HE Peter Thomson, the President of the General Assembly of the United Nations, commended Al-Azhar Gand Imam’s efforts in consolidating peace and dialogue not only between Islam and Christianity, but also among all other religions; adding that Al-Azhar is one of the most important Islamic Institutions in the world.
In a meeting with His Eminence the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar at Mashyakhat Al-Azhar, Cairo, Thomson pointed out that countering terrorism must be undertaken through several ways, including cutting off the financial and military support received by terrorists as well as fostering development of the poor communities and interreligious dialogue; thus affirming the importance of Al-Azhar moderate message and its role in countering extremist thought.
On behalf of the United Nations, Thomson thanked the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar for his efforts aiming at establishing world peace, expressing his hope that his voice is globally heard throughout the United Nations.
On his part, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Prof. Ahmed Al-Tayyeb expressed his appreciation for the vision of the President of the General Assembly for the ways of countering terrorism. He affirmed that interfaith dialogue cannot stop this monster, that is called terrorism, unless there is an absolute justice-based global policy and unless the exploitation of the poor’s blood ceases.
HE Prof. Al-Tayyeb added that the international institutions established for the purpose of consolidating peace and justice bear a great part of the responsibility to influence the decision makers all over the world; recalling that Al-Azhar exerted great efforts to extend bridges of dialogue with religious leaders as he met with the leaders of Canterbury Cathedral, World Council of Churches, and Vatican Pope. In all these meetings, Prof. Al-Tayyeb stressed the fact that Islam as well as all religions are innocent of terror practices.