Cairo University is one of the oldest and greatest universities in Egypt and its president has always been a prominent Professor. The previous president Dr. Jabber Nassar has taken some bold decision against extremism including banning the head to toe covering of women known as Niqab, and striking religion from official documents inside the university. These decisions were clearly taken to support a civil state in Egypt and cure the disease of extremism before it spreads more and more in the Egyptian body.
Few hours ago, the new president of the university was named Dr. Muhammad Othman Elkhosht, professor of philosophy of religion and contemporary philosophy at Faculty of Arts. This man has called for the renewal of religious discourse, and for developing the understanding of Islam as fit to be a modern religion. At the beginning, this gave me a good impression that the man is going to support civil state in Egypt and dialogue between religions.
However, an old video of the professor preaching on an Islamic channel showed him claiming that terrorism is incited in Judaism and Christianity, not Islam! He added that the Old Testament orders to kill children, women and the elderly, just like killing the animals and plants. This is true terrorism that has nothing alike in Islam, he added.
First of all, I want to tell him this is a very strange way to start your plan of renewal of religious discourse. Second, the explanation of religious text should be taken from authorized interpreters and most importantly the application and impact of these texts on the practical life of the believers. Now, I am afraid that Professor Elkhosht may prefer to start playing this blame game and forget about the renewal of religious discourse and the great institution that he presides over after Dr. Jabber Nassar.
