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Hugh Fitzgerald: What Does the Pope Know About His “Friend and Dear Brother” El-Tayyeb? (Part One)

Feb 12, 2019 10:00 am By Hugh Fitzgerald

Just before he left for to the U.A.E. earlier this month, Pope Francis sent a video message to the Emirati people: “I thank the friend and dear brother the Grand Imam Sheikh el-Tayyeb and those who have organised this meeting for the will and courage to affirm that faith in God unites and does not divide us.”

What does the Pope know about his “friend and dear brother,” Sheikh al-Tayyeb? In 2011, El-Tayyeb, who was then the President  of  Al-Azhar University, railed at Pope Benedict for his “interference” in Egypt’s affairs, a reference to Benedict’s denunciation — how dare he? — of attacks on Copts, and warned of a “negative political reaction” to Pope Benedict’s remarks about Islam. The threatening tone was unmistakable. In a statement, Al-Azhar denounced the Pope’s “repeated negative references to Islam and his claims that Muslims persecute those living among them in the Middle East.” This statement was issued as Muslims were not just persecuting but murdering Copts in Egypt, and killing other Christians in Syria, Iraq, Somalia, Nigeria, Pakistan.

Pope Francis wanted to repair any harm that his predecessor, as he saw it, had caused to Muslim-Christian relations, and he soon extended an invitation to El-Tayyeb to visit him in the Vatican. “I want to meet him. I know that he would like it,” the Pope said during a February 18, 2016 in-flight press conference.

In May of that year, El-Tayyeb visited the Vatican. There was satisfaction all around. El-Tayyeb knew that the visit would help validate Islam in the eyes of 1.3 billion Catholics, and even to disarm critics, while Pope Francis allowed himself to believe that the visit by his new friend had contributed to “understanding” between the two faiths.

A few months after his visit to the Vatican, El-Tayyeb declared on June 16, 2016, in an interview that appeared on several Egyptian television channels and on the official YouTube channel of Al-Azhar, that apostates from Islam should be killed. He further said that “the concepts of human rights are full of ticking time-bombs” and that homosexuality is a disease. Apparently those remarks did nothing to dampen the Pope’s enthusiasm for El-Tayyeb. Francis’ mind was already made up. Killing apostates? Dismissing human rights as positively dangerous, full of “ticking time-bombs”? Who cares what El-Tayyeb said — we’re friends!

In 2017, the Pope, visiting Egypt, again met with Ahmad El-Tayyeb, and their friendship no doubt deepened. He did not ask then, nor has he raised the matter since, about the free book that Al-Azhar offers readers of its magazine, a book which, according to the well-known Egyptian political writer and thinker, Dr. Khalid al-Montaser, in an article for El-Watan News, continues to encourage enmity for Christians, and even incites their murder.

Montaser began his article by asking, “Is it possible at this sensitive time — when murderous terrorists rest on texts and understandings of takfir, murder, slaughter, and beheading — that Al Azhar magazine is offering free of charge a book whose latter half and every page — indeed every few lines — ends with “whoever disbelieves [infidels], strike off his head?”

Does Pope Francis know about this book that El-Tayyeb’s Al-Azhar sends out free to all who request it, with its repeated command to “strike off the head” of “whoever disbelieves”? Surely in the Vatican there are Arabic speakers who monitor the doings at Al-Azhar, as well as the major Arabic-language press, including El-Watan. Did no one send this information to the Pope? Were those around him in the Vatican perhaps leery of sending him anything critical of the Grand Imam, given that the Pope had made such a public investment in his “friendship” with El-Tayyeb?

Then there is the disturbing matter of El-Tayyeb’s antisemitism, which Pope Francis appears either to be ignorant of, or not to care very much about. The Grand Imam made his most revealing remarks on Jews in an interview aired on Channel 1, Egyptian TV on October 25, 2013:

Ahmad Al-Tayeb: A verse in the Koran explains the Muslims’ relations with the Jews and the polytheists. The second part of the verse describes the Muslims’ relations with the Christians, and the third part of the verse explains why the Christians are the closest and most friendly to the Muslims.

