The Grand Imam said, “Although Eastern and Western civilizations are not similar and have many differences in origins and values, this does not prevent openness to dialogue and living together, provided that this comes within the framework of respect for the Eastern culture and values, and understanding the nature of the difference that God has decreed for operating this universe. 

During his reception of Mr. Agbet Jobteh, Ambassador of India to Cairo, the Grand Imam stressed that the Western cultural invasion of our Eastern societies we are witnessing now has come upon us like dark black clouds in the disguise of the claims of enjoying rights and freedoms, only to legalize homosexuality, transsexuality and other ideas that are unacceptable to the Eastern society in terms of religion or human rights. Rather, it is a robbery of the right of humanity and life to continue as God has decreed, a blurred double standard interpretation of human rights, and a violation against the right of the East to follow religion and draw on it as an authentic reference to reject this flood of deviant ideas. Commenting on the meeting, the Grand Imam stressed that the Egyptian and Indian people have had strong relations for thousands of years which resulted in scholarly, cultural, literary and social exchange, expressing Al-Azhar’s pleasure to receive Indian students within the auditoriums of its institutes and university. HE pointed out that the Indian student is among the most distinguished at Al-Azhar University as His Eminence himself has found during his work at Al-Azhar University as a professor and a president. He knew the extent to which the Indian students are keen on drawing on our heritage and studying our Islamic and Arabic disciplines. 

On his part, the Indian Ambassador expressed his pleasure to meet the Grand Imam, stressing the fact that he closely followed up with Al-Azhar's efforts to combat religious fanaticism and extremism and spread the true religion of Islam. He also thanked His Eminence for hosting the students of India at Al-Azhar University, whose number is 332 students in various faculties and disciplines, noting that he will do his best to strengthen scholarly and cultural relationships between India and Al-Azhar in the future. The Indian Ambassador stressed that he is pleased with what he has seen in Egypt of respect and guarantee of the practice of different religions, adding that during his stay in Egypt, he touched the feelings of friendship, love and true brotherhood on the part of all Egyptians from all categories, a matter which he rarely experienced during his work as a diplomat in different countries of the world.