PRESS RELEASES

The Muslim Council of Elders warmly welcomes the announcement of a peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia, recognizing it as a historic step toward achieving peace and stability in the Caucasus region.

The Council praises this agreement and the sincere efforts led by His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates, which laid the groundwork for this landmark accord. The agreement reflects both nations’ commitment to ending the conflict and fostering peace. The Council reaffirms its support for all initiatives aimed at promoting peace, reconciliation, and the values of dialogue, tolerance, coexistence, and human fraternity.

The Muslim Council of Elders urges all international actors to support this agreement and ensure its full implementation, thereby contributing to strengthened regional and global peace and security. It renews its call to all nations and peoples to embrace tolerance and peaceful coexistence, reject violence and hate, and collaborate to build a brighter future defined by peace, understanding, and harmony.

Muslim Council of Elders Urges the Global Conscience for Urgent Action to Halt Aggression in Gaza and Protect Innocent Civilians

The Muslim Council of Elders, under the chairmanship of His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, strongly condemns the Israeli government’s ministerial council decision to occupy the Gaza Strip. The Council asserts that such actions constitute a flagrant violation of the Palestinian people’s rights and undermine efforts to achieve peace and a just, comprehensive resolution to the Palestinian issue.

The Council emphasizes that the Israeli occupation’s ongoing provocations and grave violations against the Palestinian people—including continued killings, starvation policies, and attempts at forced displacement—which threaten dire consequences for peace and security in the region and beyond.

The Muslim Council of Elders renews its urgent appeal to the global conscience to act swiftly to stop the aggression on the Gaza Strip and protect innocent civilians. It calls on the international community to uphold its legal, moral, and humanitarian responsibilities to end the Palestinian people’s suffering, which has endured for over seven decades, and to affirm 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, strongly condemns the incursion into the courtyards of the Al-Aqsa Mosque by Itamar Ben-Gvir, Israel’s National Security Minister, accompanied by settlers under the protection of Israeli occupation police.

The Council categorically rejects such extremist acts of provocation, which are a flagrant violation of international laws and conventions. Likewise, the Council demands an immediate cessation of these repeated campaigns of incitement, hatred and violence whilst calling for accountability for those responsible. The Council also urges robust protection for religious sanctities and an end to the ongoing violations against the Al-Aqsa Mosque.

The Muslim Council of Elders renews its call to the international community to take urgent action to halt these violations and all forms of aggression against the Palestinian people. It calls for a just and comprehensive resolution to the Palestinian issue, ending the seven-decade suffering endured by the Palestinian people, and affirming their legitimate right to establish an independent state with Jerusalem as its capital.

Muslim Council of Elders: The Series of Announcements by Nations Intending to Recognize the State of Palestine Represents a Historic and Vital Step Toward Justice for the Palestinian People

The Muslim Council of Elders, under the chairmanship of His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar welcomes the announcements by Malta, Canada, Australia, Andorra, Finland, Iceland, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Portugal, and San Marino of their intent to recognize the State of Palestine.

The Council affirms that the increasing number of nations supporting the Palestinian people’s rights marks a historic and significant step toward achieving justice, ending their decades-long suffering, and affirming their legitimate right to establish an independent state with Jerusalem as its capital.

The Muslim Council of Elders expresses its full support for all Arab and international efforts aimed at securing a just and comprehensive resolution to the Palestinian issue. It also reiterates its call to the international community to take decisive action in order to halt the aggression in the Gaza Strip, protect innocent civilians, ensure the unimpeded delivery of humanitarian and relief aid, and end displacement plans and starvation policies targeting the oppressed Palestinian people.

The Muslim Council of Elders, led by His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, strongly condemns the terrorist attack on a Catholic Church in Kumanda, northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo, which claimed the lives of dozens of innocent civilians and injured others.

The Council categorically rejects such terrorist acts, which contravene the teachings of Islam, all divine religions, international laws, conventions, and universal human and ethical values that prohibit attacks on places of worship and mandate their protection, preservation, and respect.

The Muslim Council of Elders underscores that targeting places of worship constitutes a flagrant assault on the sanctity of human life and sacred sites, representing an indefensible crime under any pretext. It reaffirms its unwavering stance against all forms of violence and terrorism, urging resolute action to counter extremist groups that aim to sow destruction, chaos, and instability.

