PRESS RELEASES

The Muslim Council of Elders, under the chairmanship of lHis Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, strongly condemns the terrorist attack on the village of Dar al-Jamal in northeast Nigeria, which claimed the lives and injured dozens of innocent people.

The Council unequivocally rejects such terrorist acts, which violate the noble teachings of Islam, all divine religions, and international conventions and norms that prohibit attacks on innocent civilians. It urges intensified international efforts to combat all forms of violence and terrorism and to promote values of coexistence, tolerance, and peace.

The Muslim Council of Elders extends its heartfelt condolences to the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the families and loved ones of the victims, praying to Almighty Allah for a swift recovery for the injured.

The Muslim Council of Elders, under the chairmanship of His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, unequivocally condemns the attack launched by Israeli occupation forces on Doha, the capital of the State of Qatar. The Council affirms that this assault represents a blatant violation of Qatar’s sovereignty and contravenes international laws and conventions that emphasize the importance of respecting state sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The Council expresses its unwavering solidarity with the State of Qatar in confronting this aggression and urges the international community to take decisive action to halt the Israeli occupation’s constant violations. It further warns of the severe dangers posed by such aggression as well as the serious repercussions it serves towards undermining peace efforts, which threaten the security and stability of the region and the world.

The Muslim Council of Elders also reiterates its call for the international community to pursue a just and comprehensive solution to the Palestinian issue by ending the aggression in the Gaza Strip, countering the Israeli occupation’s policies of killing, starvation, and forced displacement, ensuring unimpeded delivery of humanitarian and relief aid to Gaza, and upholding the Palestinian people’s legitimate right to establish an independent state with Jerusalem as its capital.

The Muslim Council of Elders, chaired by His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, expresses its solidarity with the Republic of Iraq for the victims of the collapse of a bridge under construction in Karbala Governorate, which resulted in the deaths and injuries of several people.

The Muslim Council of Elders extends its heartfelt condolences to the government and people of Iraq, as well as to the families and loved ones of the victims in this tragic loss, praying to Almighty Allah for a swift recovery for those injured.

The Muslim Council of Elders, under the chairmanship of His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, expresses its unwavering solidarity with the Arab Republic of Egypt in its resolute rejection of the Israeli occupation’s policies aimed at displacing Palestinians from their homeland. The Council supports Egypt’s continuous efforts to secure a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian people.

The Council unequivocally condemns the statements by Israeli occupation Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regarding the forced displacement of Palestinians from Gaza to Egypt or elsewhere. These statements violate international law and United Nations resolutions, constitute a blatant assault on the rights of the Palestinian people, and perpetuate the Israeli occupation’s ongoing violations aimed at eliminating the Palestinian cause.

The Muslim Council of Elders reaffirms its support for the Egyptian, Arab, and Islamic stance advocating for the Palestinian people’s right to establish an independent state with Jerusalem as its capital. The Council urges the international community to take immediate action to halt the aggression in Gaza, ensure unhindered access to humanitarian and relief aid, protect innocent civilians, and end the Palestinian people’s suffering, which has endured for over seven decades.

The Muslim Council of Elders, under the chairmanship of His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Al-Sharif, extends its heartfelt congratulations to the Arab and Muslim nations on the occasion of the Prophet’s Birthday anniversary. The Council prays to Almighty God to bless this auspicious occasion for all humanity with goodness, prosperity, and blessings.

The Muslim Council of Elders affirms that the birth of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) marked a profound turning point in human history. He laid the foundations of compassion, justice, and peace, called for coexistence and human fraternity, and promoted the values of tolerance and cooperation among all people. The Council emphasizes that commemorating this occasion provides a renewed opportunity to draw inspiration from the noble values brought by the noble Messenger (peace be upon him), and to reaffirm the commitment to follow his path in advancing goodness, love, and peace.

On this occasion, the Council calls upon the Muslim Ummah to emulate the character of the Prophet, revive his Sunnah, study his biography, and follow his guidance in all aspects of life. It underscores that the divine, moral, and legislative teachings embodied in the Prophetic tradition represent a roadmap to salvation for the Muslim Ummah and for the entire world.

