Grand Imam of Al-Azhar to the UN Secretary-General: Through your fair stances, you represent a glimmer of hope for protecting the vulnerable and oppressed in Gaza.
Grand Imam of Al-Azhar: The world is moving in the wrong direction without moral controls, and if this situation continues, we will see an unprecedented spread of crime, hatred, and acts of violence.
Imam At-Tayyeb: What is happening in Gaza threatens to destroy communication and East-West rapprochement efforts
Imam At-Tayyeb to Mr. Guterres: The international community’s reactions to the aggression on Gaza were frustrating and disappointing.
Mr. Guterres: I do not recall a more dangerous era than the one we are living in now
Mr. Guterres: We continue to sustain justice in Gaza, and no one will be able to silence us or muffle our voice
Mr. Guterres: Al-Azhar is a strong voice in support of the Palestinian people and is determined to put pressure on the international community to respect the rights of the Palestinians
Imam At-Tayyeb offers Mr. Guterres the shield of the Muslim Council of Elders (MCE) in appreciation for his courageous stances towards the Palestinians and for combatting Islamophobia
Today, Sunday, at the Headquarters of Al-Azhar, Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Prof. Ahmad At-Tayyeb received Mr. António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, accompanied by Mr. Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), and Ms. Elena Panova, the UN Resident Coordinator in Egypt. The two parties discussed the latest developments in the situation in Gaza.
His Eminence Imam At-Tayyeb welcomed Mr. António Guterres to Al-Azhar Ash-Sharif, praising his courageous stances in supporting Palestinian rights and sustaining justice and human rights in Gaza, his clear stances to warn the world of the dangers of this aggression, and the great efforts made by UNRWA towards refugees and those fleeing the fires of aggression.
His Eminence Imam At-Tayyeb averred: We have followed your courageous steps and fair words in various international forums, and the pressures and difficult situations you have been subjected to as you defend justice and Palestinian rights. I assure you that we at Al-Azhar Ash-Sharif, scholars, professors, students, and affiliates, support your positions and will not stop supporting you. We know very well that you feel what we feel of pain and sadness. We have but to cling to God Almighty, and you, through your stances and the stances of people like you of fair leaders and wise men, represent a glimmer of hope for protecting the vulnerable and oppressed in Gaza.
Imam At-Tayyeb stressed that the world is moving in the wrong direction without humanitarian rules or moral controls, stressing that if the current situation continues, we will see an unprecedented spread of crime, hatred, destruction, wars, and acts of violence, and this infection will spread from conflict areas to all countries of the world, and its impact will reach the West and America, Therefore, we must all unite and stand in solidarity to stop the waterfall of innocent blood that is being violated at every hour.
Grand Imam of Al-Azhar stressed that what is happening in Gaza threatens to destroy communication, convergence, and East-West rapprochement efforts launched years ago, adding that the reactions of the Security Council and the international community to the aggression on Gaza were frustrating and disappointing. For the Grand Imam, a great number of Western and American peoples, including some fair-minded Jews, showed a much fairer stance and came out to demand an end to the aggression against Gaza.
For his part, Mr. Guterres averred: It is my great honor to convey to Your Eminence our appreciation for Al-Azhar Ash-Sharif as a strong voice defending and supporting the Palestinian people, and our insistence on exerting pressure on the international community so that the rights of the Palestinians are respected, and their suffering is alleviated. Yesterday, I visited the Rafah crossing to send a message that it is necessary to stop the aggression and for the international community to carry out its duties through decisions and not just words. I saw on the Palestinians the other side of the crossing suffering the most from the shortage of food and drink and the spread of various types of infectious diseases. We must all shed light on this suffering and stop it immediately. It is the responsibility of all of us.
Mr. Guterres pointed out that, the day before, he met with officials from international institutions and organizations, and heard many stories about what was happening in the Gaza Strip. He noted that some officials told him that throughout their work and for more than 25 years in conflict and war zones around the world, they had not seen this scale of destruction, suffering, and violence that is witnessed in Gaza.
Mr. Guterres affirmed that Islamophobia has aggravated significantly and has become one of the most widespread forms of discrimination and hatred. He added that this has been propped by modern technological development, indicating that the world is now witnessing the worst condition of hatred and violence ever, citing the situation in Sudan, Gaza, Ukraine, and various parts of Africa. He commented, “I do not recall a more dangerous era than that we are living in now,” stressing his continued support for justice in Gaza, and that no one will be able to silence him or mute his voice.
At the end of the meeting, Imam At-Tayyeb offers Mr. Guterres the MCE shield in expression of Al-Azhar’s and all the wise men of the Islamic world’s appreciation for his courageous stances towards the innocent Palestinians in Gaza and for his stances in combatting Islamophobia.
