Oman grand mufti slams Arabs 'wooing' enemy

Oman grand mufti slams Arabs 'wooing' enemy
Oman's most senior Islamic scholar took aim at increasing courting of 'enemy states' by Arabs, in an apparent reference to recent normalisation with Israel.
2 min read
19 October, 2020
The grand mufti has stood against normalisation with Israel [Twitter]
Oman's grand mufti has slammed a recent "phenomenon" that has seen Arab states "wooing the enemy", in an apparent reference to recent normalisation deals with Israel.

Sheikh Ahmed Al-Khalili in a statement said "a new negative phenomenon has appeared in the [global Muslim] nation, which is wooing the enemy whom God Almighty has commanded us to be against", noting it was being declared publicly without any shame.

"Some of the Muslim natio's icons, whom we previously viewed as pillars and palaces, have hastened to do. If they abandon their past, they will step closer to their masters," he said.

The grand mufti also took aim at clerics who forged false fatwas aimed at "subsiding the global Muslim community" for the "benefit of the enemy".

This crucial moment in time is reminiscent of the pre-Islamic awakening era when people "had no choice but to imitate others", he said.

Oman's most senior religious scholar made no direct mention of recent normalisation deals with Israel, though he has previously made clear his position against establishing ties with country, Arabi21 reported.

On 13 August, Israel and the UAE announced they would normalise relations, with Bahrain soon following suit.

The agreements, dubbed the Abraham Accords, were signed in the White House on 15 September, with US President Donald Trump suggesting similar moves are expected to be taken by other Arab states.

Since then, speculation has pointed to a handful of other Arab countries, with Oman and Sudan as the most likely candidates.

Oman has expressed support for the normalisation of ties between the neighbouring UAE and Israel.

The Trump administration has made Israeli-Arab normalisation a key focus of its Middle East foreign policy, as US elections on 3 November approach.

The Palestinians have been vocal in their opposition to the agreements, arguing that such decisions remove any incentive for Israel to end its occupation of the Palestinian territories.

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