Al-Azhar grand imam accepts invitation to visit Lebanon, vows to reopen Beirut institute - Foreign Affairs
El-Tayyeb received Aoun and a delegation at Al-Azhar's headquarters in Cairo, where he pledged to visit 'at the earliest opportunity,' according to a statement released by the institution.
He also committed to reviving the Al-Azhar Institute in Beirut, promising to send qualified envoys and supply educational resources and curricula.
'Lebanon resides in the heart of every Arab and every Muslim,' the grand imam said, describing the country as a symbol of coexistence and diversity.
President Aoun, currently on an official visit to Cairo, said he was 'honoured' to visit Al-Azhar for the first time.
He praised El-Tayyeb's efforts in advancing interfaith dialogue and combatting extremism.
He also thanked Al-Azhar for its longstanding support of Lebanese students during difficult times.
The meeting also touched on the importance of the Document on Human Fraternity — co-signed by El-Tayyeb and Pope Francis in 2019 — and Al-Azhar's broader efforts to build dialogue between religious and cultural institutions.
Discussions also reaffirmed Al-Azhar's commitment to promoting equal citizenship and rejecting sectarian terms such as 'minorities,' in line with the institution's foundational principles.
Follow us on:
Short link:
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Middle East
9 hours ago
- Middle East
OPEN// Fifth Egyptian aid convoy heads to Gaza with 6,000 tons of supplies
CAIRO, July 31 (MENA) – Egypt dispatched its fifth humanitarian aid convoy to the Gaza Strip early Thursday, carrying 6,000 tons of food and relief supplies, state-affiliated media reported. Al-Qahera News Channel aired footage of Egyptian aid trucks lined up at the Rafah border crossing before making their way into the war-torn Gaza. The Egyptian military announced on Wednesday that four military transport aircraft had carried out airdrops of food aid over hard-to-reach areas in Gaza. The operations were carried out on the orders of President Abdel Fattah El Sisi, in his capacity as commander-in-chief of the armed forces, as part of Egypt's ongoing efforts to support the Palestinian people during the current crisis. Egypt has been coordinating with international and regional stakeholders in a bid to alleviate the worsening humanitarian conditions in the enclave. (MENA) R E E/
Al-Ahram Weekly
12 hours ago
- Al-Ahram Weekly
El-Sisi reaffirms rejection of Palestinian displacement in call with Dutch PM - Foreign Affairs
President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi reiterated on Friday Egypt's firm stance on rejecting any attempts to displace the Palestinian people from their land, stressing the need to expedite the reconstruction of Gaza once a ceasefire is reached. During a phone call with Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof, El-Sisi highlighted Egypt's unwavering efforts to reach a ceasefire deal in the Gaza war and ensure the urgent and sufficient entry of humanitarian aid to the strip. According to the Egyptian presidency, El-Sisi also reviewed Cairo's ongoing endeavours to secure the release of captives and detainees and create an environment conducive to resuming the peace process in the Middle East. El-Sisi noted that the political process, which should implement the two-state solution and establish an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital, along the 4 June 1967 borders, is the only path to achieve lasting peace and stability in the region. He further stressed the necessity of respecting international law and relevant international agreements, which obligate countries to provide security and protection for diplomatic missions operating on their land, to which the Dutch PM agreed. On Thursday, the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued an infographic debunking 10 claims made by protesters at Egyptian embassies last week on the status of the Rafah border crossing and the realities of entry of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip. In a televised speech on Monday, President El-Sisi stressed that Egypt has never closed the Rafah border crossing since the outbreak of Israel's genocidal war on Gaza. He also reaffirmed Egypt's steadfast support for the Palestinian cause. "Egyptians, I'm reminding you of this — we do not change: We are committed to finding solutions that de-escalate tensions, bring an end to the war, and lead to a final settlement of the Palestinian cause," El-Sisi said. For his part, Dutch PM Dick Schoof expressed his country's appreciation for Egypt's tireless efforts to secure a ceasefire in Gaza, release captives, and provide humanitarian aid to the strip. He also praised Egypt's efforts in combating irregular migration and commended the ongoing coordination between Egypt and the Netherlands on this issue. Moreover, the two leaders discussed cooperation in confronting terrorism and extremism. In this respect, Schoof affirmed Egypt's leading role and significant expertise in this regard. The call also touched on various aspects of strengthening Egyptian-Dutch ties in the fields of trade, investment, agriculture, water resource management, financial services, and energy. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Al-Ahram Weekly
12 hours ago
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Ukraine says 31 killed in Russian strike on Thursday - War in Ukraine
Ukrainian rescue workers on Friday uncovered the body of a two-year-old, as they finished work following a Russian attack the day prior that killed 31 people in all. Kyiv observed a day of mourning after the deadliest attack in the Ukrainian capital this year ripped open a nine-storey residential building, wounding 159 people and claiming the lives of five children. "This despicable attack by Russia shows that additional pressure and sanctions on Moscow are necessary," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Friday, announcing rescue operations had wrapped up. "We appreciate that (US) President (Donald) Trump, European leaders and our other partners clearly see what is happening and condemn Russia," he added. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas on Friday described the Russian attacks as "depraved" and posted a picture of the bloc's flag at half mast. "More weapons for Ukraine and tougher sanctions on Russia are the fastest way to end the war. Getting more air defenses to Ukraine fast is our priority," she added in a post. Separately, one person was also killed in a Russian attack early Friday on Zaporizhzhia, in southeast Ukraine, the region's military administration said on Telegram. Another was killed in the northeastern Kharkiv region, officials said, while the toll from another strike on Thursday -- this time in Kramatorsk further south -- rose to three. Thursday's attack was among the deadliest the capital has seen since Russia launched its large-scale offensive in February 2022. Trump on Thursday blasted Russia's actions in Ukraine, suggesting that new sanctions against Moscow were coming. "Russia -- I think it's disgusting what they're doing. I think it's disgusting," Trump told journalists. On Monday, the US leader issued a "10 or 12" day ultimatum for Moscow to halt its invasion, now in its fourth year, or face sanctions. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
