Ahmed El-Tayeb, the grand imam of Al-Azhar, is forming a coalition with the aim of ending polarisation in Egypt.
“Al-Azhar is doing this because it is our duty,” said Mohamed Mostafa Game’a, the media manager for Al-Azhar, the country’s most influential seat of Islamic thinking. “Al-Azhar is the home of patriotism and open to everyone from all ideologies.”
On Monday the imam met with Hossam El-Gheriany, chairperson of the Constituent Assembly, and Mohamed Selim El-Awa, the former presidential candidate and current presidential advisor. Senior Al-Azhar advisors were also present as the group discussed ways to resolve the current divisions plaguing Egyptian society and political progress, according to Ikhwan online.
“The aim is to bring everyone together and end the rifts between the people,” said Game’a.
The exact methodology is unclear and, so far, the participants in the dialogue all seem to be from one side of the current societal schism between those favouring a religious presence in the constitution and those wishing to see religion and the law kept apart.
“Meetings are still going so we don’t have an action plan yet,” said Game’a, adding that they will be coming up soon and action plan.
Their timeline is a short one as a referendum on the highly controversial constitution is less than two weeks away.
