Cairo- Sheikh Ahmed Al-Tayeb, the Grand Sheikh of Al-Azhar University and one of the most prestigious seats of learning in the Muslim world asked the Iranian Foreign Minister to provide Sunni Muslims full rights in Iran.
Mr. Salehi, the Foreign Minister of Iran met Shaikh of Al-Azhar on Thursday, January 10 in Cairo.
Shaikh Ahmed Al-Tayeb said, “I am responsible before Allah and people over oppressed Muslims around the world; I have been receiving reports, repeated news and even calls for help from a big part of Iran by our Sunni brothers of Iran. The reports suggest they (Sunnis of Iran) are deprived of some basic rights. As the Islamic Shari’ah and international rulers urge, people are free to exercise their cultural traditions and act upon their jurisprudence.”
He also asked the Shi’ite clergies to issue fatwa, verdict, forbidding blasphemy of the Companions of Holy Prophet (PBUH) particularly the Mother of Believers Ayeshah, and first three Guided Caliphs and Imam Bukhari, may Allah be pleased with them.
Shaikh of Al-Azhar added more, “I have been repeating this request from Shia scholars and religious men in the meetings with me for two years, but no useful response has been exposed yet.”
“I have taken notes of the Grand Sheikh al-Tayeb’s advices. Meeting al-Tayeb was a great honor for me,” Salehi told the press after meeting with the Shaikh.
The two men stressed the importance of Muslim unity and Salehi said there were no differences between Muslims, whether they were Sunnis or Shi’ites.
“We are all Muslims and are proud of this. Our aim is unity,” Salehi underlined.
Shaikh Ahmed Al-Tayeb demanded the Iranian FM to convey his message to the Iranian administration that Al-Azhar refuses interference in the affairs of Bahrain State.
It should be noted, Sunni Muslims of Iran have no any mosque in Tehran, Esfahan and some other metropolises. They are not allowed to rebuild mosques or seminaries as they need in Mashhad, Shiraz and even in some Sunni-populated cities. Tehran’s Sunnis could not offer Eid prayers for three years in their leased places.
The outstanding Sunni leaders including Shaikh Abdol-Hameed Ismaeelzahi, the rector of Darululoom Zahedan have been criticizing the ongoing policy of the rulers.
Source: SunniOnline.us & Agencies