We reject negative integration that attempts to obliterate the religious identity of Muslims in their societies, the Grand Imam

 

The head of China's religious affairs renews China's invitation to the Sheikh of Al-Azhar to visit the country and closely observe the conditions of Muslims there.

 

Keen to enhance cooperation and communication with Al-Azhar Al-Sharif

 

Al-Azhar Grand Imam, Prof. Ahmad Al-Tayyeb received today, Thursday, at Al-Azhar, Mr. Chen Ruifeng, Head of the Chinese Religious Affairs, accompanied by a high-level delegation that included Ambassador Liao Liqiang, Chinese Ambassador to Egypt, Mr. He Yanling, Deputy Director of the Chinese Religious Affairs, Ms. Ai Xiao, Chief of the Christian Division of the Chinese Religious Affairs, and Rev. Dr. Manhong Lin, Deputy Secretary-General of the China Christian Council (CCC).

 

His Eminence stressed that Al-Azhar’s relationship with China is an old one, pointing out that Chinese students studying at Al-Azhar were - and still are - an important point in strengthening this relationship, and that Al-Azhar is pleased to host approximately 300 Chinese students to study at various educational levels, including 32 male and female researchers at the doctoral level. Al-Azhar also provides 32 scholarships for the Muslim youth of China to study at its prestigious institutes and university.

 

During the meeting, the Grand Imam asked about the truth of the media reports that mention the restrictions imposed on Muslims in China, and preventing them from practising their religious rituals such as congregational prayers, fasting, and other rituals. He stressed that the teachings of Islam instill in Muslims a culture of peaceful coexistence in any society, and urge them to participate in achieving the renaissance of their society and country, and that the principles of Islam promote coexistence and acceptance of others.

 

He added: “We encourage the positive integration of Muslims into the societies in which they live, but at the same time we reject the negative integration that seeks to deprive Muslims of their religious identity and obliterate it. His Eminence noted that this only happens when some try to tamper with the origins and rules of religions, by preventing believers to practice the rituals of their religion, and that just as we reject this for Muslims, we reject that it be practiced against all believers of different religions in all societies.”

 

His Eminence said Al-Azhar is ready to increase the number of scholarships provided to the Muslim youth in China, and to host Chinese imams to study and get training at Al-Azhar Academy for Training Imams, Preachers and Fatwa Researchers, and to raise their skills in refuting extremist thought and establishing the values of coexistence and acceptance of others.

 

For his part, Mr. Chen Ruifeng expressed his happiness for visiting the Grand Imam and for being in this distinguished Islamic institution that enjoys a prestigious global position, pointing out his country's keenness to enhance cooperation and communication with Al-Azhar. He added that the Chinese students coming to study at Al-Azhar are proud of their presence in this distinguished university that is based on spreading moderate thought and playing a major role in promoting religious tolerance and acceptance of others.

 

Mr. Ruifeng renewed the invitation to the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar to visit China and learn about the conditions of Muslims closely, pointing out that Chinese values guarantee the protection of freedom of worship, religious pluralism, and the practice of religious rituals for believers and non-believers. He added that the Chinese constitution protects the rights of all believers to practice their religious rituals, and guarantees the integration between religious values and Chinese values that seek to achieve prosperity, democracy, justice, fairness, and development.