The Islamic group praised Al Azhar for condemning the crimes committed by pro-government Shiite militias against Sunnis in Iraq; however, the group did not denounce the Islamic State (IS) crimes against Yazidi and Christian minorities. The move marks a major diversion in the group stance towards Al Azhar, as it accused the Islamic world's most prestigious institute of infidelity earlier. On its part, the Salafist Call expressed its full support to Al Azhar's decision to unify Friday preaching across all mosques, in order to combat the Shiite doctrines. "We refuse the attack on Al Azhar and its Grand Imam, Sheikh Ahmed Al Tayeb," Said Deputy Chief of the Salafist Call, Yasser Burhamy, adding that the Shiite "tyranny" poses a serious threat to the Arab world's national security. Al Azhar has denounced March 11 the attacks against Iraqi Sunni Muslims by Shiite militias allied with Iraqi security forces against (IS) militants.
