Al-Azhar Observatory for Combating Extremism

Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Receives Ambassador of Belarus to Cairo to Enhance Mutual Collaboration

Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Prof. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, received H.E. Yevgeny Sobolevsky, the Ambassador of Belarus to Cairo, to discuss ways to enhance joint collaboration between Al-Azhar and religious and academic institutions in Belarus. The Grand Imam underlined Al-Azhar’s readiness to grant scholarships for Muslim students from Belarus to enroll in Al-Azhar University faculties—spanning Islamic studies and Arabic language disciplines as well as applied sciences such as Medicine, Pharmacy, and Engineering.

His Eminence stated that Al-Azhar is fully prepared to host and train imams from Belarus at the Al-Azhar International Academy for Training Imams and Preachers. This training would follow a specialized program designed by a select group of Al-Azhar professors and senior scholars, aiming to hone the imams' skills in refuting extremist ideologies and addressing issues such as identity, coexistence, the status of women in Islam, and other contemporary topics, while also allowing them to experience the Egyptian model of coexistence firsthand.

For his part, the Belarusian ambassador expressed his nation's gratitude for the Grand Imam's efforts in advancing interfaith and intercultural dialogue as well as global peace. In addition, he emphasized his country's keenness to strengthen cooperation and develop relations between Al-Azhar and religious institutions in Belarus across various religious and academic fields.

The ambassador also noted his country's concern about collaborating with Al-Azhar Al-Sharif on joint studies on Islamic manuscripts held in Belarus—involving Al-Azhar professors and scholars—as well as organizing joint academic exhibitions to showcase the Islamic heritage found in Belarus. The Grand Imam applauded the planning of joint exhibitions on Islamic heritage and the visit-exchange between students and professors, noting that such initiatives contribute to strengthening academic and cultural collaboration between the two sides.

We commend the courageous positions of the countries that have upheld the Palestinian cause at the United Nations, reaffirming that the voice of truth remains heard and that the will of free peoples can overcome attempts to obscure it. The growing international rejection of the occupation efforts to constrain the cause diplomatically, and politically, and the mounting support for the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people both demonstrate that reliance on unconditional international support to carry out violations with impunity cannot continue indefinitely.

To us, Palestine is neither a passing chapter in the history of the nation nor a political issue open to compromise. It is a cause of justice, rights, dignity, and honor. Al-Azhar Ash-Sharif will remain steadfast in its support for the Palestinian people and its rejection of occupation, forced displacement, and aggression, until they attain their legitimate rights to establish their independent state, with Al-Quds Ash-Sharif as its capital.

Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Receives Chairman of King Hamad Global Centre for Peaceful Coexistence to Discuss Ways to Enhance Joint Cooperation

The Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Prof. Ahmed al-Tayeb, received H.E. Shaikh Abdullah bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the King Hamad Global Centre for Coexistence and Tolerance (KHGC) to discuss ways to strengthen joint cooperation.

The Grand Imam affirmed the deep-rooted relations linking Al-Azhar Al-Sharif with the Kingdom of Bahrain, expressing his appreciation for his brother, His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, King of Bahrain, describing him as a "noble and true Arab leader." He praised His Majesty's efforts in advancing the Kingdom of Bahrain and supporting the causes of the Muslim nation (Ummah). His Eminence also lauded the manifestations of the preservation of authentic Arab and Islamic traditions that he witnessed during his visits to the Kingdom of Bahrain.

The Grand Imam also emphasized that education is the fundamental pillar of building minds and fostering pride in one’s homeland, Arab heritage, and Islamic identity. He pointed out the necessity of agreeing on an educational strategy that leads to shaping an Arab intellect capable of carrying the concerns of the Ummah, recalling its glorious past to build its future, and immunizing Arab youth against Western cultural influxes that target their morals and identity.

For his part, H.E. Sheikh Abdullah bin Ahmed Al Khalifa expressed his delight at meeting the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, conveying the Kingdom of Bahrain's appreciation—along with his own—for His Eminence's tangible efforts in promoting the values of positive coexistence and global peace, as well as supporting regional issues. He conveyed the greetings of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and his wishes of enduring health and wellness for the Grand Imam, affirming his pride in the positions of Al-Azhar Al-Sharif and the role of its Grand Imam in correcting misconceptions about the true, tolerant religion of Islam.

