The Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Prof. Ahmad At-Tayyeb, said that South Africa’s historic position towards the Zionist aggression on the Gaza Strip could only come from a great people raised by a great leader and hero. His Eminence added, “I am happy that this unique voice comes from Africa, especially from South Africa, which stood against injustice and colonialism, resisted it, and triumphed over it. We lived through the period of Nelson Mandela and we experienced the challenges he faced. We took him as a symbol of steadfastness and he was a hero in all his positions. He lived a life full of heroism, as he was a hero when he rejected colonialism, a hero when he rejected apartheid, a hero when he endured a long period in prison and he was most heroic when he instilled in the people of South Africa the values of supporting the oppressed and standing up to the oppressors and tyrants.”
At-Tayyeb affirmed on Sunday, during his meeting with Mr. Joseph Mashimbye, the Ambassador of the Republic of South Africa to Cairo, that what South Africa has done is the most painful weapon to the Zionist entity, and it is the initiator of this global movement that is taking place in the streets and universities of Europe and America. He pointed out that South Africa’s move against the aggression on Gaza made the Zionist entity lose a large part of its tricks, behind which it hides under the pretext of anti-Semitism, deceiving entire peoples for decades. However, South Africa exposed these lies and falsehoods and showed the true and bad image of this entity.
Moreover, At-Tayyeb sent a message to the people of South Africa: “You are the ones who have awakened the conscience of the free world and corrected the wrong path the world was taking. You have become, along with the Palestinians, a symbol of freedom, equality and confronting the assault on homelands, land, and people. We at Al-Azhar appreciate your historic position in support of the Palestinian cause and we know that you will face great hardships and challenges and will pay a heavy price. We are ready to provide unlimited scholarships for South African students to study at Al-Azhar in appreciation of this unique historic stance.”
For his part, the South African ambassador expressed his happiness to meet the Grand Imam and his country’s appreciation for Al-Azhar’s support for South Africa’s position before the International Court of Justice. He stated, “We know that achieving peace will not be easy, and our country is ready to proceed on this path, no matter the cost.” He pointed out that South Africa maintains strong relations with Al-Azhar and that the Muslim community in South Africa has a prominent role in development and progress in various fields.
