Al-Azhar Grand Imam: Arrogance of global powers fuels wars and conflicts.

 

Women and children bear the heaviest cost of wars.

 

French Ambassador: We support Palestinians’ right to an independent state.

His Eminence the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Al-Sharif, Prof. Ahmad al-Tayyeb received today, Monday, at Al-Azhar, Mr. Éric Chevalier, the French Ambassador to Egypt.

At the beginning of the meeting, the Grand Imam expressed his appreciation for the fair and balanced stance of the French Republic and President Emmanuel Macron regarding the aggression on Gaza, the ongoing calls to halt the repeated attacks targeting innocent civilians in Gaza, the call to facilitate relief and humanitarian convoys, and preparing for a global conference calls for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.

The Grand Imam emphasized that the major, complex problems caused by insane wars are paid for only by the poor, the vulnerable, children, and women. He pointed out that these conflicts impact relations between East and West, due to their malicious goals that destroy civilizations and contradict human values and religious teachings. He called for the need to transform peacemaking efforts from a theoretical framework to a practical one, so that innocent people can feel them on the ground.

His Eminence emphasized that the conflicts and wars we are witnessing are the result of the arrogance exercised by some global powers, without regard for any humanitarian background or any consideration for the feelings of the innocent. His Eminence stated: “We cannot rely too much on political attempts that do not go beyond words. When blood flows like rivers, the issue becomes deeper than simply expressing feelings of grief and pain.” He added that interests cannot be placed above human values, because if interests deviate from values, they stem from immoral philosophies.

The French ambassador, for his part, expressed his pleasure at meeting the Grand Imam, and his country's appreciation for his efforts to promote the values of coexistence and tolerance. He emphasized that France seeks to provide a solution to the Palestinian issue, believes in the Palestinian people's right to establish their independent state, and is making efforts to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza, to enable the entry of humanitarian and relief aid, and rescue innocent people inside the Strip.