The Grand Imam Dr. Ahmad Al-Tayyeb, Sheikh Al-Azhar accompanied by a high level delegation from Al-Azhar, paid a visit to St. Mark’s Cathedral to offer condolences to H.H. Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria, and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark.

His eminence the Grand Imam extended his sincere condolences for the innocent victims of the treacherous terrorist attack on the Botroseyya church in Abbasseyya. His eminence emphasized that Allah almighty stated the unlawfulness of taking the sacred life of those innocent people, and that this tragic incident is stripped of all the meanings of humanity and civilization.

His eminence emphasized that the target of such terrorist acts is the unity of the Egyptian people, a matter that requires the solidarity of all groups and factions of the Egyptian people to let those criminals miss the opportunity of carrying out such actions, and those behind them within Egypt and outside. Sheikh Al-Azhar emphasized that Egypt is facing a war on the dreaded terrorism, and unfortunately, its people are the price of this war. His eminence also stressed that this incident will only add to the determination and unity of Egyptians.

The Grand Imam emphasized that this painful tragedy affected Muslims and Christians together, and this terrorism which emerged suddenly with fangs and claws, is not only a creation of the region, but it was jointly created by foreign hands. His eminence pointed out that those who contributed in making terrorism, did not imagine that they themselves will be affected by its harm, but in reality the whole world is affected by the harm of terrorism which targets everyone with no distinction.

His eminence the Grand Imam stated that the entire world must immediately move to stop this malignant epidemic, emphasizing that those terrorists will not escape punishment, and will receive their chastisement, they and those who support them.

On his part, H.H. Pope Tawadros II, emphasized that Muslims and Christians have been living together on this homeland since fourteen years, in unity and fraternity. The strong relations that have been formed throughout those centuries will not be affected by any incident or situation. H.H. the Pope pointed out that everyone on this homeland lives in fraternity and cordiality, seeking to achieve progress for society, intellectually, and culturally. One has learned on this homeland moderation, acceptance of the other, and how to confront emergencies and tribulations, and bear adversity, so that Egypt can live.