Head of the Supreme Islamic Council in Mali to Echorouk: “Islamic law cannot be applied through violence”

First, we are sorry for what happened, despite all attempts we made and sought in all directions to avoid bloodshed and to achieve peace throughout our Muslim country, but armed groups did not hear us, did not take warnings realistically, and were not satisfied with all the solutions that were offered to them, especially negotiation, now they’ve opened the door for foreign intervention. I can only say about what happens; “we need safety from Allah.”

We are with Mali state and we will not separate from it, why did armed groups refuse to comply with negotiation with the other parties in Mali. After all attempts the president did not find a solution but to seek help from France.

The president could not do something, after armed elements moved towards the south, they have attacked soldiers and wanted to grab all the land, they make our nation exposed to foreign intervention. I repeat that we are sorry because they were not wise in what they have done, we tried with them and have told them that what they are doing will be a key to foreign intervention in our country.

No, this did not happen, but there are people perished and a humanitarian tragedy is worsening in Mali, more than it was in the past.

I do not know about this dialogue, but we congratulate every action and every step which intended to achieve peace in Mali, as we strive to stop these groups, which should withdraw from the territories that they occupied.

There is a big difference between the Algerian mujahideen, who have sacrificed a million and a half martyrs, and them! They said they will sacrifice “Three million martyrs”, this is unreasonable and illogical. From the platform of your newspaper, I would like to say that Mali people are Muslims by nature, our ancestors entered in Islam voluntarily and not with the language of arms and violence, so why do they want to apply the Islamic Sharia (law) through violence.

Yes, their way is violence, they disbelieve people and demolish shrines, and Malians do not need these behaviors, Islam is a religion of tolerance, and we tell them that we reject what they are doing, after having failed to apply Islamic law according to their perspective in Algeria, Mauritania and Libya, they come to us.

We call upon the Islamic world and in particular neighboring countries to stop these crimes.

We did our best to free the Algerian prisoners safely, and the Supreme Islamic Council also sent mediators to solve the problem.