Egypt grand imam's call for peace in Myanmar sparks backlash at home

The speech of Al-Azhar's grand imam, Ahmed al-Tayeb, at a peace conference in Cairo raised the usual controversy with some Salafists, who thought his address was not in line with Islamic teachings.
Egypt's Grand Imam of al-Azhar Mosque, Sheikh Ahmed Mohamed al-Tayeb, delivers a speech during the international summit of women parliamentary speakers on December 12, 2016, in Abu Dhabi. / AFP / NEZAR BALOUT (Photo credit should read NEZAR BALOUT/AFP/Getty Images)
Egypt's grand imam of Al-Azhar Mosque, Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayeb, delivers a speech during the international summit of women parliamentary speakers in Abu Dhabi, UAE, Dec. 12, 2016. - NEZAR BALOUT/AFP/Getty Images
Rami Galal.jpg
Rami Galal
@@ramiglal
Read in 

CAIRO — Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Ahmed al-Tayeb's kind words about Buddhism during a conference designed to promote peace sparked controversy among Muslims.

Tayeb headed the conference, "Toward a Civilized Humanitarian Dialogue for Myanmar Citizens,” which was held Jan. 3-4 in Cairo by the Muslim Council of Elders. The council seeks to quell violence between ethnic Rakhine Buddhists and the Rohingya Muslim minority in predominantly Buddhist Myanmar (formerly Burma).

Access the Middle East news and analysis you can trust

Join our community of Middle East readers to experience all of Al-Monitor, including 24/7 news, analyses, memos, reports and newsletters.

Subscribe

Only $100 per year.

Videos

See more