Egyptian Cleric "Sheik Mizo": Sex before Marriage Is Not Fornication

In an Egyptian TV interview, cleric Muhammad Abdallah Nasr, who is known as "Sheik Mizo," said that sex between single people "should be considered an abomination," but was not fornication. He was speaking on Al-Kahera Wal-Nas TV on July 1, 2015.

Following are excerpts:

Interviewer: If a single man and a single woman have complete sexual relations, how should they be punished, according to Islamic law? Or perhaps they should not be punished at all?

Sheik Mizo: Their punishment, according to religious tradition, depends on the man's penis penetrating the woman's vagina, and there should be four trustworthy witnesses, and in addition, a rope must be passed between their bodies. How can this be accomplished to begin with?

Interviewer: So what does true religious law have to say about such a case?

Sheik Mizo: It leaves it up to the judge to determine the punishment. It can range from 100 lashes to house arrest.

Interviewer: So is it fornication or not?

Sheik Mizo: It should be considered an abomination.

Interviewer: So it's not fornication?

Sheik Mizo: No, it is an abomination.

[…]

Interviewer: Which of the two contributed more to Islam: Sheik El-Shaarawy or Hassan Nasrallah?

Sheik Mizo: Ideologically, Sheik El-Shaarawy contributed more, but in practical terms, Hassan Nasrallah had a more significant contribution. I shall never forget the Israeli warship burning during the 2006 Lebanon war. I have no problem with Hassan Nasrallah. Even if he were a Buddhist, I would cheer him if he bombed Israel.

Interviewer: But Hassan Nasrallah's men are fighting in Syria today…

Sheik Mizo: Right.

Interviewer: They are fighting in Israel…

Sheik Mizo: Well, Israel is fighting in Syria by proxy, in order to bring down the Syrian army, which is Egypt's first line of defense.

Interviewer: So you support Bashar Al-Assad?

Sheik Mizo: Of course I do. If the alternative is the Islamist terrorist who behead people, I support Bashar for sure.

[…]

Interviewer: If you had a chance to emigrate, where would you go: Saudi Arabia or Iran?

Sheik Mizo: I choose Egypt.

Interviewer: Saudi Arabia or Iran?

Sheik Mizo: Neither.

Interviewer: What if you were deported from Egypt, because people cannot tolerate your ideas anymore?

Sheik Mizo: You are asking what if the Egyptian state deports me?

Interviewer: Yes, and only Saudi Arabia and Iran will have you. Where would you go?

Sheik Mizo: I would kill myself at the gate of the airport.

[…]