Mattarella meets the Grand Imam of Al Azhar: this is Ahmed al Tayeb
He leads the world's oldest Islamic university and the main religious, educational and legal centre for over a billion Sunni Muslims
President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella meets the Grand Imam of Al Azhar, Ahmed al Tayeb, the highest religious authority of Sunni Islam, at the Quirinale. Al Tayeb leads Al Azhar, the oldest Islamic university in the world located in Cairo and the main religious, educational and legal reference centre for over a billion Sunni Muslims. Egyptian theologian, philosopher and imam, he has held this position since 2010. Al Tayeb is in Rome to take part in "Osare la pace", the meeting organised by Sant'Egidio that closes tomorrow.
The European PhD at the Sorbonne
Born in Luxor in 1946, he was educated at Al-Azhar University, graduating in Islamic theology and philosophy in 1969 and earning a doctorate in 1977. He continued his education in France, at the Sorbonne University. He worked as a lecturer in several universities, in Egypt and in other Arab countries, becoming a professor of philosophy at Al-Azhar University. Before his appointment as Grand Imam, he served as Rector of Al-Azhar University and Grand Mufti of Egypt.
Averse to Islamic fanaticism and terrorism
Al Tayeb has often spoken out against Islamic extremism and terrorism, highlighting that these ideologies are not in line with true Islam. The Grand Imam of Al Azhar is in favour of a dialogue between faiths. He has had numerous meetings with Pope Francis, consolidating relations between the Catholic Church and Sunni Islam. On 4 February 2019, he signed in Abu Dhabi with Bergoglio the Document on Human Brotherhood for World Peace and Common Coexistence, a text condemning hatred, violence and terrorism in the name of religion.
