The declaration of a "caliphate" by Islamist militants in Iraq lacks legitimacy and their death threats to Christians are a danger to civilization, Turkey's top cleric, the successor to the last caliph's most senior imam, said.
.... Gormez is in a unique position to question Baghdadi's claim to the caliph's seat. His office was created in 1924 to replace the Ottoman Sheikh al-Islam, the mufti with authority to confirm new sultans and who also served as chief legal adviser.
"Its structure has changed greatly in modern times but its historical ties, of course, continue," Gormez said, wearing a grey suit and tie and running worry beads through his hand. [Reuters] Read more
