A Salafi delegation met Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Ahmed Al-Tayeb on Wednesday, where they agreed on the threat of Shi'ism to Egypt, according to Younis Makhyoun, head of the Salafi Al-Nour Party. The delegation consisted of leading figures from Al-Nour and Salafi Da'wa, including Makhyoun and prominent Salafi figure Yasser Borhami. “We met to congratulate Al-Tayeb on his successful visit to the United Arab Emirates, where he freed dozens of Egyptian prisoners there and received an honorary award," said Makhyoun. Makhyoun claimed that both sides agreed on combating the spread of Shi'ism in Egypt, which he described as “extraneous to Islam's concepts". He added that Al-Azhar is the “defensive shield" against any attempts to approach Islam, explaining that it has a long history and great reputation in Egypt and abroad. “Al-Azhar's stance concerning the spread of Shi'ism is similar to ours, and together we can clarify everything and raise awareness about the fallacies of Shi'ism," the Al-Nour leader said. Makhyoun asserted his party's support for Grand Imam Al-Tayeb and Al-Azhar for their legacy and patriotic role throughout the Egyptian history. He added that Al-Azhar has the ability to reverse growing internal rifts arising within Egypt, being trusted by many sectors of society. Makhyoun said the meeting was successful, but denied reaching any tangible joint initiatives with Al-Azhar. “There are no such initiatives. We have a common vision and we are working together to achieve it, for the sake of Islam and Egyptians." He added only Al-Nour and Salafi Da'wa formed the delegation, denying that any other Salafi groups attended the meeting. Al-Azhar could not be reached for comment on the meeting.
