The Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Prof. Ahmad At-Tayyeb, received Mr. Greg Lewis, the New Zealand Ambassador to Egypt.

At the beginning of the meeting, the Ambassador conveyed to the Grand Imam the condolences of the New Zealand government headed by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, regarding the victims of the terrorist attacks that targeted two mosques in the city of Christchurch. He stressed that his country deals with this attacks as a terrorist act, and that it has brought the perpetrator to trial.

The New Zealand Ambassador expressed his country's respect and sympathy with the feelings of sadness and pain that the Muslims are suffering around the world because of this horrific attacks, pointing out that the New Zealand government has taken a number of measures that would protect the Muslims and secure the mosques.

The Grand Imam, for his part, expressed his deep sorrow for this horrific massacre that touched the hearts of all people of good conscience in the world. He expressed his appreciation for the stance of the Prime Minister of New Zealand and her government towards these terrorist attacks, and her swift move to alleviate the suffering of the victims and their families, and to take a series of measures to prevent its recurrence. 

The Grand Imam expressed Al-Azhar's readiness to support the Muslims of New Zealand by offering a number of scholarships to New Zealand students to study at Al-Azhar, training Muslim imams in New Zealand to confront extremist and terrorist ideas, and promoting a culture of peace and coexistence.