Preacher Wadjdi Ghanim to Echorouk: “Violence can not solve problems”

Islamic preacher, Doctor Wadjdi Ghanim, now on his second visit to Algeria as part of the « Be Positive » campaign, initiated by the “Ferdaous” mosque, dwelt on various topical issues related to reality in this interview granted to the newspaper “Echorouk”.

• What is your impression about Algeria?
• I am very happy for visiting Algeria for the second time. Each time Algeria is mentioned, it is linked to jihad and martyrs. On my first visit, I said Algeria is the country of one million martyrs but I was told the total number of martyrs is six million and 500 during 130 years of French occupation. Honestly, this surprised me and I reported this fact in all my lectures in Arab and European countries.
• What can you say about violence in Muslim countries in the name of Islam?
• Islam is a religion of peace, tolerance and wisdom. It is also the religion of the Quran and Sunna. Why Muslims get killed while the Quran says killing people is a big crime? We must talk to repentant terrorists and ask them why they changed their mind.
• I was jailed in Egypt for eight times. Most of time, it was with Islamist groups which killed officers and put bombs in streets. At that time, I was telling those people ‘you do not have enough of understanding and not faithfulness.” The problem is that they misunderstand things though they have good intentions.
• How do you assess the religious satellite TV channels?
• Unfortunately, those channels broadcast scandals as some people believe that celebrity is the most important thing without caring about knowledge. For example, there is a preacher who says false things about Allah and Prophet Adam. Another says Muslim women can show their hair and boys can kiss girls. And this is because of the lack of knowledge in religion.