The Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Ahmed El-Tayeb, accompanied by a delegation, will visit Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) from November 14th to 18th, 2024. His visit follows an invitation from the Chairman of the Presidency of BiH, and he will be arriving not only as a religious leader but also as a statesman.
Ahmed El-Tayeb holds a highly influential position within Egypt’s governmental structure and is the foremost religious authority in Sunni Islam. It is worth noting that this will be the Grand Imam’s first visit to BiH.
The visit’s program includes a meeting with Denis Becirovic, Chairman of the Presidency of BiH, with possible meetings with other prominent BiH officials.
During his stay, the Grand Imam will meet with the Grand Mufti of BiH, Husein Kavazovic, where he will also be presented with a special recognition. A meeting will also be held with the Islamic scholars from BiH and the region, including muftis, chief imams, retired Grand Muftis and muftis, professors, and representatives of madrasas and Islamic Community faculties in BiH.
In addition to holding the highest religious authority in the Sunni Muslim world, Ahmed El-Tayeb’s role in Egypt’s governmental structure is comparable to that of a prime minister – often considered the second most important position in Egypt. Thus, he is visiting BiH as a statesman.
Grand Imam of Al-Azhar will be accompanied by an eight-member delegation, and they plan to visit the Srebrenica Memorial Center on November 17th, 2024.
The delegation will include Nazir Ayyad, the Mufti of the Arab Republic of Egypt; Mohamed Abdel-Salam, Secretary-General of the Muslim Council of Elders; and Ambassador Abdulrahman Moussa, also an advisor to the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar on Foreign Relations.
The organizational team includes Ahmed Mustafa Abdelhalim, Director of the Grand Imam’s Private Secretariat; Ahmed Barakat Ahmed Moussa, Director of Al-Azhar’s Media Center; and Karim Mohamed Hatem Mohamed, the Grand Imam’s personal photographer.
The Embassy of BiH in Cairo is in close contact with the Grand Imam’s institution regarding the upcoming visit and coordinating essential activities. The BiH Ambassador based in Cairo, Sabit Subasic, emphasized the importance of this visit.
“The institution of the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar is highly positioned within Egypt’s state structure, equivalent to a prime minister level, and is recognized as such globally. The visit is expected to provide significant impetus for strengthening bilateral diplomatic relations between BiH and Egypt. Given the Grand Imam’s esteemed status in Egypt and around the world, the visit will further BiH’s presence on the international stage, particularly within the Islamic world,” he stated.
During his visit to the Arab Republic of Egypt from April 28th to April 30th, 2024, Denis Becirovic met with the Grand Imam Ahmed El-Tayeb, where they had a very cordial discussion. Becirovic and Professor El-Tayeb discussed the possibility of the Grand Imam’s visit to BiH, and he readily accepted the invitation.
It should be emphasized that Ahmed El-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, not only holds one of the leading positions in Egypt’s governmental structure (prime minister level) but also enjoys a reputation as the most prominent religious dignitary in Sunni Islam.
It is also worth noting that Ahmed El-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, and Pope Francis signed the Declaration on Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together, the first document of its kind globally.
Dr. Ahmed El-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, has initiated very close relations and communication among the leaders of religious communities in this populous country of Egypt, Klix.ba writes.
E.Dz.
