Al-Azhar Observatory for Combating Extremism (AOCE) received a delegation from the "Ambassadors of Guidance" association, including several international students studying at Al-Azhar University. The visit was part of AOCE's ongoing efforts to engage with young people, promote intellectual awareness, and counter extremism.
First, AOCE’s researchers gave presentations on Al-Azhar's global and vital mission, and its moderate approach that aims to enhance coexistence and respect for pluralism. They also highlighted AOCE’s key recent prominent initiatives; foremost among them is the "Listen & Speak, initiative" which aims to promote dialogue with youth, correct misconceptions, and instill the values of citizenship and integration.
Additionally, AOCE’s researchers delivered a set of lectures, including "Understanding Religious Texts in Their Accurate Context: An Approach to Confronting Extremism and Radicalism" and "Building Critical Awareness and Confronting Extremist and Misleading Content in the Digital Space." They explained that misunderstanding religious texts is one of the primary causes of extremism, emphasizing the importance of reading them in light of the objectives of Islamic law and the understanding of specialized scholars. They also reviewed examples of erroneous interpretations exploited by extremist organizations, stressing that Islam’s objectives include preserving life, intellect, and human dignity and establishing the values of moderation and balance.
At the conclusion of the visit, AOCE’s researchers led the delegation on a tour of the observatory, where they outlined its mechanism of work and highlighted its most prominent publications in different languages, as well as its awareness-raising media activities. The delegation members expressed their appreciation for AOCE's role in countering extremist ideology and promoting moderation, emphasizing the importance of such interactive lectures in introducing participants to Al-Azhar's pioneering experience in fostering awareness and building enlightened thought.