The head of Al-Azhar, Egypt's pre-eminent Sunni Islamic institute, has strongly condemned the killing of a Jordanian pilot by the "terrorist, devilish" Islamic State (IS).
A video released on Tuesday showed Muath Al-Kassasbeh being burned alive by militants in Syria.
Ahmed El-Tayeb said: "The Quran mandates that the perpetrators of this cowardly act, which goes against God's word, deserve to be killed, or crucified, or have their legs and arms amputated."
He also called on the international community to fight against the "barbaric, savagery" of IS that is against the teachings of Allah and his prophet Mohamed.
At the end of his statement, El-Tayeb extended his condolences to Jordanian King Abdullah II.
Meanwhile, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi also condemned the killing. He called the militant group "a savage cowardly organisation that violates all heavenly doctrines."
Egypt has announced it supports the US-led international coalition to fight the Islamic State but would not play any direct military role. Instead, Cairo has reiterated it contributes to the fight against jihadists by spreading moderate Islamic thought to counter extremism through its prestigious Sunni Islam institution of Al-Azhar.