This is an historical perspective, which has not changed to this day. See how we suffer today from global Zionism and Judaism, whereas our peaceful coexistence with the Christians has withstood the test of history. Since the inception of Islam 1,400 years ago, we have been suffering from Jewish and Zionist interference in Muslim affairs. This is a cause of great distress for the Muslims.

The Koran said it and history has proven it: “You shall find the strongest among men in enmity to the believers to be the Jews and the polytheists.”

Does Pope Francis believe, with El-Tayyeb that 1.5 Muslims “suffer today from global Zionism and Judaism”? If he does, that would be intolerable. If he does not, shouldn’t he say something to make clear where he stands on the subject of Jews and of the Jewish state? Visiting the Western Wall and the Hall of Remembrance at Yad Vashem in 2014 was welcome, but he needs to recognize, and not by his continued silence deny, the antisemitism that is everywhere in Islam. Is this a subject he’s fearful of bringing up? Or does he really not recognize the problem?

 

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Filed Under: Catholic Church, dialogue, Featured, Hugh Fitzgerald, Useful idiots Tagged With: Ahmed el-Tayeb, Pope Francis


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Comments

  1. mortimer says

    Feb 12, 2019 at 10:16 am

    Pope Pollyanna.

    • Rufolino says

      Feb 13, 2019 at 8:52 am

      This Pope should be deposed for lending support and affirmation to the enemies of Christianity and the Jews.

  2. P. Douglas says

    Feb 12, 2019 at 10:30 am

    I do think this current “Pope” is either insane or actually the “Anti- pope”.
    He has no idea what he is doing or is purposely working against Christian peoples everywhere!
    A kiss from the Grand Imman is like a kiss from Satan himself!

    • mortimer says

      Feb 12, 2019 at 11:54 am

      Pope Francis naively believes that THROUGH CHARM he can OVERTURN SHARIA LAW which requires all Muslims to HATE THE FILTHY KUFAAR ‘for the sake of Allah’, because the KUFAAR are POLLUTED with disbelief.

      Muslims make ‘temporary treaties’ if they can advance Islam at the same time.

  3. somehistory says

    Feb 12, 2019 at 10:44 am

    Blinded by the darkness from satan. He is a willing accomplice to the death islam imposes and the lies that moslims tell. satan the devil deceives and so do his children. Lie outright and pretend to be “an angel of light.” What a combo these two liars make.
    They will face Divine Judgment.

  4. Terry Gain says

    Feb 12, 2019 at 10:45 am

    It seems that the Pope’s betrayal of Catholics has left us speechless. It doesn’t much matter whether he is ignorant about Islam or embraces it, the result is the same. He is damaging the Catholic Church and leaving the flock to suffer from continuing attacks by Muslims. And he is giving Islam a status it doesn’t deserve and is thus helping to disarm the world .

    • mortimer says

      Feb 12, 2019 at 11:50 am

      The pope’s lack of INTELLECTUAL RIGOR and willful ignorance in the matter of Islamic teachings is a betrayal of the principles of Jesuits.

      If the pope were a true, intellectual Jesuit, he would NOT PRONOUNCE ON ISLAM WITHOUT A THOROUGH STUDY OF IT.

      The Jesuit principle of “MAGIS” (Latin for “more”) is the challenge to learn more and strive for excellence.

      Some Jesuit near the pope should remind him about MAGIS in the matter of Islamic teachings of JIHAD, TAQIYYA, the NEAR-ENEMY doctrine, TEMPORARY TREATIES, the PACT OF OMAR and DHIMMITUDE.

      The pope is a BABE IN THE WOODS in the matter of Islam … not acceptable, especially not in a Jesuit.

  5. Spiro says

    Feb 12, 2019 at 11:03 am

    This pope knows exactly what he is doing and in his thinking he’s right your wrong
    He doesn’t believe what Islam teaches is what Islam is

    • Terry Gain says

      Feb 12, 2019 at 12:11 pm

      I have no idea what he believes. None of us do.

