The Grand Imam Dr. Ahmad Al-Tayyeb, Sheikh Al-Azhar received the European Parliament Delegation for relations with the Mashreq countries, headed by Marisa Matias.

His eminence the Grand Imam stated that Al-Azhar, with all its institutions, works on instilling active citizenship among the Egyptian people through the Home of the Egyptian Family which gathers Christians and Muslims. Al-Azhar is also keen on achieving unity among Muslims, settling their differences, in addition to seeking to establish world peace and peaceful coexistence within societies among the various nations and peoples. His eminence emphasized that Islam is the religion of tolerance and mercy for all mankind, and not a religion of killing and bloodshed as terrorist groups are portraying.

His eminence the Grand Imam emphasized that the institution of Al-Azhar, which was established more than a thousand and sixty years ago, is founded on diversity of thought and acceptance of the other. Students at Al-Azhar learn the various sects, which safeguards them from being trapped into a certain thought, in addition to the fact that Al-Azhar devised curricula that reveal the false claims of advocates of extremist thought.

On their part, the European delegation members commended the efforts made by Al-Azhar in countering extremist thought and promoting dialogue and the values of tolerance and mercy worldwide. The delegation members emphasized that the tours and speeches of the Grand Imam to the world contributed in correcting the distorted image of Islam in the west. The members also expressed their admiration of the social and patriotic role played by Al-Azhar in Egypt, and its role in achieving peace and security in society. Moreover, the head of the delegation invited the Grand Imam to give a lecture at the European Parliament.