This week, H.E. Dr. Ali Gomaa, the Grand Mufti of Egypt, will make his first official visit to the United States between October 6-9, 2009. One of the world's leading Muslim scholars, the Grand Mufti will deliver the keynote address at the Common Word Conference, a major international interfaith initiative (www.acommonword.com) hosted by Georgetown University. The Common Word Conference will bring together prominent Muslim and Christian leaders as well as international dignitaries such as the Right Honorable Tony Blair to the nation's capital for three days of open and closed door discussions. On Wednesday, October 7, 2009, H.E. will address the United States Institute of Peace on "Overcoming Radicalization and Extremism."

Since his appointment as Grand Mufti in 2003, Dr. Gomaa has been a strong proponent of fighting extremism and eradicating extremist thought. The purpose of Dr. Gomaa's visit to the United States this week is to address the Muslim community and provide practical steps for improving relations with the Western world. His message comes nearly four months after President Obama's Cairo speech in which he called for a new chapter in the relations between the United States and the Muslim world.

The Grand Mufti of Egypt condemned the recent attacks in Egypt and described them as terrorist attacks that are strictly forbidden by Islam; a religion that teaches peace, mercy, security, and safety. He said in his statement moments after the attack that Islam forbids violence and the harassment of civilians. H.E. also said that Islamic law does not condone under any circumstance the attack of tourists who have come to the lands of Islam and whose safe passage has been guaranteed by the government. H.E. confirmed that these actions only serve the enemies of the state and aim to shake the status quo, which is prevalent. These actions also demonstrate a fundamental lack of respect for the sanctity of human life. The Grand Mufti has called for cooperation amongst citizens to deter this blind way of thinking that sees nothing except blood.

On January 31, 2008 an article appeared on the Canada Free Press website entitled “Wilders Prosecution is a Welcome Opportunity to Expose Islam” (article) in which the author Dr. Sami Alrabaa wrote concerning the Grand Mufti:

Ali Gom’a, the grand mufti of Egypt, the highest Muslim religious authority in the world, supports murdering non-Muslims. In the daily Al Ahram (April 7, 2008), he says, “Muslims must kill non-believers wherever they are unless they convert to Islam.” He also compares non-Muslims to apes and pigs, not only the Jews.

This statement is a fabrication, plain and simple. The only article that appeared in the Ahram newspaper that day penned by the Grand Mufti was his weekly column, reproduced and rendered into English below. The article does in fact discuss the Wilders film issue, but in no way condones the killing of innocent peoples. Sheikh Ali Gomaa has made numerous public statements condemning the killing of innocent lives, most notable in his article that appeared in the Washington Post “The Meaning of Jihad in Islam” July 21, 2007 (LINK). He has also been an advocate of speaking out against anti-Semitism. In his weekly al-Ahram column on January 1, 2007, he publicly asserted that the anti-Semitic The Protocols of the Elders of Zion is a forgery and made an official court complaint concerning a publisher who falsely put his name on an introduction to its Arabic translation.

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