The Grand Imam stresses the necessity for Upper Egypt universities to confront social phenomena that undermine women's rights and girls' dignity.

 

The Grand Imam calls for inclusive curricula to discuss social problems and find solutions for them.

 

Tribal fanaticism and forcing girls to marry within the family are extensions of the pre-Islamic phenomenon of "female infanticide," the Grand Imam

 

Al-Azhar preachers, male and female, are ready to raise awareness of the dangers of tribal bigotry in Upper Egypt, the Grand Imam

 

The Grand Imam of Al-Azhar stressed the necessity for education to address social problems, for educational curricula to be harnessed to address social problems, and for these curricula to reflect a logical vision and applicable solutions to confront the customs and traditions that have plagued our societies and continue to be inherited from generation to generation.

 

During his meeting with Prof. Hassan Al-Noamani, President of Sohag University, and a high-level delegation of faculty deans, professors and students, His Eminence stressed the need for Upper Egypt universities to confront social phenomena that undermine the rights and dignity of women and girls. Among these phenomena are “tribal bigotry” against girls, a phenomenon that is unfair and trespasses on girls’ rights, and it considers these rights a departure from the customs accepted in society, in addition to other unjust social phenomena such as depriving girls of inheritance. 

 

 

The Grand Imam called for coordinating efforts between various institutions and concerned parties to study appropriate solutions for these phenomena. He stressed the role of education, media, mosques and churches in developing appropriate solutions that aim to influence the family, change the way of thinking that has destroyed the future of many of daughters and girls, change the culture of families and encourage them to abandon these unjust customs and traditions. It is necessity for each party to assume its role and responsibilities in raising awareness, in addition to Al-Azhar’s readiness to assign its preachers to eliminate these phenomena, which are an extension of the phenomenon of “female infanticide” that spread in pre-Islamic societies. 

 

Prof. Hassan Al-Noamani, and the accompanying delegation expressed their happiness for meeting the Grand Imam, and their gratitude for their presence at Al-Azhar Al-Sharif, the fortress of knowledge, thought and religion. They also expressed their appreciation for His Eminence’s efforts in serving Islam and humanity, expressing their agreement with His Eminence's vision on the necessity of confronting negative social phenomena, especially those prevalent in Upper Egypt, and that this vision stems from His Eminence's experience of the reality of Upper Egypt and its problems.

 

The Sohag University delegation confirmed their welcome of the proposal of the Grand Imam to include curricula related to contemporary social problems, noting that the university has a course on "Social Issues", which is concerned with addressing such social issues. The delegation expressed their readiness to include educational content to combat the phenomenon of "tribal bigotry against girls" within this course.