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His Eminence the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Ash-Sharif, Prof. Ahmad At-Tayyeb, received Mr. Tony Blair, President of the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, and former British Prime Minister. The Grand Imam maintained that education in Al-Azhar is based on the philosophy of pluralism and respect for difference, making Egypt a model for coexistence between Muslims and Christians for more than fourteen centuries. He indicated that Allah Almighty has made difference among people a cosmic enactment. So, the attempts to force some Muslims into following a certain ideology is against Allah’s Will and against the principles of true Islam. He further indicated that the global policies that constantly seek to materialize certain agendas at the expense of the peoples’ pains and sufferings are the primary cause of this extremism and terrorism that afflict the whole world.

The Grand Imam asserted that promoting the idea of Islamic terrorism is a lie and a slander, since terrorism can by no means be attributed to Islam. So, whoever circulates such allegation are crooked and of unsound minds. He then stressed the need for coordination between Al-Azhar and the European countries in combating extremist ideology through Al-Azhar’s programs and efforts that seek to illustrate true Islam and promote peace, tolerance and acceptance of the other. He also warned against the tendency of some countries to move their embassies to the occupied city of Jerusalem, the case which will incense the Muslims around the world.

For his part, Mr. Blair expressed his belief that Al-Azhar is the main authority to which the world should return to understand the truth of Islam and its correct teachings, which are incompatible with the practices of terrorist organizations. He also expressed his institution's aspiration to cooperate with Al-Azhar Ash-Sharif in mainstreaming the Azharite curriculum not only in Europe, but also in many parts of the world, especially Africa.