His Eminence the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Ash-Sharif, Prof. Ahmad At-Tayyeb, received His Excellency Ahmed Obaid Bin Dagher, Prime Minister of Yemen, and his accompanying delegation during the latter’s visit to Cairo. The Grand Imam averred that the two brotherly Yemeni and Egyptian peoples have deep cultural and historical relations. He maintained that, since the outbreak of the sedition in Yemen, Al-Azhar has been following up with the events moment by moment and has explicitly endorsed the Arab stance in support of the Yemeni people and their legitimate government. Grand Imam At-Tayyeb expressed Al-Azhar's readiness to provide more scholarly and missionary support to Yemen by hosting Yemeni imams for training through a program designed to address contemporary challenges and issues that concern the Yemenis. The program, which is conducted at the expense of Al-Azhar in support of the brotherly Yemeni people, instills in the imams the spirit of belonging and loyalty to their homeland.

For his part, the Yemeni Prime Minister stated that Al-Azhar is the seat of knowledge and scholars, and the fortress of Islam and Muslims. He added that many Yemeni scholars have studied at Al-Azhar, which is marked by its moderate life view that embraces openness to the other and keeps pace with contemporary developments.

Mr. Bin Dagher added that, given Al-Azhar’s high status across the Muslim world, its voice is needed in Yemen to restore its security and stability. He also praised Al-Azhar's supporting stance of Yemen and its legitimate government that enjoys unanimous Arab and international acknowledgement.