Latest news with #OsamaAl-Azhari
See - Sada Elbalad
3 days ago
- Politics
- See - Sada Elbalad
Endowments Minister, U.S. Ambassador Discuss Co-op, Humanitarian Priorities
Nada Mustafa Dr. Osama Al-Azhari, Egypt's Minister of Endowments, received U.S. Ambassador to Cairo, Herro Mustafa Garg, today at the ministry's headquarters in the New Administrative Capital (NAC). The American delegation also included Mr. Scott Stanford, Political Advisor at the U.S. Embassy, and Mr. Curtis Chan, Regional Director of English Language Programs at the embassy. From the Egyptian side, the meeting was attended by Ambassador Sameh Aboul-Enein, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for American Affairs; Sheikh Khaled Khadr, Head of the Religious Affairs Sector at the Ministry; Dr. Tarek Abdel-Hamid, Director of the Central Administration for the Minister's Office Affairs; and Dr. Osama Raslan, the Ministry's Spokesperson and Head of the Media Office. The two sides discussed ongoing cooperation between Egypt and the United States in the fields of economy, science, culture, and education. They exchanged views on several key issues, including promoting a spirit of tolerance and moderation, and the importance of providing exemplary role models to foster coexistence, mutual respect, and religious freedom. US Ambassador praised Egypt's significant progress in promoting tolerance, particularly under the leadership of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, who has shown a personal commitment to these values. Al-Azhari expressed his hope that the United States would fully uphold human rights and humanitarian values, beginning with urgent relief for the people of Gaza. He described the suffering there as beyond words and called for action grounded in compassion. He also expressed his desire to deepen cooperation between Egypt's religious institutions and American academic and research centers in pursuit of shared humanitarian goals. For her part, US Ambassador commended the Minister's initiatives against extremism, noting that his efforts long predate his tenure as minister. She expressed interest in expanding cooperation in this domain both regionally and internationally, emphasizing Egypt's vital role as a center of moderate Islam and a key player in global counterterrorism efforts. She also noted her multiple visits to El-Arish to support humanitarian aid efforts for Gaza and praised Egypt's role in facilitating aid, highlighting that 98% of global assistance to Gaza passes through Egypt, describing this as a deeply humanitarian contribution worthy of international recognition. read more Gold prices rise, 21 Karat at EGP 3685 NATO's Role in Israeli-Palestinian Conflict US Expresses 'Strong Opposition' to New Turkish Military Operation in Syria Shoukry Meets Director-General of FAO Lavrov: confrontation bet. nuclear powers must be avoided News Iran Summons French Ambassador over Foreign Minister Remarks News Aboul Gheit Condemns Israeli Escalation in West Bank News Greek PM: Athens Plays Key Role in Improving Energy Security in Region News One Person Injured in Explosion at Ukrainian Embassy in Madrid News Ayat Khaddoura's Final Video Captures Bombardment of Beit Lahia News Australia Fines Telegram $600,000 Over Terrorism, Child Abuse Content Sports Former Al Zamalek Player Ibrahim Shika Passes away after Long Battle with Cancer Sports Neymar Announced for Brazil's Preliminary List for 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers News Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly Inaugurates Two Indian Companies Arts & Culture New Archaeological Discovery from 26th Dynasty Uncovered in Karnak Temple Business Fear & Greed Index Plummets to Lowest Level Ever Recorded amid Global Trade War Arts & Culture Zahi Hawass: Claims of Columns Beneath the Pyramid of Khafre Are Lies News Flights suspended at Port Sudan Airport after Drone Attacks News Shell Unveils Cost-Cutting, LNG Growth Plan
Egypt Today
11-05-2025
- Politics
- Egypt Today
Egypt's Parliament approves draft law regulating Fatwa Issuance
CAIRO – 11 May 2025: During its plenary session today, Sunday, chaired by Parliamentary Speaker Hanafi Gebaly, the House of Representatives finally approved a draft law submitted by the government regulating the issuance of religious fatwas (Islamic decisions). The Religious Committee of Parliament confirmed in its report that the draft law aims to regulate and ensure the quality of fatwa issuance in accordance with Islamic law, thereby protecting society from extremist fatwas and contributing to the preservation of social peace. A week ago, Egypt's Minister of Endowments Osama Al-Azhari said at the Egyptian Senate (the upper house of the Parliament) that Ministry of Endowment was drafting a new law regulating issuance of fatwas. The draft law was being formulated in cooperation with Religious Committees in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, he said, noting that President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi had previously emphasized the importance of addressing this issue. 'There is growing societal awareness and an urgent need for a strong legal framework that deters unauthorized individuals from issuing fatwas, which could endanger both public safety and national security,' Azhari said. The Minister of Endowments explained that the draft law followed standard legislative procedures; it was first submitted to the Cabinet, which then referred it to the House of Representatives. As of today, the Religious Committee in the House has begun its discussions, signaling that the bill is now in its final stages.
Egypt Today
05-05-2025
- Politics
- Egypt Today
Egypt to introduce a new law regulating issuance of fatwas: Minister of Endowment
Egyptian Minister of Endowments Osama Al-Azhari - press photo CAIRO – 6 May 2025: Egypt's Ministry of Endowment is drafting a new law regulating issuance of fatwas (Islamic rules), stated Minister of Endowments Osama Al-Azhari at the Egyptian Senate (the upper house of the Parliament) on Monday. The draft law is being formulated in cooperation with Religious Committees in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, he said, noting that President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi had previously emphasized the importance of addressing this issue. 'There is growing societal awareness and an urgent need for a strong legal framework that deters unauthorized individuals from issuing fatwas, which could endanger both public safety and national security,' Azhari said. The Minister of Endowments explained that the draft law followed standard legislative procedures; it was first submitted to the Cabinet, which then referred it to the House of Representatives. As of today, the Religious Committee in the House has begun its discussions, signaling that the bill is now in its final stages. He clarified that fatwas fall into two categories: general fatwas on national or sensitive matters, which are the exclusive domain of the Senior Scholars Authority at Al-Azhar Al-Sharif and the Egyptian Dar Al-Iftaa; and individual or minor fatwas, which are to be issued by authorized imams and preachers affiliated with the Ministry of Endowments in mosques across the country. 'As for major religious rulings, they remain strictly under the jurisdiction of Al-Azhar's Senior Scholars Authority and Dar Al-Iftaa,' he emphasized.
