti, Sheikh Nazir Mohamed Ayyad
In a Wednesday statement, the Grand Mufti, who also serves as head of the General Secretariat for Fatwa Authorities Worldwide, said attacks on places of worship constitute a “grave crime” and a blatant violation of the sanctity of human life, which is protected by all divine religions.
He stressed that terrorising worshippers and targeting civilians, including children, are “barbaric acts” that cannot be justified under any religious, ideological, or racial pretext.
The Grand Mufti warned that the incident reflects the growing danger of hate speech and extremism, which fuel fear within societies and threaten peaceful coexistence.
He noted that attacks on worshippers inside religious institutions highlight a deeper moral decline among individuals and groups influenced by extremist and exclusionary ideologies.
Ayyad also called for stronger international action to protect places of worship and ensure the right to religious freedom and safe practice, stressing that combating hate crimes and incitement is a shared legal, moral, and humanitarian responsibility.
He concluded that all religions promote values of mercy, coexistence, and cooperation, and that any attack on unarmed civilians is an assault on shared human values and social stability.
On Monday, three people were killed in a shooting at San Diego’s largest mosque. Police said the two teenage gunmen—who have now been identified—were later found dead nearby from apparent self-inflicted gunshot wounds.
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