Galal El-Behairy has released a statement.
In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful,
My friends, it is with great sorrow that I write to you the following:
Time has passed us by…I have spent twenty and some years amongst you as a brother, a friend and a son... I was raised the same way my ancestors and your parents had been raised… We receive what God provides, hope for a happy tomorrow and thank God for the good and the bad.
Over the past few days, I have been observing in silence the way things are turning out to be… I have been given all kinds of names… been subject to endless accusations… I have been threatened with death and accused of shedding blood and of perversity… I have been accused of high treason, apostasy, belonging to terrorist groups and cursing the Prophet Mohamed, blessings and peace be upon him.
Therefore, I deem it necessary to clarify some points that might have confused both friends and strangers ––