July 16, 2026

The Muslim Council of Elders, under the chairmanship of His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, strongly condemns the stabbing of a Muslim man in the U.S. state of Utah, where the victim sustained 15 stab wounds inside a shopping center. Authorities have indicated that the attack was motivated by religious hatred and the victim’s Muslim faith, after the suspect reportedly expressed a desire to kill all Muslims.

The Muslim Council of Elders affirms that this criminal attack reflects the growing dangers of Islamophobia, hate speech, and extremism, and the violence they can incite against innocent people solely because of their religion. The Council stresses the urgent need for serious international action to combat this phenomenon, eliminate the root causes of hatred, and promote dialogue, mutual respect, and coexistence.

The Council reiterates its categorical rejection of all forms of hatred, discrimination, violence, and incitement based on religion, race, or belief. It also emphasizes the importance of fostering mutual respect and promoting the values of human fraternity as a means of confronting intolerance and hatred and strengthening social peace.

The Council also expresses its solidarity with the victim and his family, and wishes him a speedy recovery, while underscoring the importance of holding perpetrators of hate crimes accountable under the law and taking effective measures to prevent such attacks from recurring.