His Eminence the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Ash-Sharif, Prof. Ahmad At-Tayyeb, received Head of ICRC delegation in Cairo, Mr. Ronald Ofteringer. During the meeting, the Grand Imam stated that Al-Azhar is ready to extend a helping hand to all humanitarian organizations that offer aid to people without discrimination and regardless of their cultural, religious, or ethnic backgrounds. He explained that Al-Azhar’s message is a universal humanitarian one that deems peace and security a right for all humans and for the followers of all religions.

For his part, Mr. Ofteringer stressed that the Grand Imam’s speech to the world lays a common ground for East-West understanding and dialogue as it is based on human commonalities. He added that this is what the ICRC strives for, through its communication with religious leaders to preserve human dignity, especially in light of the difficult circumstances that humanity is going through.