CAIRO: Al-Azhar University students are demanding independency of the institution from the government. Demonstrations ended Tuesday evening when the Supreme Council of Armed Forces (SCAF) called activists, according to Imam Rabei Marzouk of al-Zamalek Mosque. The SCAF, currently charged with Egypt's administration, promised the coalition to negotiate their demands with Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Ahmed al-Tayeb. Coalition's demands include establishing an Al-Azhar Supreme Authority to assess the affairs of Hajj and Omra (the greater and lesser Islamic pilgrimages to Mecca in Saudi Arabia) instead of the Ministry of Interior. “Al-Azhar is an Islamic minaret and educational center for Muslims worldwide. It also represents a moderate approach to Islam,” one sheikh said. “When all Al-Azhar students and sheiks call for its independency, they are sure this will benefit the entire Islamic community. Allah says ‘And so amongst men and crawling creatures and cattle, are they of various colors. Those truly fear God, among His Servants, who have knowledge: for God is Exalted in Might, Oft-Forgiving.'" “The role of al-Azhar should be prominent amid the current Islamic differences between doctrines and should be to unite all Muslims. Al-Azhar is not limited to one Islamic faction,” a professor of Legislation and Law Faculty at al-Azhar University said.
