Al-Azhar Grand Imam, Prof. Ahmad At-Tayyeb, received the delegation of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), headed by Mr. Ibrahim Gambari.

To combat violence and extremism in Africa and the world, Al-Azhar has led many local and international initiatives, including one with the Pope of the Vatican, which culminated in the cosigning of the Human Fraternity Document by the Grand Imam and the Pope of the Vatican, to affirm that religions are completely innocent of extremism and terrorism.

His Eminence stressed that Al-Azhar contributes to laying the foundations of peaceful coexistence in the African continent, achieving development and raising awareness of the dangers of extremism and terrorism. This is achieved through missionary and relief missions and peace convoys, as well as through scholarships provided to African students to study at Al-Azhar, which receives more than 5,000 African students studying various disciplines of knowledge.

The Grand Imam explained that Al-Azhar opens its doors for African students to study various scientific disciplines, in addition to religious sciences. Thus, they can enroll in faculties of medicine, engineering, agriculture and other secular faculties. This comes as a contribution to achieving development goals in the African continent, out of belief that the continent needs doctors and engineers, as much as it needs preachers and imams.

Mr. Gambar, Chairman of the Panel of APRM Eminent Persons, said that the mechanism aims to discuss issues related to governance and its challenges within Africa on top of which are terrorism and extremism, the main obstacles to economic and social development in Africa. They also impede the achievement of actual and successful governance in countries of the continent.

Gambari expressed his aspiration for Al-Azhar support of the mechanism, because of its great role in confronting extremism and terrorism in the African continent. This will help achieve development goals and establish peace and social security in Africa.