Nacer Al Amr: Theologians claims part of responsibility for terrorism in Algeria.

One of the most prominent Saudi theologians Nacer Al Amr , paid a visit to Algeria during the nineties and called for peaceful dialogue with the authorities then in power before the outbreak of that tragic events that plunged the country in a bloodshed, is now giving his view about several topics dealing with Islam and Muslims in this interview.

•  Q: How does Nacer Al Amr evaluate the Muslims’ condition in today’s world? 
• A: If we look at the Muslims’ condition putting aside the general context, one has to say that the situation is bad but in reality, and if consider the world’s global situation I think that the general tendency is rather positive. When we count more than seven million Muslims in the United States, four millions in Britain, France and Italy it means that this religion is on the move to spread its tentacles to the former Soviet Unions. Reality is that people are embracing this religion and the problem doesn’t lie in the basis but rather in the top of the pyramid i.e : the rulers. Let me add that serious surveys carried out by strategists concluded to the fact that the next century’s super power will be Islam.
•  Q: In your view, what the real cause behind the conflicts that tear apart the nation, especially between the Islamic movements, do you see any alibi for that? 
• A: Some causes are real, there are objective differences, but in some cases the causes are fabricated and exaggerated, to be clear instead of bringing about the real causes behind the dissentions and treat them accordingly, we used them to widen the gape and deepen the cut. This is the context that prevails among the Islamic groups. 
• Q: Some specialists in the Islamic movements think that the “Brotherhood” movement gave birth to the “Djihad” movement then came the turn of the “Salafit” with the new millennial to create the “Hidjra and Tekfir” movement , what do you think? 
• A: This is too general and cannot be absolute, secondly I think that “Djihad” doesn’t need a procreator, it stems from Islam the real “Djihad” lies in the right countries. These movements are the result of some Arab leaders’ prisons in some Arab countries , for instance the reign of Djamel Abdennaser, Egypt, gave birth to “Al Hijra and Tekfir” movement the prisons of some Arab countries or I should say the United States’ allies procreated these movements.
•   Q: In Algeria we believe that when the country was facing the terrorist groups some Saudi clerics and theologians didn’t react and some have rather called for violence, but when Saudi Arabia was struck by these groups, the tide turned and the theologians condemned these acts. 
• A: I visited Algeria in 1986 and made a presentation entitled “Science is a legitimate necessity” and warned if things continue this way the situation will degenerate and published a book of the same title in which I talked about the situation.
•  Q: did you expect the coming of these events? 
• A: Yes indeed, because I noticed that the situation was boiling and some of the theologians clearly showed their position. I received letters from some Algerians  And expressed my view about the issue, but to say that we reacted only after the bloodshed, this is untrue. 
• Q: What is your position concerning the armed struggle that exhausts some Arab countries including Algeria? 
• A: I published many years ago in which I expressed my position and called to the Algerian people to go back to the true religion. 
• Q: What is your message to the Algerian people? 
• A:  Actually, the Algerian people is a brave and heroic one, he proved that in the past when he kicked out the French colonials. I would like to send a message to the theologians in this country to lead their people there because their influence is too big. I think that the problem in Algeria lies in the fact that these theologians neglected their role in enlightening their community.