Former Mufti of Egypt Ali Gomaa: The Sharia Allows Police to Fire at a Crowd; Qaradhawi Has Alzheimer's

Following are excerpts from an interview with former Mufti of Egypt Ali Gomaa, which aired on CBC TV on August 23, 2013.

Ali Gomaa: The question is: If someone wants to take up arms against the army, what should be done about him? Kill him! I’ll say it again: Anyone who rebels against the Egyptian army or police should be killed, according to Islamic law. If even a single bullet it fired from among any gathering of people, the Egytpain army and police should respond in a manner that pleases Allah, even if that means firing into the crowd.

Moderator: Why should I believe what you say, rather than Sheik Yousuf Al-Qaradhawi? After all Al-Qaradhawi is the head of the International Union of Muslim Scholars. He has published books, and he is a member of the Higher Council of Islamic Studies. He is one of the most respected religious leaders, and is held in esteem by all the Islamic scholars.

Ali Gomaa: Not by all. He used to be, but there is a disease called dementia. Some elderly people are afflicted with Alzheimer’s. He used to be okay, and then he got Alzheimer’s.

Moderator: But he bases his arguments upon jurisprudence, scriptures, and the hadith.

Ali Gomaa: When somebody says that the Jewish army is better than the Egyptian army – I cannot accept it. He must be suffering from Alzheimer’s.