His Eminence the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Ash-Sharif, Prof. Ahmad At-Tayyeb, received Mr. Johannes Singhanmer, Bundestag Vice-President of the German Parliament (CDU/CSU), during the latter’s visit to Cairo. The Grand Imam welcomed Mr. Singhanmer to the Headquarters of Al-Azhar, stressing that his recent visit to Germany was a distinctive mark in Egyptian-German relations, and particularly within Al-Azhar-German cultural and religious institutions relations. He praised the German mentality for openness to the other without exclusion. He also explained that Al-Azhar is a longstanding academic institution that maintains the pristineness of Islam, without having any political or partisan agenda. Here, the Grand Imam indicated that Al-Azhar education is grounded on dialogue, intellectual pluralism, and openness to other sects and religions, and that Al-Azhar approach has guarded the Azharite graduate mentality against exclusivity or partisanship for certain ideologies.

The Grand Imam referred to the necessity of confronting extremism and terrorism in all their forms and types. This can only be achieved, said the Grand Imam, when there is sincere intention and firm desire to mainstream peace in the whole world. He also pointed to Al-Azhar's readiness to train German imams to confront extremist thought and address key issues, like citizenship and coexistence. In the same vein, the Grand Imam indicated the possibility of establishing a cultural center to teach the Arabic language and sound Islamic culture in Germany, and of providing scholarships for German Muslim students to study at Al-Azhar University.

For his part, Singhanmer stated that Al-Azhar is the most important religious institution in the Islamic world, and therefore “it is necessary for us to maintain close relations with it.” He stressed that the Germans are following up with great respect the work of Al-Azhar, the prestigious institution, in promoting the values of coexistence, tolerance and moderation in the world. He added that they still remember the Grand Imam’s speech in the Bundestag, during his visit to Germany last year, which reflected the extent of the appreciation he enjoys. Mr. Singhanmer concluded that Egypt is an encouraging model of Muslim-Christian coexistence in peace and security.