PM Honors Saudi Minister of Islamic Affairs

Egypt’s Prime Minister (PM) Moustafa Madbouli honored on Monday the Saudi Minister of Islamic Affairs Sheikh Abdullatif Al-Asheikh for his sincere advocacy efforts and his long endeavor to renew religious discourse and correct misconceptions.

This came during the activities of the inaugural session of “Renovation of Islamic Thought” international conference, organized by Al-Azhar institution, under the auspicious of President Abdel Fattah El Sisi.

The opening session was attended by Egyptian PM, as well as a number of political and religious leaders from 46 countries around the world.

On his part, Al-Asheikh expressed his deep appreciation for the Egyptian government's significant role in serving Islam and Muslims, spreading peace, moderation, and facing the currents of terrorism, atheism, and dissolution.

Moreover, Al-Azhar Grand Imam Dr. Ahmed El-Tayyeb announced the establishment of the “Heritage and Renewal” center, to discuss various issues that need renewal.

In his word before the conference, he added that the new center will include Muslim scholars from inside and outside Egypt as well as a group of university professors and specialists in the fields of knowledge who seek to contribute to the renewal process that Muslims and non-Muslims expect.

Moreover, El-Tayyeb affirmed that this conference is not a typical one, yet it aims at outlining strategic mechanisms for a number of specific issues.

It is worth mentioning that, the Egyptian President has repeatedly stressed in recent years the importance of having balanced religious discourse to confront extremism and radical ideology, blaming outdated religious discourse for holding Egypt back, and often calling on Islamic clerics to reform their religious speech to confront extremist ideology.