Turkey’s religious affairs head slams Gulf move to add theologian al-Qaradawi to terror list

KAHRAMANMARAŞ

AP photo

The head of the Religious Affairs Directorate (Diyanet) criticized the Gulf countries’ decision to add Qatar-based Egyptian Islamic theologian Yusuf al-Qaradawi to the designated terrorist list on June 15.

“Adding a 91-year-old scholar to the terror list while there are so many problems in the Islamic world does not benefit anyone,” Mehmet Görmez said, speaking at an event in the Mediterranean province of Kahramanmaraş.

Al-Qaradawi is the chairman of the International Union of Muslim Scholars. 

Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Yemen abruptly cut diplomatic relations with Qatar on June 5, accusing Doha of supporting terrorism.