H.E. Shaikh Al Khalifa noted that the KHGC works to promote the values of coexistence and moderation. He explained that the Centre participated in organizing the Bahrain Dialogue Forum: East and West for Human Coexistence, and cooperated with Al-Azhar Al-Sharif and the Muslim Council of Elders in holding the inaugural edition of the intra-Islamic Dialogue Conference hosted in Bahrain. He pointed out that the Centre focuses its efforts on educational and training programs—especially for Arab youth—fostering and embedding tolerant Islamic values through educational curricula, and partnering with various institutions to transfer knowledge and empower youth with the essential skills that help them expand their sphere of influence in their societies.

Al-Azhar Condemns Storming of Al-Aqsa Courtyards by Israeli Official and Extremist Settlers

Al-Azhar Al-Sharif strongly condemns the storming of the courtyards of the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque by an official in the Zionist entity's government and crowds of extremist settlers, under the heavy protection of occupation forces. Al-Azhar affirms that such irresponsible act constitutes a vicious assault on the sanctity of the first of the two Qiblas and the third holiest Islamic site, and a flagrant provocation to the feelings of nearly two billion Muslims worldwide.

Al-Azhar stresses that Jerusalem and its blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque, with all its courtyards and prayer halls, is an exclusive Islamic right that accepts neither division nor partnership. It warns against Zionist schemes aimed at altering the historical and legal status quo in the City, and undermining its Arab and Islamic identity through policies of Judaization, temporal and spatial division, and the imposition of a fait accompli.

Furthermore, Al-Azhar calls upon the international community and its relevant institutions to break their silence and assume their legal and moral responsibilities to halt such provocative rampages and curb the terrorism of the occupation authorities and settler gangs. Al-Azhar prays to Almighty Allah to protect the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque from the desecration of the usurpers, to grant steadfastness to our people in Jerusalem, and to enable the Palestinian people to attain their legitimate rights and establish their independent state with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.

Egypt's Ambassador to Singapore Visits AOCE

Al-Azhar Observatory for Combating Extremism (AOCE) received Egypt's Ambassador to Singapore, Ambassador Amira Fahmy, who is scheduled to officially assume her duties next month. The visit aimed to familiarize the ambassador with AOCE’s vital efforts and mechanisms in countering extremist ideology and hate speech.

During the meeting, AOCE’s General Director Prof. Reham Salama welcomed the Egyptian Ambassador, providing an overview of AOCE's role in monitoring and refuting extremist discourse in several languages, as well as its recent multimedia output—including audio, video, and written publications—comprising numerous studies and reports that analyze contemporary intellectual phenomena and offer scholarly insights.

For her part, Ambassador Amira Fahmy toured AOCE’s units, where she was briefed on its multilingual monitoring and analytical frameworks. She expressed her deep appreciation for the tireless efforts made by Al-Azhar Al-Sharif in promoting the values of moderation and tolerance in Islam, and correcting misconceptions at the regional and international levels. In addition, she praised AOCE’s pioneering role as an intellectual and scientific beacon that promotes the values of dialogue and world peace.

AOCE: The “Pillars of Awareness” Initiative and the Protection of National Security

Al-Azhar Observatory for Combating Extremism (AOCE) continues its “Pillars of Awareness” initiative, aimed at enhancing critical thinking skills among youth. During the workshops, AOCE researchers provided an overview of AOCE mission and highlighted the program's ability to address contemporary intellectual challenges.

This special event was distinguished by the participation of Major General (Staff) Dr. Hafez Hassan, who delivered a strategic lecture offering analytical insights into the nature of contemporary conflicts. He addressed "Fourth-Generation Warfare"— a form of asymmetric warfare that relies on guerrilla tactics and non-state actors to destabilize nations from within, leading to gradual erosion and eventual collapse.

Furthermore, Dr. Hafez discussed the concept of "Fifth-Generation Warfare" as a battle of perceptions and information, designed to distort public consciousness through spreading chaos and psychological conflict. He offered profound historical and philosophical perspectives, citing the Greek historian Simonides—"We did not defeat them when we invaded them; we defeated them when we made them forget their civilization, history, and consciousness"—and Robert McNamara: "Security is development; without development, there can be no security," thereby emphasizing the pivotal role of awareness in preserving identity.

In this regard, AOCE’s researchers, Dr. Mokhtar Mohamed and Dr. Abdul-Wahab, addressed critical thinking and the mechanisms for distinguishing between truth, assumptions, personal opinions, impressions, and scientific facts. The objective was to expose the tools of digital manipulation and the intellectual tricks employed by extremist groups to mislead minds.

