His Eminence Prof. Ahmad At-Tayyeb, Grand Imam of Al-Azhar and Chairman of the MCE received Mr. Charles Michel, President of the European Council, at his residence in the Azerbaijani capital, Baku. Imam At-Tayyeb emphasized that this meeting is an opportunity to listen to shared concerns and discuss the humanitarian tragedies that defy all logic and reason, praying for a swift end to these crises.
Imam At-Tayyeb also stated that Al-Azhar has made significant strides in opening up to others and building global peace. These efforts have resulted in several key initiatives prioritizing brotherhood and mutual understanding in East-West relations, rather than focusing solely on economic interests and material gains. Among these efforts is the historic cosigning of the Human Fraternity Document between Al-Azhar and the Vatican, which has gained widespread recognition, with the day of cosigning it being designated by the United Nations as a global day of human fraternity, on February 4th. He noted that these efforts were deemed sufficient to counter the falsehoods about Islam in the West and other claims disguised as truths to justify conflicts.
Imam At-Tayyeb expressed his disappointment that the outcomes were highly discouraging and contrary to expectations, with "double standards" continuing to be the norm in dealing with Eastern issues. He observed that the new global order and international laws seem to support those with excessive power in terms of arms and economy, oppressing the weak and completely abandoning the philosophies and ethics of religions. He stressed that what we have seen in Gaza for over 500 days is a blatant violation of religious, moral, and humanitarian values.
The Grand Imam noted that there was hope for major international entities, like the European Union, the United Nations, and the Security Council, to play a significant role in this conflict. However, the reality has shown a significant gap between statements and actions. While some European countries issue condemnation statements against the violations committed by the occupier in Gaza, others continue to export weapons to the occupier, providing unlimited support and participating in the killing of innocents in Gaza, ignoring the uncurbed bloodshed. He pointed out that this is a clear contradiction in the European stance towards the aggression on Gaza and is contrary to the position of the masses who protested in major European capitals and American universities, demanding an end to the killing of innocent women, children, and elders, whose death toll exceeds 40,000.
The Grand Imam declared, "God is Just, and based on my faith in His justice, I can say that those who remain silent about these crimes and massacres today will be afflicted by some of them sooner or later." He noted that the failure to support Palestinians has led many to believe that there is no solution to the chaos leading the world, and no force can stand up to this occupier and stop its shedding of innocent blood. He stressed that the only way to establish peace today is to deter the aggressor by force, stating that zooming in on October 7th, portraying it as the beginning of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, and depicting subsequent events as mere reactions is a clear injustice to the issue and the Palestinian people. He emphasized that what is happening in Gaza is an attack by a heavily armed military, using internationally and ethically prohibited heavy weapons, on a defenseless people without even their daily sustenance, with the declared goal of killing innocents to seize land.
The Grand Imam emphasized that many Western officials cannot comprehend the reality of what is happening in Gaza, and in turn their statements are characterized by a nominal "objectivity and impartiality." They make appeals and issue statements aiming to avoid siding with one party over another. He urged everyone to consider the weekly requests he receives from Palestinian students fleeing the aggression to continue their studies at Al-Azhar University. When speaking to them, most, if not all, are unaware of the fate of their family members, not knowing who has been lost and who is still alive. He called on Western officials to adopt a new rhetoric that lives up to the magnitude of the chaos and humanity's plight in Gaza. Imam At-Tayyeb stressed that everyone must realize that this aggression has created a thick wall of black hatred between East and West that will take decades to dismantle and replace with bridges of relations based on respect and equality.
In response, Mr. Charles Michel expressed his appreciation for the Grand Imam's significant efforts in promoting brotherhood and tolerance, affirming that the Grand Imam represents an unrivaled moderate religious authority worldwide. He emphasized that the world urgently needs Al-Azhar's moderate and influential voice in promoting a culture of rapprochement and coexistence. He agreed with the Grand Imam's remarks on the danger of "double standards" in addressing global conflicts and the need for clear evaluations and naming issues accurately. Just as the events in Ukraine are labeled as "war crimes," the same should be said for what is happening in Gaza.
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