Al-Azhar Grand Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayyeb said Friday he rejects violence and incitement of violence, adding that the only way out of the current crisis in Egypt is dialogue.
He stressed that conflicting parties must prevent violence and bloodshed and maintain the safety of citizens.
Tayyeb stressed in the statement the right to peacefully protest and the responsibility of the state to protect protesters.
"Everybody has to respond quickly to dialogue as history will not forgive a stubborn or inacting person," the statement read.
Al-Azhar will not tire of reminding people of the sanctity of blood and the instructions of Prophet Mohamed, it added.
