Terrorism results from unjust policies: Azhar Grand Imam

CAIRO – 10 October 2018:Terrorism results from international unjust policies that lost all compassion toward the weak and the poor, Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Ahmed el-Tayyeb said during his speech in the Sixth Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions in Kazakhstani capital,Astana.

Tayyebadded that terrorism cannot be a result of Islam or any other religion. He explained that the strategies, techniques and plans of the well-trained extremistand armed groups indicate that "this kind of transcontinental hatred cannot be just a result of religion."

Tayyeb arrived in Astanaon Monday, Oct. 8, as per an invitation from President NursultanNazarbayev.Upon his arrival, Tayyeb met with several Kazakhstani officials,including President Nazarbayev.

According to AstanaTimes, the first Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions took place on Sept. 23-24, 2003. The objectives of the congress are to establishuniversal guidelines and a permanent platform for international interfaith dialogue.

Eighty-two delegations from 46 countries representing the world’s religions are participating in the conference which kicked off on Wednesday, Oct. 10 and is expected to continue until Thursday, October 11.

Tayyeb led the evening prayer at Hazrat Sultan Mosque, one of the largest mosques in Asia, on Tuesday, Oct. 9. After the prayer, Tayyeb delivered a sermon in which he urged preachers to abide by the moderate teachings of Islam in line with what they learnt at Azhar.

Meanwhile, Kazakh Supreme Mufti SerikbaykazhyOraz welcomed the visit of Tayyeb, voicing appreciation to the role played by Azhar to disseminate the upright teachings of Islam, according to MENA.