Al-Azhar to sue France over prophet cartoons - Al-Monitor: The Middle Eastʼs leading independent news source since 2012

Mohamed Sabry

Mohamed Sabry

Nov 12, 2020

Pope Francis (R) pose with Egypt's Azhar Grand Imam Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayeb (C) and United Arab Emirates's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Saif Bin Zayed Al Nahyan (R) during a private audience on November 15, 2019 at the Vatican. (Photo by Alberto PIZZOLI / AFP) (Photo by ALBERTO PIZZOLI/AFP via Getty Images) — Pope Francis (R) poses with Egypt's Azhar Grand Imam Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayeb (C) and the United Arab Emirates' Deputy Prime Minister Sheikh Saif Bin Zayed Al Nahyan (R) during a private audience on Nov. 15, 2019, at the Vatican. — ALBERTO PIZZOLI/AFP via Getty Images

CAIRO — Egypt’s Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Sheikh Ahmed el-Tayeb, met Nov. 8 with French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian at Al-Azhar amid a dispute between France and the Muslim world over the publication of derogatory cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad by French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo.

Tayeb said Al-Azhar, the highest seat of learning in the Sunni Muslim world, rejects freedom of expression if it protects insults to the prophets.

An employee works in a shop near a banner reading "Boycott, We do not sell French products in this shop" on October 30,2020 in Istanbul. - Turkish President joined calls on October 26, 2020 for a boycott of French goods, ramping up a standoff between France and Muslim countries over Islam and freedom of speech. (Photo by Ozan KOSE / AFP) (Photo by OZAN KOSE/AFP via Getty Images)

Al-Azhar, Egyptian observers and activists divided over boycotting French products

A correspondent in Egypt

A correspondent in Egypt

Al-Azhar keeps up campaign against Charlie Hebdo

A correspondent in Egypt

A correspondent in Egypt

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan holds a press conference following the weekly cabinet meeting at the Presidential Complex in Ankara on August 24, 2020. (Photo by Adem ALTAN / AFP) (Photo by ADEM ALTAN/AFP via Getty Images)

Erdogan sues Charlie Hebdo over caricature

Diego Cupolo

Diego Cupolo

A picture of French President Emmanuel Macron is burned by Palestinians during a demonstration against him at the Palestine Technical University in al-Aroub, north of the West Bank city of Hebron, on October 27, 2020. - Calls to boycott French goods are growing in the Arab world and beyond, after President Emmanuel Macron criticised Islamists and vowed not to "give up cartoons" depicting the Prophet Mohammed. Macron's comments came in response to the beheading of a teacher, Samuel Paty, outside his school i

Saudi Arabia condemns 'offensive cartoons' as calls grow for French boycott

Al-Monitor Staff

Al-Monitor Staff