PRESS RELEASES

The Muslim Council of Elders, chaired by His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, extends its heartfelt condolences to the Republic of Zimbabwe following the tragic sinking of a passenger ferry on Lake Kariba, which resulted in dozens of people being killed, injured, or reported missing.

The Muslim Council of Elders expresses its solidarity with the Republic of Zimbabwe, as well as with the families and loved ones of the victims of this tragic incident. The Council prays to Almighty Allah to grant the injured a swift and full recovery and to bestow comfort and strength upon all those affected by this tragedy.

The Muslim Council of Elders, under the chairmanship of His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, extends its sincere condolences to the Republic of Indonesia following the earthquake that struck the country, claiming a number of lives, injuring many others, and causing significant material damage.

The Muslim Council of Elders reaffirms its solidarity with the Republic of Indonesia, its leadership, government, and people during this difficult time. The Council prays that Almighty Allah grant the victims His infinite mercy and forgiveness, bless the injured with a swift and complete recovery, and protect Indonesia and its people from all harm.

The Muslim Council of Elders extends its sincere condolences to the Arab Republic of Egypt, its leadership, government, and people, following the victims of the traffic collision that occurred in Ismailia Governorate, resulting in a number of fatalities and injuries.

The Council of expresses its solidarity with the Arab Republic of Egypt, its leadership and people, in the wake of this tragic incident, praying that Almighty Allah envelop the victims in His vast mercy and forgiveness, grant their families patience and comfort, and bestow a swift recovery upon the injured.

The Muslim Council of Elders, under the chairmanship of His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, strongly condemns the attacks carried out by Israeli settlers against a number of villages in the occupied West Bank, most recently the burning of a mosque in the city of Tulkarm. The Council considers this crime a flagrant violation of the sanctity of places of worship, a provocation of the sentiments of Muslims, and a dangerous escalation that fuels the cycle of violence and extremism and undermines prospects for peace and stability.

The Muslim Council of Elders warns of the growing settler attacks against Palestinian civilians, their property, and their places of worship. The Council calls for the perpetrators to be held accountable and urges the international community to fulfill its legal and humanitarian responsibilities by taking urgent measures to halt violations committed under the Israeli occupation, provide the necessary protection for civilians, and safeguard Islamic and Christian holy sites.

The Council also reiterates its firm position calling for serious efforts to reach a just and comprehensive solution to the Palestinian cause, one that brings an end to the suffering of the Palestinian people, which has continued for more than seven decades, and guarantees their legitimate right to establish an independent, sovereign state with Jerusalem as its capital.

The Muslim Council of Elders, chaired by His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, strongly condemns the racist attack against a Muslim woman in the Canadian city of Moncton in the presence of her seven-year-old son. The victim was subjected to racist and abusive remarks before the incident escalated into a physical assault that resulted in a concussion and a nosebleed. Preliminary investigations suggest that the attack may have been motivated by religious hatred.

The Muslim Council of Elders affirms that this attack comes amid a troubling rise in Islamophobia, hate speech, and discrimination against Muslims, all of which have contributed to an increase in attacks targeting innocent individuals. This alarming trend calls for urgent international action to confront the phenomenon, address the root causes of hatred and intolerance, promote the values of dialogue and mutual respect, and safeguard human dignity, thereby contributing to the creation of safer, more stable, and more peaceful societies.

The Council calls for all those responsible for this reprehensible attack to be held accountable and urges the adoption of effective measures to prevent the recurrence of such crimes. It also stresses the importance of strengthening legislation and policies aimed at combating hate crimes, racism, extremism, and Islamophobia, while promoting the values of citizenship, inclusion, and peaceful coexistence.

The Muslim Council of Elders, under the chairmanship of His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, strongly condemns the renewed Iranian attacks targeting the Kingdom of Bahrain, the State of Kuwait, and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan with missiles and drones. The Council reaffirms its categorical rejection of all actions that undermine the sovereignty of states, threaten their security and stability, or endanger civilians and vital infrastructure.

The Council also affirms that such attacks constitute a flagrant violation of international law and the Charter of the United Nations as they undermine the foundations of good-neighborly relations and threaten regional peace and security, which then necessitates a firm international response to put an end to such acts of aggression, safeguard state sovereignty, preserve the security and stability of the region, and spare its peoples the dangers of further escalation.

The Muslim Council of Elders renews its solidarity with the Kingdom of Bahrain, the State of Kuwait, and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and supports all legitimate measures undertaken to protect their rightful security and sovereignty.

The Muslim Council of Elders, under the chairmanship of His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, strongly condemns the statements issued by the Houthi group against the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, including threats targeting maritime navigation.

The Council affirms that threats directed towards neighboring nations through such statements and escalatory actions, which violate international laws and norms, constitute a flagrant violation of international law and a serious threat to regional and international peace and security. The Council stresses that these developments require the international community to take a firm stance to safeguard international maritime routes, protect freedom of navigation, and prevent any actions that could undermine the region’s security and stability.

The Muslim Council of Elders also renews its solidarity with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and reiterates its support for all measures the Kingdom undertakes to safeguard its security and stability.

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.

The Muslim Council of Elders, under the chairmanship of His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, expresses solidarity with the People’s Republic of Bangladesh following the devastating floods caused by heavy rainfall, which have resulted in dozens of deaths and injuries and caused extensive material damage.

The Muslim Council of Elders extends its heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and to the Government and people of Bangladesh over this tragic loss. The Council prays to Almighty Allah to grant the injured a swift and complete recovery.

The Muslim Council of Elders, under the chairmanship of His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, extends its sincere condolences to His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Emir of the State of Qatar, as well as to the Qatari ruling family, the government and people of Qatar, on the passing of the Father Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, who passed away at the age of 74.

The late Father Emir leaves behind a distinguished legacy of service and achievement where he played a pivotal role in Qatar’s development and contributed significantly to strengthening its regional and international standing, while steadfastly supporting the causes of the Arab and Muslim worlds.

May Allah envelop the Father Emir in His vast mercy, grant him a place in His eternal Paradise, and bestow patience and comfort upon his family and the people of Qatar.

Indeed, to Allah we belong, and to Him we shall return.