Latest news with #al-Azhar
Middle East Eye
24-07-2025
- Politics
- Middle East Eye
Egypt presidency forced Al-Azhar to delete statement condemning Israel's starvation of Gaza
Egypt's presidency pressured Ahmed al-Tayeb, the grand imam of Al-Azhar, the world's foremost Islamic institution, to withdraw a statement condemning Israel's "genocidal starvation" of Gaza, sources told Middle East Eye. The Cairo-based Al-Azhar said on Wednesday that it had deleted a strongly worded call to action over the starvation of Palestinians in Gaza, citing its potential impact on ceasefire negotiations. In a statement, the institution said it "took the initiative to withdraw its statement with courage and responsibility before God when it realised that this statement could impact the ongoing negotiations regarding a humanitarian truce in Gaza to save innocent lives". "Al-Azhar has prioritised the interests of preventing the daily bloodshed in Gaza, hoping that the negotiations will lead to an immediate halt to the bloodshed and provide the most basic necessities of life, of which the oppressed Palestinian people have been deprived," the statement said. But two sources close to Al-Azhar and the Egyptian presidency confirmed to Middle East Eye that the statement was removed shortly after it was published on Tuesday following a request from President Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi's office. The sources spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to speak to the press. The reason for the withdrawal was that the statement referred to the complicy of third states in what Al-Azhar described as "fully fledged genocide" in Gaza. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi (R) greets the grand imam of al-Azhar, Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayeb, on the first day of the Eid al-Adha holiday on 24 September 2015 in Cairo (AFP)
L'Orient-Le Jour
23-07-2025
- Politics
- L'Orient-Le Jour
Egypt's al-Azhar deletes social media post calling for 'global action to urgently save Gaza from famine'
BEIRUT — The official account of the Grand Mosque of al-Azhar in Egypt deleted a post on X on Tuesday that called for global action to urgently save Gaza from famine, sparking anger among social media users. In the now-deleted statement, which was screenshotted and posted on social media platforms, al-Azhar said it "issues its sad cry and its grieving global appeal, calling on people of living conscience from the free, rational, wise and honorable people of the world who are still suffering from the pain of the war." The statement called on "those in power to take action to do all it could against the monstrous entity [Israel]" and expressed that it was "shocked by global silence," adding: "God is watchful over those who remain silent." The post's deletion provoked widespread criticism online, with many users tagging Egyptian President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi and accusing him of being "complicit in genocide." "It is highly likely that the authorities did not appreciate this call for mobilization and demanded its removal," said Algerian-French political scientist Hasni Abidi. "This comes after a ban on an international solidarity march toward Gaza via Rafah," Abidi continued, adding: "And to think that some people still believe that Israel is surrounded by hostile Arab states!" Egypt has repeatedly blocked activists planning to take part in a march to Gaza near the Rafah area, most recently in June, halting the attempt to reach the border and challenge Israel's blockade of humanitarian aid to the enclave before the march could begin. Egypt controls Gaza's southern border, under an agreement with Israel. Neither Israel nor Egypt permits free travel from Gaza, as both borders are heavily militarily fortified. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz referred to the protestors as "jihadists" and called on Egypt to prevent them from reaching the Gaza border. He claimed they "endanger the Egyptian regime and constitute a threat to all moderate Arab regimes in the region." Al-Azhar is one of the oldest centers of Islamic learning in the world, located in Cairo, Egypt. Founded in 970 CE as a mosque and later developing into a university, al-Azhar has played a significant role in the religious, educational and political life of the Islamic world for over a millennium. According to its official website, the institution "serves as a key authority on Sunni Islamic theology and jurisprudence, issuing religious edicts (fatwas), overseeing Islamic education across the globe, and engaging in interfaith dialogue." Another user wrote: "The so-called Arab countries are cowards." One user commented: "It seems that words are disturbing their sleep," referring to the deleted statement, and added: "Reminder… between Cairo and Gaza is a 5-hour drive and they are facing famine… between Cairo and Gaza are walls guarded by hyenas whose chivalry has died." Most of the reactions came from users based in Egypt, according to their profiles. Azhar had previously called for 'lifting the blockade' Al-Azhar, currently headed by Imam Ahmed al-Tayeb, has repeatedly called for ending the war in Gaza and lifting the blockade since Israel's offensive on the besieged Strip began on Oct. 7, 2023. It had previously "urged Islamic countries and the international community to demand the immediate opening of border crossings, facilitate the entry of aid convoys, and hold Israel accountable for its crimes." Witnesses and Gaza's civil defense agency have repeatedly accused Israeli forces of firing on aid seekers, with the U.N. reporting that the military has killed more than 1,000 Palestinians trying to access food since late May. Gaza's 2.4 million residents are suffering from severe shortages of food and essential goods. Three months' worth of aid remains stockpiled at Gaza's border in aid agencies' trucks, including those of the U.N., awaiting Israeli permission — while Israeli authorities continue to block entry. The U.N. World Food Program says Gaza's hunger crisis has reached 'new and astonishing levels of desperation.' Nearly 100,000 women and children are suffering from severe acute malnutrition, and a third of Gaza's population is going days without food, according to Ross Smith, the agency's director for emergencies, on Monday. Gaza's Health Ministry reported Tuesday that more than 100 people — mostly children — have died while showing signs of hunger and malnutrition. It added that at least 15 Palestinians have died in the enclave over the past two days due to starvation.