      • Rufolino says

        Feb 13, 2019 at 8:57 am

        Preceisely, Terry. The man is inexplicable. But his policies are an abomination.

  6. dan christensen says

    Feb 12, 2019 at 11:03 am

    “I thank the friend and dear brother the Grand Imam Sheikh el-Tayyeb and those who have organised this meeting for the will and courage to affirm that faith in God unites and does not divide us.”

    “faith in God” yes – but which God?
    The pope must tacitly assume that the sheik believes in the same God as the pope, because the pope says that faith in “God” unites – the pope does not say faith in “both our Gods” unites.
    So, this same God who unites Christians and muslims, is he the God of the Christians, of the muslims or some common ancestor God ?
    Presumably most Christians as well as most muslims believe that each religions supreme being is their own and different from the other God.
    However, this dispute is outside the realm of mere mortals to understand. The clerics of the 2 antagonistic faith are probably debating their heads off in this vital question, dividing them forever.

    • somehistory says

      Feb 12, 2019 at 11:16 am

      As a person who endeavors to follow Christ, I believe my God is the same One that Christ prayed to, the same One that David, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and all of the other faithful people written about in the Bible, had faith in and prayed to. The Same One that tells us to “Love your neighbor as yourself.” To not “covet” what others rightly have, to not “murder” or “commit adultery.” or steal. To “speak Truth ” and not be lying. To “love one another as Christ loves us.” To “Do to others as we wish to be done to us.”

      This is definitely not the same “god” that moslims worship; the one that commands massive bloodshed and rape and hatred by the bushel and by the truckload, forced at the edge of the sword. Their ‘god’ is the “father of the lie” and that is why they lie so often and so easily, even commanding it.

    • mortimer says

      Feb 12, 2019 at 12:07 pm

      Further to dan christensen’s post: Allah in the Koran endorses the Bible text existing at the time of Mohammed and the Biblical prophets and their writings, but then Allah proceeds to diverge from them factually and CONDEMN many of the Biblical teachings that are BASIC to Judaism and Christianity, such as the Golden Rule and the Israelite lineage of prophets.

      Allah is not aware that Jehovah in the Bible declares his Eternal Name and Title in Exodus 3:15,16. ‘J(e)h(o)v(a)h’ appears 6823 times in the Hebrew Bible but not once in the Koran. Allah forgot to read the Bible, therefore, Allah is not a deity, but a man who forged the Koran.

  7. FYI says

    Feb 12, 2019 at 12:37 pm

    The Jorge and Ahmed Love story continues..

    Jorge: assalaam aleikum my muslim brotha from a different motha! *mwah*

    Ahmed: what is that aftershave you are wearing?

    Jorge: It’s called HERESY ..by Prince Machiavelli..and yours?

    Ahmed: It’s Eau de camel wee..”smell like the desert”..inspired by my “prophet” muhammed’s recommendation in Sahih Bukhari:8:82:794.You can even drink it if it gets hot.

    Jorge: Say,can I wash your feet as a sign of my Great Humility?

    Ahmed: Again?But..but.. you have washed them 10 times today already…Ok

    Jorge Do you think the Sheeple will see through the Chrislam One World Religion scam?
    {Smile.Thumbs up.Wink at camera}

    • TigerCat says

      Feb 12, 2019 at 6:30 pm

      Hahaha very funny! I like your little skit. Sums it up well! Thank you.

  8. gravenimage says

    Feb 12, 2019 at 7:49 pm

    Hugh Fitzgerald: What Does the Pope Know About His “Friend and Dear Brother” El-Tayyeb? (Part One)
    ……………

    I’m sure he knows next to nothing, and has not bothered to find out. Thanks for the exposé, Mr. Fitzgerald.

  9. joanofark06 says

    Feb 13, 2019 at 6:48 am

    I just came here to the comments section, to ask, no, to plead….to STOP showing them two kissing! It’s really making me physical sick to my stomach!! I’m sure I speak for all, when I say, once is enough.

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