Further, AOCE’s researchers addressed the concept of "cognitive bias" and the mechanisms for developing an objective perspective. The session specifically highlighted the phenomenon of "confirmation bias" and its impact on the objectivity of evaluation. The topic focused on two angles: a psychological perspective to understand the mind's underlying motives and impulses and a practical one—an intensive workshop designed to equip young people with skills to question, form balanced and objective views, and critically examine and refute false content.

To conclude, this edition of the "Pillars of Awareness" program extends AOCE’s pioneering awareness-raising mission by strengthening young minds, fostering intellectual resilience, and promoting self-immunity against destructive ideologies, which constitute the first line of national defense. This aligns with Al-Azhar Al-Sharif’s efforts to promote the moderate essence of the true faith and safeguard societal stability.

Twice in Ten Days: Belgian Mosque Vandalized with Islamophobic Graffiti

The Al-Azhar Observatory for Countering Extremism (AOCE) has voiced grave concern over a second anti-Muslim attack in less than ten days on Al-Tawfiq Mosque in Schelle, Belgium. According to Flemish broadcaster VRT, mosque officials were confronted with Islamophobic slur spray-painted across the entire facade of the building.
The mosque suffered a similar attack on September 5th, when the same slogan appeared alongside N**i symbols on its walls, while dog excrement was left at the entrance in an additional act of provocation. Mosque administrators filed a police complaint after the first incident; investigators have yet to identify a suspect, and police in the Rupel area are now examining whether the same perpetrator is behind both attacks.

AOCE has strongly urged Belgian and European authorities to treat these hateful incidents with the utmost urgency, rather than dismissing them as ordinary security infractions. The observatory calls for a swift investigation, accountability for the perpetrators under the law, and adequate security for mosques and Islamic places of worship across Belgium and Europe. It also calls on the international community and human rights organizations to condemn this recurring pattern of attacks on Islamic symbols and sanctities, and to establish effective mechanisms to counter rising Islamophobia across Europe.

AOCE reaffirms its full solidarity with Muslim community in Belgium and pledges to continue monitoring and documenting acts of Islamophobia and anti-Muslim hate speech wherever they occur.

𝑨𝒇𝒓𝒊𝒄𝒂 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑬𝒚𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝑨𝑶𝑪𝑬

For the First Time Since 1967: East Jerusalem Students to Study the Zionist Curriculum Next Academic Year

In an unprecedented move since the city’s occupation in 1967, all newly opened grades in East Jerusalem's public schools are set—starting from the 2026/2027 academic year—to fully adopt the Zionist curriculum. This step is a prominent escalation within the ongoing process of the "Israelization" of the educational sector and the tightening restrictions on the Palestinian curriculum.

According to the Zionist newspaper Haaretz, approximately 44,000 Palestinian students are scheduled to study the Israeli curriculum during the new academic year, accounting for roughly 38% of East Jerusalem’s total student population of about 120,000. These figures highlight the accelerating pace of Israelization plans, compared to fewer than 13,000 students six years ago, and only a few hundred around 15 years ago.

This development recalls the attempts to impose Zionist curricula following the 1967 occupation, which were met at that time with widespread public rejection and strikes involving teachers, students, and parents. That resistance forced the occupying power to back down and continue teaching the Jordanian curriculum, which was later replaced by the Palestinian curriculum in the 1990s. However, recent years have witnessed the adoption of a gradual policy based on pressuring educational institutions and providing financial incentives to schools that comply with the new plan.

The gravity of this step extends beyond administrative dimensions to target the memory and national identity of Jerusalem’s generations. The substitution of the occupation's curricula aims to reshape collective consciousness by erasing key concepts and themes in Palestinian history, foremost among them the national cause, the Palestinian Nakba, and Jerusalem.

The Prophet’s Mawild:
𝑩𝒆𝒚𝒐𝒏𝒅 𝑪𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒆𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒕𝒐 𝑺𝒑𝒊𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒖𝒂𝒍 𝑴𝒆𝒂𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈
The Eternal Goodness: Planting Seeds You May Never See

"If the Final Hour comes while one of you has a palm sapling in hand, let him plant it." This teaching of the Prophet (PBUH) reveals a profound philosophy: we do not act for immediate applause, but because doing good is our core identity. Living the Prophet’s way means releasing the obsession with quick outcomes and focusing on the purity of our efforts. Every quiet act of justice, every healed heart, and every planted seed ripples through eternity.
What is one small, quiet contribution you are making today that you hope will leave a lasting footprint long after you’re gone?