Watani
29-06-2025
- Health
- Watani
Cooperation Protocol on mental health between Coptic Church and Youth Ministry
The Coptic Orthodox Synod's Committee for Mental Health and Addiction Control, has recently signed a cooperation protocol with the Ministry of Youth and Sports. The protocol aims to provide youth with training and awareness programmes in psychological development and life skills, with an eye on the national vision to build balanced and cohesive youth awareness. The protocol was signed during the opening ceremony of the Ministry of Youth's Life Management Office permanent headquarters at the Youth Innovation and Learning Centre in Gezira, Cairo. Present at the signing ceremony was Ashraf Sobhi, Minister of Youth and Sports, and from the Church side, Fr Moussa Fathy, Secretary of the Synodal Committee for Mental Health and Addiction Control. During the event, the Ministry of Youth and Sports signed similar protocols of cooperation with al-Azhar's world centre on electronic fatwas—al-Azhar is the world's top most authority on Sunni Islam; and other State-owned educational institutes. According to the Minister of Youth and Sports, the Life Management Skills Office aligns with the State's vision of building people from within. 'We focus on developing skills such as positive thinking, effective communication, leadership, and time management, in addition to promoting mental health, all of which are essential elements for building a conscientious and qualified generation for the future,' Dr Sobhy said. He explained that partnerships with religious and educational facilities serve as a key purpose in shaping youth awareness and equipping them with the skills necessary for their professional and personal lives. Watani International 29 June 2025 Comments comments Tags: Basma NasserCoptic Church and Youth Ministry mental health
Egypt Today
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Egypt Today
Al-Azhar Garand Imam calls on India, Pakistan to exercise wisdom, prioritize language of dialogue
CAIRO – 8 May 2025: Grand Imam of al-Azhar Ahmed el-Tayeb called on both of India and Pakistan to 'exercise wisdom, prioritize the language of dialogue and demonstrate the utmost levels of self-restraint.' On his X account, el-Tayeb said that 'It is imperative to halt any escalation and to refrain from using shared natural resources as instruments to inflame conflicts and incite fanaticism. We urge a swift return to the negotiation table, for our world today cannot endure further wars and conflicts.' On Wednesday, Egypt called on India and Pakistan to exercise maximum restraint and prioritize diplomatic dialogue after deadly strikes exchanged between the two Asian countries on Wednesday. In a statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Egypt underlined the importance of resorting to peaceful solutions that fulfill the aspirations of both countries' friendly peoples in achieving calm and stability. Egypt stressed the need to exert every effort to de-escalate the crisis and prevent further regional escalation. A dangerous escalation has erupted between India and Pakistan following a series of Indian missile strikes deep within Pakistani territory. The strikes, which India claims targeted infrastructure linked to a recent tourist massacre, killed at least 26 deaths, including a child, and sparked a furious response from Islamabad. Meanwhile, a local Indian government official said at least eight Indians were killed and 29 others were injured in retaliatory strikes. The Indian strikes were followed by intense exchanges of fire across the disputed border, claiming more lives on both sides. Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the Indian strikes and vowed retaliation.
Egypt Today
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Egypt Today
Al-Azhar Grand Imam congratulates Pope Leo XIV on his election
CAIRO – 8 May 2025: Grand Imam of al-Azhar Ahmed el-Tayeb congratulated, on Thursday Pope Leo XIV on his election as Pope of the Catholic Church. El Tayeb said that he is looking forward to continuing collaboration with the new Pope in strengthening interfaith dialogue and promoting the values of human fraternity, in pursuit of global peace, coexistence, and a better future for all humanity. 'My sincere congratulations to Pope Leo XIV on his election as Pope of the Catholic Church. We look forward to continuing our collaboration with His Holiness in strengthening interfaith dialogue and promoting the values of human fraternity, in pursuit of global peace, coexistence, and a better future for all humanity,' el-Tayeb wrote on his X account. Cardinal Robert Prevost was elected on Thursday as the first American pope, and took the name Leo XIV. Prevost, 69, will be the267th pontiff after being elected by the College of Cardinals to succeed Pope Francis, who died April 21 at the age of 88. According to Vatican news, Prevost was Born in Chicago in 1955 to parents of Spanish and Franco-Italian descent. He spent his childhood and adolescence with his family and studied first at the Minor Seminary of the Augustinian Fathers and then at Villanova University in Pennsylvania, where in 1977 he earned a Degree in Mathematics and also studied Philosophy.
