The grand sheikh of Al-Azhar has met with senior leaders of the Salafi Dawa to discuss possible solutions to the crisis over the committee tasked with writing Egypt’s new constitution.
Last week, the State Council’s Administrative Court disbanded the Constituent Assembly, challenging Parliament’s authority to form the important body.
Al-Azhar Grand Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayyeb met with Salafi Dawa leaders Yasser Borhamy and Abdel Moneim al-Shahat, where he confirmed the importance of protecting the state from division, saying that “dangers surround us from all sides.”
He called upon all political forces to keep the country’s best interests in mind and unite until the transitional period ends.
Tayyeb said Al-Azhar is working hard to resolve the Constituent Assembly crisis through its national role as a source of moderate Islam which repels extremism.
Mohamed Azab, the grand sheikh’s adviser, said the two sides agreed on the importance of all political powers agreeing to basic principles for forming the Constituent Assembly, while retaining the independence of the judiciary.
Following the meeting, Borhamy said “we reviewed the current political situation, and the role of Al-Azhar with regard to all other Islamic and political powers, to achieve conformity and an agreement to resolve the current crisis facing the Constituent Assembly.”
Commenting on fears that some may resort to violence after the Presidential Elections Commission banned 10 candidates from the race on Saturday, Borhamy said “we are steadfast in rejecting chaos and bloodshed.” He stressed the importance of putting the interest of the country ahead of the interest of the group, and counseled individuals “not to let what happened to other revolutions happen to us.”
Borhamy called on those banned from the presidential race to file official grievances and stray away from violence, and called upon the government to submit evidence to the people to convince them of the validity of the exclusions.
Translated from Al-Masry Al-Youm
