Grand Imam of Al-Azhar in a UN Address: Islamophobia Is Irrational and Illogical, Posing a Serious Threat to Global Peace
Grand Imam of Al-Azhar and Chairman of the Muslim Council of Elders Calls in a UN Address for the Establishment of Databases to Document Racial and Discriminatory Crimes Against Muslims
Grand Imam of Al-Azhar in a UN Address: Islamophobia Is Irrational and Illogical, Posing a Serious Threat to Global Peace
Grand Imam of Al-Azhar and Chairman of the Muslim Council of Elders Thanks UN Secretary-General for His “Fair Statements on Islam”
Grand Imam of Al-Azhar in a UN Address: Islamophobia Stems from Ignorance of Islam and Deliberate Attempts to Distort Its Principles
Grand Imam of Al-Azhar in a UN Address: History Testifies That Islam Is a Religion of Peace, Founded on Mutual Understanding and the Rejection of Conflict
Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Calls in a UN Address for Combating Hate Speech That Spreads Through the Media and Social Media Platforms
Grand Imam Showcases in a UN Address the Efforts of Al-Azhar and the Muslim Council of Elders in Advancing Dialogue and Human Fraternity
His Eminence Professor Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, Grand Imam of Al-Azhar and Chairman of the Muslim Council of Elders, delivered a speech at the United Nations General Assembly on the occasion of the International Day to Combat Islamophobia. His speech, delivered on his behalf by Ambassador Osama Abdelkhalek, Egypt’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, emphasized that this international day is the result of commendable efforts led by Muslim nations at the UN to confront a phenomenon that is both irrational and illogical, yet has become a significant threat to global peace.
In his address, the Grand Imam expressed his deep appreciation for the courageous and impartial stance of UN Secretary-General António Guterres, praising his fair and informed statements about Islam and its values. His Eminence stressed that such statements play a crucial role in combating Islamophobia, challenging misleading stereotypes, and countering extremist rhetoric that seeks to distort Islam’s true essence for political gain. He pointed out that far-right groups have often exploited these false narratives to serve narrow political agendas, fueling division and prejudice.
The Grand Imam reiterated that the word “Islam” shares its root with the word “Al-Salaam,” which means “peace” in Arabic, reflecting the very essence of this great faith—mercy, compassion, coexistence, and tolerance among all people, regardless of race, creed, language, or background. This is clearly articulated in the Glorious Quran, where Allah Almighty states: “And We have not sent you, [O Muhammad], except as a mercy to the worlds.” (The Quran, 21: 107) He emphasized that this verse encapsulates the core message of Islam—upholding fraternity, justice, and tolerance, recognizing all humans as members of one family, descended from one father and one mother.
The Grand Imam further underscored that Muslims have lived for centuries in harmony with followers of other religions, demonstrating a deep-seated belief in religious freedom, as stated in the Quranic verse: “There is no compulsion in religion.” (The Quran, 2: 256) History, he noted, stands as clear testimony that Islam is a religion of peace, founded on mutual understanding and cooperation, not conflict or division. This is not merely a claim—it is a historical reality experienced by countless societies across both the East and the West for centuries. It is a reality that has, for centuries, defined Islam and its unique message to the world.
His Eminence explained that Islamophobia, or “the irrational fear of Islam,” stems from ignorance and deliberate distortions of Islam’s principles, which are deeply rooted in peace and coexistence. He pointed out that far-right media campaigns and extremist rhetoric have, for years, sought to falsely portray Islam as a religion of violence and extremism—one of the most abhorrent fabrications in modern history. These distortions rely on flawed interpretations and the deliberate, deceitful exploitation of horrific acts of violence committed by military groups that have nothing to do with Islam. His Eminence questioned how can a religion—whose followers’ faith is incomplete unless they believe in the principle enshrined in their sacred book, where Allah addresses all of humanity, saying: “O mankind, indeed We have created you from male and female and made you into peoples and tribes that you may know one another.” (The Quran, 49: 13)—be misrepresented as one that advocates extremism, terrorism, violence, and bloodshed? Is it not only fair and just that Islam be recognized by the name Allah intended for it—a religion of understanding, tolerance, mercy, and cooperation? And should not the fear of Islam and its followers be regarded as a disorder—one that requires treatment and awareness rather than being left to spread unchecked?