Egypt Today
04-03-2025
- Politics
- Egypt Today
Egypt's Islamic Religious Institutes Condemn Israeli Government's Decision to Halt Humanitarian Aid to Gaza Strip
CAIRO – 4 March 2025: Al-Azhar Al-Sharif, the Egyptian Ministry of Endowments, and Dar Al-Iftaa (Islamic Fatwas) have condemned the Israeli government's decision to block humanitarian aid from entering the Gaza Strip and to close the crossings used for relief efforts. In a statement, Al-Azhar, Egypt's leading Sunni Islamic institution, denounced the decision by the Zionist occupation forces to halt the entry of humanitarian and relief aid convoys into Gaza. Al-Azhar stated that the Israeli authorities, by depriving innocent men, women, and children of food and basic necessities, are demonstrating an utter disregard for mercy, human dignity, and the sanctity of the blessed month of Ramadan, during which Muslims abstaining from eating and drinking from dawn to sunset. The institution condemned the exploitation of these religious practices as a means to inflict further suffering. Al-Azhar emphasized that denying food and aid to fasting individuals is a reprehensible crime, according to the tenets of Islam, which calls for justice and divine punishment for such actions both in this world and the hereafter. The statement also condemned the silence of those in power who have the ability to halt these actions and the support extended to those perpetrating these crimes. Al-Azhar urged the governments of Islamic countries to leverage their diplomatic and political influence to end the oppressive siege on Gaza, particularly during the holy month of Ramadan. The siege aims to force Palestinians into a dire situation, where they must choose between starvation or leaving Gaza, allowing the occupying entity to further entrench its hold over the land. The institution called on Islamic countries and the international community to fulfill their moral and historical responsibilities to end this unjust blockade. It demanded the immediate opening of Gaza's crossings, the facilitation of aid convoys, and the accountability of Israeli authorities for their war crimes. Al-Azhar called for a trial of those responsible for the heinous crimes committed in Gaza. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office recently announced that the flow of aid into Gaza would cease immediately, as the first phase of the Hamas-Israeli ceasefire agreement expired on Saturday at midnight. However, Tel Aviv has approved a temporary extension of the ceasefire for an additional six weeks, coinciding with both the Muslim holy month of Ramadan and the Jewish Pesach holiday. Meanwhile, Osama Al-Azhari, the Egyptian Minister of Endowments, strongly condemned the Israeli decision, describing it as a blatant violation of international laws and norms. He emphasized that such actions exacerbate the suffering of the Palestinian people, particularly during Ramadan. The Minister stressed that depriving innocent people of food and medicine constitutes a humanitarian crime, violating both divine laws and international conventions designed to protect civilians in times of conflict. He warned that continued restrictions on aid will only worsen the suffering of vulnerable groups, such as women, children, and the elderly, who face life-threatening conditions. The Minister called for immediate action from the international community and humanitarian organizations to pressure the Israeli authorities to allow the safe and timely delivery of aid to Gaza. He further emphasized that ignoring these violations is tantamount to complicity with the occupation and its moral and humanitarian transgressions. The Minister urged all international actors to take a firm stand to end the injustice faced by the Palestinian people, asserting their right to live with dignity and to establish an independent state with Jerusalem as its capital, based on the 1967 borders. Additionally, Dr. Nazir Muhammad Ayyad, Grand Mufti of the Republic and Head of the General Secretariat of Fatwa Authorities and Institutions in the World, condemned in the strongest terms the Israeli decision to block the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza and close the crossings used for relief efforts. Additional reporting by Amr Mohamed Kandil
See - Sada Elbalad
28-02-2025
- Politics
- See - Sada Elbalad
Prime Minister Inaugurates "Al-Ali al-Azim" Mosque in Almaza
Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly inaugurated Friday the "Al-Ali al-Azim" Mosque in the Almaza area of Cairo, in the presence of Osama Al-Azhari, Minister of Endowments, a number of ministers and senior officials, in addition to state leaders and representatives of the Armed Forces Engineering Authority, the Ministry of Endowments and Al-Azhar Al-Sharif. During the inauguration, the Prime Minister unveiled the mosque, stressing the state's keenness to develop and renovate existing mosques and build new ones in various governorates. He explained that the Ministry of Endowments is preparing to receive the month of Ramadan by opening 162 new mosques, including 111 mosques that have been completely rebuilt, and 51 mosques that have undergone maintenance and development work. Madbouly inspected the mosque and listened to an explanation given by Ahmed El-Ezzizi, Head of the Armed Forces Engineering Authority, who explained that the construction work of the mosque began in July 2023 and ended in February 2025, adding that the mosque can accommodate 5,000 worshipers, is built on an area of 8,100 square meters, and consists of three floors including a basement, a ground floor, and an upper floor. The mosque also contains multiple service facilities, including an events hall, halls, a room for memorizing the Qur'an, a prayer room for women, internal and external courtyards, clinics, a parking lot, bathrooms, a nursery, educational classes, and a library.
