His Eminence the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Prof. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, received at Al-Azhar Headquarters Mr. Barham Salih, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees and the former President of Iraq, to discuss means of enhancing joint cooperation. During the meeting, the Grand Imam emphasized that Al-Azhar dedicatedly champions the rights of refugees and the displaced, working tirelessly to raise global awareness of their plight. He noted that this critical humanitarian issue occupies a core section of the historic Document on Human Fraternity. His Eminence further affirmed Al-Azhar’s full readiness to cooperate with all relevant international entities to advocate for and protect the rights of refugees.
Reflecting deeply on the state of the modern world, the Grand Imam remarked: “We believed, as we were once promised, that the current era would be one of unprecedented progress and prosperity... Yet, tragically, the exact opposite has occurred."
For his part, Mr. Barham Salih expressed his profound honor in meeting the Grand Imam and visiting Al-Azhar, a historic beacon of knowledge and a revered spiritual and academic institution held in deep gratitude and love across the entire Muslim world. He added that "We are eager to strengthen our partnership with Al-Azhar to raise the voices and rights of refugees and the displaced, particularly now as global challenges continue to intensify."
He pointed out that one of the most prominent contemporary challenges lies in the international community’s ability to find realistic and sustainable solutions for addressing the issues of the refugees and the displaced. Furthermore, he warned of the alarming role modern technology and social media play in fueling hostility and sentiments against refugees and migrants, often portraying them unfairly in a way that violates their human dignity.
At the end, Salih extended an official invitation to the grand Imam to participate this year in the events commemorating the 75th anniversary of the UN Refugee Convention s. He affirmed that the Grand Imam’s participation would be a significant contribution to these global humanitarian efforts.