The Muslim Council of Elders further reiterates that celebrating this great occasion is an inspiring opportunity to strengthen the unity of the Muslim Ummah, bring its people together, and foster its solidarity—especially in light of the challenges facing our world today. These challenges require a unified Arab and Islamic stance to end the aggression on Gaza, confront attempts of forced displacement, and affirm the legitimate right of the Palestinian people to establish their independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital.

The Muslim Council of Elders, under the chairmanship of His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, extends its heartfelt condolences to Sudan for the victims of the catastrophic landslide that devastated an entire village in the Darfur region of western Sudan, claiming the lives of over a thousand men, women, and children.

The Council stands in solidarity with the Sudanese people during this immense tragedy, which is one of the worst natural disasters in Sudan’s modern history. The Council urges the international community and humanitarian organizations to provide urgent support to those affected and assist in recovering the bodies of the deceased from the rubble, praying to Almighty Allah to grant the families and loved ones of the victims patience and solace.

The Muslim Council of Elders, under the chairmanship of His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, expresses its solidarity with Afghanistan for the victims of the earthquake that struck the eastern part of the country, resulting in the deaths and injuries of hundreds of people.

The Muslim Council of Elders extends its heartfelt condolences to Afghanistan and the families of the victims, praying to Almighty Allah for a swift recovery for 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 attack on a humanitarian convoy in North Darfur, Sudan.

The Council categorically rejects such attacks, which represent a serious violation of international humanitarian law. It underscores the critical need to ensure the safety and security of civilians and humanitarian and relief workers, adhere to the provisions of the Jeddah Declaration, secure humanitarian and relief aid corridors, and prioritize the welfare and protection of the Sudanese people from the impacts of war.

The Muslim Council of Elders renews its call for an immediate ceasefire as well as the facilitation of access to humanitarian and relief aid, and intensified international efforts to end the conflict and realize the Sudanese people’s aspirations for peace and stability.

The Muslim Council of Elders, under the chairmanship of His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, strongly condemns the terrorist attack on a mosque in northern Nigeria, which claimed the lives of several innocent civilians.

The Council unequivocally rejects such terrorist acts, which contravene the tolerant teachings of Islam, all divine religions, and international conventions and norms that prohibit attacks on places of worship and mandate their protection, preservation, and respect. The Council calls for resolute action against extremist groups that aim to sow destruction, chaos, and instability, while urging intensified efforts to combat extremist ideologies and promote values of dialogue, tolerance, coexistence, and peace.

The Muslim Council of Elders extends its heartfelt condolences to the Federal Republic of Nigeria, its leadership, and people for the victims of this heinous attack, praying to Almighty Allah to grant their families and loved ones patience and solace.

The Muslim Council of Elders, under the chairmanship of His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, calls for intensified international efforts to address the escalating humanitarian crises worldwide, which have deprived millions of civilians of essential needs such as food, water, and medicine due to wars, conflicts, natural disasters, and climate change.

In a statement issued on World Humanitarian Day, observed annually on August 19, the Muslim Council of Elders emphasizes that providing aid to the afflicted, refugees, displaced, and homeless is among the most noble values upheld by all divine religions, particularly Islam, which establishes mercy and solidarity as the foundation of human interactions. The Council underscores the critical need to uphold human dignity and restore hope to millions of innocent people who have lost security and shelter.

The Council further stresses the urgent need to ensure adequate protection for humanitarian and relief workers, calling for an end to the attacks and violations they face while carrying out their noble duties. It urges the international community to enhance cooperation and solidarity to safeguard their lives and support their efforts.

The Muslim Council of Elders continues its commitment to promoting dialogue, tolerance, and coexistence, emphasizing the importance of human and social solidarity as outlined in the historic Document on Human Fraternity. Co-signed in 2019 in Abu Dhabi by His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar and Chairman of the Muslim Council of Elders, and the late Pope Francis, former Pope of the Catholic Church, the document laid the foundation for a more just, compassionate, and equitable world.