His Eminence the Grand Imam emphasized that the immense challenges facing our world today—wars, conflicts, and the alarming rise of hate speech, intolerance, extremism, and discrimination—call for unity and solidarity. They compel us to build bridges of understanding upon the ruins of ignorance, arrogance, and hatred and to kindle the light of wisdom in the dark tunnels of stereotypes. Interfaith and intercultural dialogue is no longer a luxury but a necessity for the survival of humanity, rescuing it from the grips of ignorance and misunderstanding. Let our words serve as a bridge that dispels the anxieties of Islamophobia through a discourse of moderation and openness to others.
His Eminence emphasized that the immense challenges facing our world today—wars, conflicts, and the alarming rise of hate speech, intolerance, extremism, and discrimination—call for unity and solidarity. They compel us to build bridges of understanding upon the ruins of ignorance, arrogance, and hatred, and to kindle the light of wisdom in the dark tunnels of stereotypes. He stressed that interfaith and intercultural dialogue is no longer a luxury but a necessity for the survival of humanity, rescuing it from the grips of ignorance and misunderstanding. Let our words serve as a bridge that dispels the anxieties of Islamophobia through a discourse of moderation and openness to others.
He further explained that, according to their faith, Muslims are religiously obligated to believe that religious and cultural diversity is a divine decree, as Allah Almighty states: “And if your Lord had willed, He could have made mankind one community; but they will not cease to differ.” (The Quran, 11: 118). This diversity, he asserted, is a source of enrichment, not conflict, and combating Islamophobia is not a struggle for a specific group but a battle for every person whose heart beats with a love for justice.
The Grand Imam pointed out that Al-Azhar, as the historical authority of Islam and a beacon of moderation, alongside the Muslim Council of Elders, which he chairs, had long sounded the alarm about the escalating threat of Islamophobia. Their joint efforts have focused on opening avenues of dialogue between East and West, culminating in the signing of the Document on Human Fraternity in Abu Dhabi in 2019, co-signed by His Eminence the Grand Imam his brother, His Holiness Pope Francis, Pontiff of the Catholic Church. In addition, Al-Azhar and the Muslim Council of Elders have organized numerous global intellectual conferences, trained generations of scholars and students as ambassadors of peace, and dispatched scholarly delegations across the world as part of the international Peace Convoys that traveled across the globe, carrying the message of Islam as a religion of mercy, rejecting all forms of hate speech and mutual fear, and advocating for human coexistence and positive integration based on dialogue and cooperation rather than conflict and division.
He continued by highlighting Al-Azhar’s efforts in combating Islamophobia, including the establishment of the Al-Azhar Observatory for Combating Extremism, which works to clarify the correct teachings of Islam for both Muslims and non-Muslims worldwide. The observatory also actively counters extremist ideologies, terrorist groups, and violent movements while monitoring acts of violence against Muslims driven by Islamophobia. Through daily monitoring of such incidents around the world, it fosters positive engagement to combat this dangerous phenomenon in affected communities. His Eminence expressed regret over the continued rise of Islamophobia, stating that despite significant efforts, the phenomenon continues to expand—fueled by far-right populist rhetoric that exploits both individual and collective vulnerabilities. This reminds us, he noted, that the struggle is a long-term one and that the challenge at hand necessitates redoubled efforts and the development of innovative mechanisms to address the complexities surrounding this issue.
The Grand Imam called for the formulation of an internationally recognized definition of Islamophobia, which would periodically identify specific terms and practices that constitute incitement, hate speech, or violence against Islam and Muslims based on their religious identity. He also advocated for the establishment of comprehensive and regularly updated databases to document racial and discriminatory crimes against Muslims, monitor laws and policies that either deepen or mitigate Islamophobia, and ultimately draft laws and legislation that curb this phenomenon while promoting values of dialogue, tolerance, and human coexistence.
Concluding his address, His Eminence stressed that the fight against Islamophobia requires sustained and practical efforts that manifest in education, dialogue, media, and legislation that safeguard human dignity—regardless of faith or background. He called upon governments and organizations to join hands in developing a monitoring and evaluation mechanism to assess the effectiveness of initiatives and interventions aimed at combating Islamophobia. Through such concerted efforts, we can build a world where justice and coexistence flourish and where the banner of human fraternity flies high in the sky.