'Abd al-Rahmān al-Barr, Muslim Brotherhood Muftī, issued a fatwá against Muslims greeting Christians at Easter without clarifying the state's position on the Israeli occupation and Mursi’s intimate message to Israeli President Shimon Peres in which he described Israel as a loyal friend. The fatwá revisited the old controversy caused by the fatwá of Yāsir Burhāmī, Deputy President of Salafī preaching movement and of the Islamic Legitimate Body of Rights and Reformation (ILBRR), which prohibited Muslims greeting Christians at Christmas. Al-Barr justified his fatwá by saying that the idea of Easter violates Muslim doctrine, and said it is appropriate for Muslims to greet Christians for some festival and not others.
Dr. Ahmad Karīm, Professor of Islamic Law, denounced the two fatwás and questioned al-Barr's academic integrity. He said that issuers of fatwá have become agents of hatred and discord, and strike a delicate balance between bringing benefits and warding off evil. He added that the convergence of Wahabism and Copts poses a danger to society, and questioned how could you marry a Copt and not greet them, whilst is it permissible to greet Israelis and enemies (Muhammad Mansūr, al-Watan, May 2, p. 3). Read original text in Arabic.
