PRESS RELEASES

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.

The Muslim Council of Elders, under the chairmanship of His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, offers its deepest condolences to the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria for the victims of a bus accident in Oued El Harrach, in the capital, Algiers, which resulted in numerous deaths and injuries.

The Council expresses its full solidarity with the Republic of Algeria, its people, and the families of the victims, 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, strongly condemns the announcement by Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich approving the construction of 3,400 new settlement units in the West Bank and surrounding Jerusalem, targeting Palestinian state territory.

The Council categorically rejects these provocative and escalatory actions by the Israeli occupation, which contravene United Nations charters, international laws, and Security Council resolutions, undermining efforts to achieve peace in the region and beyond.

The Muslim Council of Elders reiterates its urgent call to the international community to address Israel’s violations against the Palestinian people, halt the aggression in the Gaza Strip, oppose starvation policies and forced displacement attempts, and uphold the Palestinian people’s legitimate right to establish an independent state with 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, strongly condemns the statements made by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regarding the so-called “Greater Israel vision,” which reflect expansionist colonial ambitions.

The Council categorically rejects such statements, which represent a clear violation of the United Nations Charter and international laws while also disregarding state sovereignty and territorial integrity which in turn undermines efforts to achieve peace, and threatens regional and global security and stability.

The Muslim Council of Elders calls on the international community to fulfill its responsibilities and act urgently to counter such violations by halting Israel’s aggression against the Palestinian people and rejecting the starvation policies and attempts at forced displacement, whilst also ending the Palestinian people’s suffering that has persisted for over seven decades, and affirming their legitimate right to establish an independent state with 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, affirms that youth are the cornerstone of the present, the driving force of the future, and the foundation for the progress of nations and the development of societies. The Council urges the urgent need to empower youth and foster their active participation in peacebuilding, digital transformation, and sustainable development.

In a statement released on International Youth Day, which is observed on August 12 each year, the Muslim Council of Elders highlighted that this year’s theme, “Local Youth Initiatives for Achieving Sustainable Development Goals and Beyond,” underscores the critical need to harness the energy and innovative ideas of youth in promoting peace, addressing global challenges, and advancing partnerships and technological initiatives to create a more inclusive and equitable world.

The Council emphasized that investing in youth education, enhancing their digital and social skills, and providing a supportive environment for their creativity is the most effective way to ensure prosperous futures for nations. Proven experiences demonstrate the ability of youth to make significant impacts in their communities through innovation, entrepreneurship, and volunteerism.

The Muslim Council of Elders places great importance on empowering youth for creativity and innovation, driven by its firm belief in the need to cultivate a generation capable of fostering peace and human coexistence. This is achieved through a range of targeted initiatives, including the “Emerging Peacemakers Forum,” the “Student Dialogues on Human Fraternity Program,” the “Ethics Education Program,” the “Azadi Fellowship for Promoting Dialogue and Coexistence,” and other initiatives that enhance youth’s role in tackling global challenges and fostering a positive sense of belonging.