Al-Azhar Grand Imam Meets Somali President, Affirms Solidarity Against Extremism

Al-Azhar Grand Imam Meets Somali President, Affirms Solidarity Against Extremism

Grand Imam Ahmed El-Tayeb of Al-Azhar welcomes Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, discussing educational and religious support for the Somali people.

Grand Imam Ahmed El-Tayeb, the leader of Al-Azhar, met with Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud this Saturday at Al-Azhar in Cairo. They explored ways to enhance Al-Azhar's academic and religious support to the people of Somalia.

Grand Imam El-Tayeb reaffirmed Al-Azhar's solidarity with Somalia in preserving its territorial integrity and stability. He emphasized that Al-Azhar would spare no effort in providing the necessary academic and religious support to Somalia. A committee was directed to be established to coordinate efforts with Somalia based on its needs and internal challenges. This includes organizing training courses for Somali imams and preachers and distributing Al-Azhar scholarships aligned with Somalia's internal challenges.

The Somali President welcomed this proposal, marking it as an important step in coordinating joint efforts. He announced he would appoint his personal representative to this committee, alongside officials from the Somali embassy in Cairo.

President Mohamud invited Grand Imam El-Tayeb to visit Somalia, noting that such a visit would be historic and a message of solidarity against extremist ideologies.

He highlighted Somalia's urgent need for Al-Azhar's scholars and its moderate teachings, calling for an expansion of Al-Azhar institutes in Somalia to counteract extremist thought. The President added that Al-Azhar's approach is more crucial than military tanks and supplies used to combat extremist groups.