Al-Azhar Grand Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayyeb has called on the Iraqi government to set fair rules for all Iraqis, warning it against excluding or marginalizing any particular faction in light of renewed Shia-Sunni political tension.
Tayyeb met Sunday with an Iraqi delegation headed by Ahmed Abdel Malek al-Saadi, who represented Abdel Malek al-Saadi, a prominent Sunni religious figure in Iraq.
They discussed the general situation in Iraq, particularly recent protests by Sunnis who feel marginalized by the predominately Shia government.
Tayyeb agreed to increase the number of scholarships for Iraqi students to student at Al-Azhar.
Widespread demonstrations in the northern and western Iraqi provinces started on 23 December. Protesters demanded the prime minister’s dismissal, legal amendments and reforms in various areas, and a halt to political exclusion for sectarian reasons.
Edited translation from MENA
