Al-Azhar imam receives Polish president, his spouse at Al-Azhar headquarters

Al-Azhar Grand Imam Ahmed el Tayyeb received on Tuesday Polish President Andrzej Duda, his spouse Agata Kornhaus, and their accompanying delegation at Al-Azhar headquarters in Cairo.

Tayyeb reviewed the history of Al-Azhar that was established more than a thousand years ago with the aim of spreading the moderate approach of Islam.

Al-Azhar has worked throughout its history to consolidate high principles, tolerant values, and societal peace, and also initiated the establishment of the Egyptian Family House, he said.

It addresses religion-related societal problems, and sets a scientific and practical approach to combat intolerance, extremism, and hatred, he added.

Al-Azhar has developed curricula for students at all educational levels related to combating extremist ideology, and immunising young people against the ideas of extremist groups in a simplified scientific method that suits the academic stages at Al-Azhar University and institutes, the grand imam said.

In this regard, Tayyeb said Al-Azhar receives nearly 46,000 students from 106 countries around the world, noting that those students become ambassadors for Al-Azhar in their countries after graduation and spread its enlightened, moderate approach.

Tayyeb announced that Al-Azhar will allocate 10 scholarships for Polish students in order to study true Islam which guarantees disseminating the values of peace and fraternity, and combats extremism, fanaticism, discrimination and hatred.

He also welcomed training Polish imams at Al-Azhar International Academy for Training Imams and Preachers.

Meanwhile, the Polish leader expressed appreciation for the role played by Al-Azhar scholars in combating extremism and fanaticism, and addressing young people with argument and reason.

He also praised the pioneering moderate thought adopted by Al-Azhar in spreading the values of peace and pluralism as well as in combating all forms of religious persecution, which is being fought in Poland.

Duda added that he seeks to open up new prospects for cooperation with Egypt, especially with regard to religious dialogue initiatives.

He also welcomed Al-Azhar’s decision to allocate 10 scholarships for Polish students and train Polish imams at Al-Azhar International Academy for Training Imams and Preachers.