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Sunday, December 07, 1997
"It is wrong to associate Islam with terrorism and it is not permissible to describe murderers as Muslims, President Mubarak said in an interview with the German Weekly Magazine "Der Spiegel". Mubarak, further, said that terrorism knows no borders, citing the Oklahoma city incident that left behind 168 people dead. He added that terrorists sought to kill a great number of tourists in Luxor, especially after the wonderful and successful performance of Opera Aida to undermine Egypt’s stability. Mubarak indicated that the aim of those terrorists was to shake the stability of Egypt, stressing that they will never be capable of doing so. President Mubarak pointed out that human rights mean people’s rights to live in peace without fear for their lives, wealth and honor. "Human rights do not mean the right to protect murderers," added the Egyptian leader. He pinpointed the fact that there had been a dialogue with the Islamic groups ever since President Sadat took over, which continued during his tenure till 1993. But such Islamic groups interpreted this dialogue as weakness on the part of the regime, as they resorted to violence which is completely rejected by the regime. Replying to a query on whether the Islamic groups wished to take part in the political life, Mubarak said those who resort to acts of violence, kill innocent people and exert pressures to set free criminals should not be given a chance to run political parties. Mubarak asserted that the Islamic groups have a strong inching for capturing power in Egypt by any means, even illegal ones, affirming that such elements will not be satisfied with this community in which both Muslims and Christians live in peace and serenity. President Mubarak went further saying that the right of freedom of expression does not entitle any one the right to liquidate others who do not share the same view point, wondering about countries which grant right of political asylum to terrorists who are killing innocent people under the slogan of human rights. On the long-stalled ME peace process, The Egyptian leader said that Israel has to water down the warming situation and has to honor its commitments, adding that Israeli Premier Netanyahu did promise him many times to implement the concluded agreements with the Palestinians, but he never kept his promises. Egypt, said Mubarak, has frankly told the US, Israel and Europe that the consequences of destroying peace process will be grave for all parties concerned, citing the comment of Ereil Sharon, the Israeli hardliner, that without the Palestinian State there would be no peace. Mubarak made it clear that Israeli policies of expanding and building new settlements in order to change the demographic nature of the holy city will complicate matters, as outrage will be triggered. |
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