Grand Imam of Al Azhar discusses strategy to confront intellectual extremism with French media delegation

CAIRO – 19 March 2023: Grand Imam of Al Azhar, Sheikh Ahmed Al Tayeb met on Sunday with a number of French journalists and intellectuals at the Sheikhdom of Al-Azhar Al-Sharif to answer their questions about Al-Azhar’s strategy to confront intellectual extremism, according to a statement from the Sheikhdom.

The Grand Imam clarified that Islam has no link to killing, destruction, and terrorism that have been perpetrated in its name, noting that Al-Azhar has repeatedly declared its rejection of these criminal acts.

“We have refuted the myths of those who claim that Islam calls for the killing of non-Muslims who differ in religion and belief,” the Grand Imam said.

Islam did not force anyone to convert to it but rather urged Muslims to positive coexistence and acquaintance, to deal with wisdom and good advice, and to cooperate for the advancement of societies, Tayeb said.

He added that the extremist groups have been politically created to distort religion, wondering why Muslims are the most targeted by these extremist terrorist groups that practice most of their crimes in the vicinity of Islamic countries.

The Grand Imam indicated that Al-Azhar has a program for training imams coming from different countries around the globe at the Al-Azhar International Academy for Training Imams and Preachers.

The Sheikh of Al-Azhar warned against the danger of normalizing societal diseases that contradict the nature of Islamic and eastern societies, such as homosexuality, and imposing them by force under the banner of freedom of opinion and expression through a Western media agenda directed at our Arab and Islamic world.

The French media delegation stressed that Al-Azhar is an important global voice to answer all questions raised about Islam and confronting extremism, adding that Al-Azhar is highly appreciated, especially in Europe, in spreading the values of brotherhood, tolerance and coexistence.