[Editor: This article was sent in July 2005, but was not published in AWR. Since the issue has again come to the news, we decided to add Shaykh al-Zifzāf’s comment.]
Permanent Committee of Al-Azhar for Dialogue with the Monotheistic Religions
Dear Dr. Cornelis Hulsman,
I have received your letter dated July 20, 2005, with which was enclosed a photocopy of an article published by al-Usbou‘ newspaper of April 18, 2005 under the headline ‘Did the Azhar approve a US document guaranteeing freedom of proselytizing in the Muslim world?’ and the request to answer the two questions contained in your message.
Unfortunately, we are really suffering from inaccurate reporting and information in some newspapers. Al-Usbou‘ newspaper should have contacted the Azhar and inquired about the facts before publishing this groundless article. The weekly newspaper should have had more respect for the code of ethics of the press.
There is no relationship between the Azhar and the Ambassadors for Peace. Dr. Muhammad al-Batrān, a former member of the Shoura Council, had visited the Azhar along with a delegation of the Ambassadors for Peace and met with Grand Imām of the Azhar Shaykh Muhammad Sayyid Tantāwī.
The delegation briefed the grand imām about the Religious Freedoms document, which called for freedom of worship, which stated that the settlement of any possible religious differences lies in dialogue based on mutual respect among followers of any faith, not in the resort to violence that is totally rejected by all, that every individual has the right to hear and to be heard, that everyone has the right to live at peace with their neighbor no matter what their faith etc.
After the grand imām of the Azhar listened to the briefing of the Ambassadors for Peace delegation and the content of the document, he said that all the items go in line with the teachings of Islam that call for freedom of worship, non-forcing of others to convert to a religion they do not believe in, and that difference amongs creeds should not prevent cooperation among their followers.
The delegation then said it was touring the world to collect signatures on that document from religious leaders representing all faiths, with the aim of promoting peaceful coexistence among mankind.
I was asked then by the grand imām of the Azhar to sign this document.
As for the story of the al-Usbou‘, which read that the Azhar has supported all items contained in the document, particularly that “By virtue of this document, no religious institution is entitled to intervene to stop proselytizing or evangelizing a Western Christian doctrine that runs counter with the Eastern Christianity, like the Zionist Christian beliefs the new US administration is trying to spread,” I believe the best thing to reply to this false allegation is to send you a copy of the text of that document which I have signed myself so that you can confirm that al-Usbou‘ article has alleged things that were never contained in that document.
There were no contacts between the Azhar and the Ambassadors for Peace, neither before or after that meeting, and there are no relations between the Azhar and the Ambassadors for Peace.
I seize the opportunity to offer you heartfelt thanks for your request for facts and information about this matter.
Yours,
Fawzī Fādil al-Zifzāf,
Chairman of the Permanent Committee of Al-Azhar for Dialogue with the Monotheistic Religions.
July 30, 2005
[Editor: Attached was the Arabic text of the agreement, which can also be seen, along with the English version, at http://www.am4peace.org/index2.html The text does not contain the statement “By virtue of this document, no religious institution is entitled to intervene to stop proselytizing or evangelizing a Western Christian doctrine that runs counter with the Eastern Christianity, like the Zionist Christian beliefs the new US administration is trying to spread”.]
