The Minister of Endowments before the House of Representatives’ African Affairs Committee: We cooperate with Africa to build bridges of communication and confront extremism
Dr. Osama Al-Azhari, Minister of Endowments, presented part of the ministry’s efforts before the African Affairs Committee of the House of Representatives, including delegation efforts, education, scholarships, and training courses. Emphasizing the determination to strengthen these efforts and add to them to spread moderate thought and confront extremism.
The session, chaired by Dr. Sherif El-Gebli – Chairman of the Committee, discussed the ministry’s efforts in Africa. The minister expressed his thanks for the invitation, noting the dispatch of 23 imams and preachers to African countries, including Tanzania, Kenya, and Senegal, during Ramadan, and the participation of 37 African countries in the global competition for the Holy Qur’an, which the ministry concluded last December, and some of them are among the winners scheduled to be honored in the annual celebration of Laylat al-Qadr.
The minister hinted at the presence of an Egyptian Islamic center in Tanzania. It is attended by about 1,000 students, and supervised by 17 teachers and delegates. He pointed out the signing of eight religious cooperation agreements with African countries, with four other agreements under study, in addition to the translation of sermons into African languages such as Swahili and others, to convey the moderate message of Islam.
The Minister also reviewed part of the efforts of the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, which publishes articles about African figures who graduated from Al-Azhar, and organizes cultural forums to strengthen cultural ties with countries. The continent.
He announced the collection of African scientific heritage in independent publications, while inviting representatives of African countries to participate in monthly seminars and annual conferences.
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For their part, the representatives praised the efforts of the Ministry of Endowments, as Representative Dr. Mohamed Salim affirmed his pride in the Minister’s interest in Africa, and Representative Dr. Ahmed Al-Sharif praised the importance of cooperation with…
The representatives also showed great appreciation for the minister’s efforts over 16 years in producing the encyclopedia (The Collection of Al-Azhar Scholars in the Two Century The fourteenth and fifteenth AH), considering this one of the pillars of reviving the Egyptian religious heritage and its ramifications in the African continent.
The minister announced new projects, such as launching a comprehensive electronic platform for the ministry’s services, including Introducing mosques and providing content in African languages. He referred to the “Return of the Katateeb” initiative. Which aims to create a book in each village within a year and a half, to teach children the principles of morals and religion, and to cooperate with the church to spread ideas of unity, patriotism, and construction among Christian children in Sunday schools, to consolidate the values of coexistence.
The Minister also stressed the importance of the female role in advocacy work, and announced the development of the Ministry’s publications to become comprehensive electronic publications, with a focus on documenting the Egyptian intellectual and religious heritage.
The Minister concluded his speech. Emphasizing the importance of joint cooperation with African brothers as a fundamental pillar of the ministry’s efforts, expressing his appreciation for the long-standing relations between Egypt and African countries, which contribute to consolidating the moderate Islamic identity and building bridges of love and cooperation with the peoples of the continent.
