Sheikh Al-Azhar, Colombian First Lady call for ending arms industry

CAIRO - 24 November 2024: Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Ahmed El-Tayeb, received on Saturday at Al-Azhar Sheikhdom Mrs. Verónica Alcocer Garcia, the Colombian first lady.

The grand imam welcomed her and asked to convey his greetings to Colombian President Gustavo Petro, according to a statement issued by the Sheikhdom.

The grand imam of Al-Azhar also praised the Colombian President’s stance that emphasizes the necessity of respecting the decision of the International Criminal Court to issue arrest warrants for the war criminals of the occupying entity, Benjamin Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant. This is in addition to the Colombian president’s continuous demand to stop the genocide in Gaza.

Sheikh Ahmed El-Tayeb said that  Al-Azhar is spreading the message of Islam represented in peace among all; Islam made compassion the basis of relations regardless of people's beliefs, races, and colors. I'm He added that Allah wanted to make accepting the other a universal law, and made the natural bond among humans the governing factor in relations among believers, and among believers and non-believers. 

Regarding the concept of war in Islam, Sheikh Ahmed El-Tayeb stated that war was only legislated to repel aggression. He emphasized that historical wars, often labeled as "religious wars," were not driven by religious motives but rather by political ideologies that sought to manipulate and exploit religion. 

He pointed out that this is currently evident in Gaza, where a genocide is being carried out under the guise of religious justification. Sheikh El-Tayeb explained that biblical texts are being misinterpreted and distorted to serve political agendas, aiming to seize Palestinian land and violate their rights.

He spoke about Al-Azhar’s initiative of the Egyptian Family House with Egyptian churches, to strengthen the bonds of coexistence between Egyptians, Muslims and Christians. 

He also discussed Al-Azhar’s efforts to communicate with the West, crowned by the signing of the historic Human Fraternity Document in Abu Dhabi with Pope Francis on February 4, which was later announced by the United  Nations as the World Day of Human Fraternity.

El-Tayeb emphasized that the root cause of human suffering today is the policy of a body completely detached from the soul and conscience. He condemned the global trend that seeks to exclude, marginalize, and politicize religion in pursuit of material desires, particularly the justification of manufacturing weapons and explosives, despite the devastation they have caused in wars and conflicts unfolding around the world.

For her part, Garcia expressed her gratitude for the Grand Imam’s efforts to establish world peace. She indicated her agreement with his vision regarding the danger of the arms industry, and that it is the main cause of the tragedy occurring in the world. 

Garcia wished that this industry would end in order to eliminate poverty, conflict, hatred and wars. She expressed the importance of the historical document on human fraternity and the world’s need for this model of cooperation between religious symbols.