The Council extends its heartfelt condolences to the Democratic Republic of Congo—its leadership and people—and to the families of the innocent victims, praying that Almighty Allah grants them patience and solace, and a swift recovery to those injured.

The Muslim Council of Elders, under the chairmanship of His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, welcomes the announcement by French President Emmanuel Macron regarding France’s intention to recognize the State of Palestine.

The Council expresses its appreciation for this decision, which is poised to bolster international efforts toward achieving a just and comprehensive resolution to the Palestinian issue. It supports the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, foremost among them the establishment of an independent state with Jerusalem as its capital, in accordance with international resolutions.

The Muslim Council of Elders reiterates its call to the international community to fulfill its responsibilities and act immediately to halt the aggression in the Gaza Strip, ensure the unimpeded delivery of humanitarian and relief aid, and support all Arab and international efforts to end the Palestinian people’s suffering, which has persisted for over seven decades. These efforts aim to promote peace and stability in the region and around the world.

The Muslim Council of Elders, under thebchairmanship of His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, commends the historic and pivotal role of the Arab Republic of Egypt—its leadership and people—in championing the Palestinian cause. The Council strongly denounces baseless propaganda and unfounded accusations aimed at undermining Egypt’s defense of the Palestinian cause and its support for the Palestinian people.

The Council expresses profound appreciation for Egypt’s unwavering commitment to advocating for Palestinian rights across regional and international forums. Egypt has tirelessly provided political, diplomatic, humanitarian, and relief support to the people of Gaza and the broader Palestinian population, reflecting a deep-rooted dedication to the Arab and Islamic nation’s issues. This serves as an exemplary model of fraternal solidarity and historical responsibility toward the Palestinian cause, which remains central to the Arab and Islamic conscience.

The Council highly praises Egypt’s continuous efforts to achieve Palestinian national reconciliation and unify Palestinian ranks to address current and future challenges. It also emphasizes that Egypt has been, and will remain, a steadfast supporter of the Palestinian people in their legitimate struggle to reclaim their rights and establish an independent state with Jerusalem as its capital.

Furthermore, the Council applauds the diplomatic and relief efforts by Arab nations to support the Palestinian people and the oppressed residents of Gaza. It urges the international community and all influential actors to support Egypt’s and other Arab nations’ initiatives to secure a just and comprehensive resolution to the Palestinian issue, ensuring the Palestinian people’s inalienable rights and promoting security and stability in the region and beyond.

The Muslim Council of Elders, under the chairmanship of His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, unequivocally condemns the Israeli occupation’s attack on the Holy Family Church in the Gaza Strip, which resulted in multiple deaths and injuries.

The Council firmly rejects such attacks, which represent a flagrant violation of international laws, conventions, and norms prohibiting assaults on places of worship and the targeting of innocent civilians. It warns of the escalating humanitarian crisis in Gaza due to the ongoing aggression against the besieged territory and the obstruction of humanitarian and relief aid.

The Muslim Council of Elders renews its call to the international community to uphold its responsibility to protect religious sanctities and civilian institutions, urgently work to end the aggression in the Gaza Strip, and affirm 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 Israeli occupation’s plans to transfer administrative control of the Ibrahimi Mosque from the Palestinian Ministry of Endowments and Religious Affairs and the Hebron Municipality to the Jewish Religious Council in the Kiryat Arba Settlement.

The Council unequivocally rejects such provocative actions, which undermine efforts to achieve stability and constitute a grave violation of the historical and legal status of the Ibrahimi Mosque. It urges respect for the established status of holy sites in the occupied Palestinian territories.

The Muslim Council of Elders renews calls to the international community to uphold and protect sacred sites by preserving their religious and historical significance, and urgently address the ongoing suffering of the Palestinian people, which has persisted for over seven decades. The Council further demands an immediate end to the aggression in the Gaza Strip, the unobstructed delivery of humanitarian and relief aid, and the recognition of 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, offers its heartfelt condolences to the Republic of Iraq for the victims of a devastating fire at a commercial center in Al-Kut, which claimed numerous lives and caused multiple injuries.

The Council stands in solidarity with Iraq’s leadership, government, and people during this tragic ordeal, praying that Almighty Allah grants a swift recovery to the injured.