Banque Misr joins "Open Your Account in Egypt" initiative for expatriate Egyptians    QatarEnergy announces new expansion of gas exploration operations in Egypt    Al-Sisi reaffirms Egypt's commitment to religious freedom in meeting with World Council of Churches    SCZONE breaks ground on $20.5m Top New, Top Credit textile projects in West Qantara    EGX closes mostly red on 28 Oct.    Egypt, Saudi Arabia discuss boosting investment, trade ties at FII9 in Riyadh    Iraq signs $450 million LNG project deal with Excelerate Energy    Egypt joins high-level talks in Riyadh to advance two-state solution for Palestine    Health Ministry outlines medical readiness for Grand Egyptian Museum opening 1 Nov.    Egypt screens 1.53m primary school students for anaemia, obesity, stunting —health ministry    Egypt, Eni sign deal to study biogas units using farm waste    Ancient Egyptian crocodile discovery reshapes understanding of its evolution    US builds up military presence near Venezuela, Maduro warns against 'crazy war'    Turkish court issues new arrest warrant for jailed Istanbul mayor on spying charges    Gaza ceasefire faces new strains amid stalled reconstruction talks    Madinaty Golf Club to host 104th Egyptian Open    Egypt becomes regional hub for health investment, innovation: Abdel Ghaffar    LG Electronics Egypt expands local manufacturing, deepens integration of local components    Egypt's Sisi receives credentials of 23 new ambassadors    Egypt medics pull off complex rescue of Spanish tourist in Sneferu's Bent Pyramid    Egypt Open Junior and Ladies Golf Championship concludes    Treasures of the Pharaohs Exhibition in Rome draws 50,000 visitors in two days    Al-Sisi reviews final preparations for Grand Egyptian Museum opening    Egypt steps up oversight of medical supplies in North Sinai    Egypt to issue commemorative coins ahead of Grand Egyptian Museum opening    Omar Hisham announces launch of Egyptian junior and ladies' golf with 100 players from 15 nations    Egypt's PM reviews efforts to remove Nile River encroachments    Al-Sisi: Cairo to host Gaza reconstruction conference in November    Egypt will never relinquish historical Nile water rights, PM says    Al Ismaelia launches award-winning 'TamaraHaus' in Downtown Cairo revival    Al-Sisi, Burhan discuss efforts to end Sudan war, address Nile Dam dispute in Cairo talks    Egypt's Sisi warns against unilateral Nile actions, calls for global water cooperation    Syria releases preliminary results of first post-Assad parliament vote    Egypt resolves dispute between top African sports bodies ahead of 2027 African Games    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Al-Azhar freezes dialogue with Vatican indefinitely
Bikya Masr Published in Bikya Masr on 21 - 01 - 2011

CAIRO: Al-Azhar has decided to indefinitely freeze all dialogue with the Vatican over what it called Pope Benedict's repeated insults towards Islam, the institution announced on Thursday.
Al-Azhar is Egypt's top Sunni authority.
Suspending interfaith dialogue with the Vatican on Thursday came in response to Pope Benedict XVI's remarks on the status of Christians in the Middle East.
Pope Benedict condemned attacks on churches that killed dozens of people in Egypt, Iraq and Nigeria this month, saying they showed the need to adopt effective measures to protect religious minorities.
Al-Azhar made the decision during an urgent meeting held by the Islamic Research Academy, run by al-Azhar. The academy's secretary general, Ali Abdel Dayem, said the activities of the Permanent Committee for Dialogue with Monotheistic Religions will be suspended indefinitely.
Benedict called for protecting Christians in the Middle East following the New Year's attack on an Alexandria church that killed 23 and injured 100. His remarks angered Egypt. The Egyptian government considered his statements interference in its domestic affairs and recalled its Ambassador for consultations.
Al-Azhar established the dialogue committee in 1997. It meets twice a year to discuss bilateral collaboration.
For its part, the Vatican said Thursday it wanted to continue its meetings with Al-Azhar.
“The council for inter-religious dialogue's line of openness and desire to dialogue is unchanged,” said Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi.
Lombardi added that the council was “in the process of gathering together the necessary information in order to understand the situation well.”
Sheikh Mahmoud Azab said, “The Pope has repeatedly alleged that non-Muslims are being persecuted in Muslim countries in the Middle East region, which is far from the truth and is an unacceptable interference in the internal affairs of Islamic countries.”
On Wednesday, Arab leaders at a summit in Egypt voiced their “total rejection” of foreign interference in Arab affairs over Christian minorities.
BM

Clic here to read the story from its source.