CAIRO: Al-Azhar — Sunni Islam’s oldest and foremost seat of learning — and the Muslim Council of Elders are seeking to organize a global conference on coexistence in Thailand, bringing together several religious leaders and figures worldwide.

The aim is to emphasize the importance of promoting peaceful coexistence and human fraternity, Ahmed Al-Tayeb, the grand imam of Al-Azhar and chairman of the Muslim Council of Elders, said in Bangkok.

King Maha Vajiralongkorn of Thailand and Queen Suthida recently received Al-Tayeb at the Grand Palace in Bangkok. 

The king expressed his happiness with the grand imam’s visit, and praised efforts by Al-Azhar and the Muslim Council of Elders to promote the values of dialogue, peace, tolerance, and human coexistence.

He said that Al-Azhar is highly respected by the Thai people, who live in harmony and unity.

The Thai ruler expressed his country’s eagerness to strengthen cooperation and relations with Al-Azhar by increasing the number of incoming students and Al-Azhar emissaries, expanding the accreditation of religious institutes that teach the Al-Azhar curriculum, and stepping up coordination between Al-Azhar and Islamic centers in Thailand.

Al-Azhar serves as a guiding light for Thai Muslims, and a worldwide symbol of progressive and moderate thinking, he said.

The king highlighted the keen interest of all Muslim families in Thailand to send their children to study at Al-Azhar, adding that its graduates hold significant positions in Thai society.

He expressed confidence that the grand imam’s historic visit will lead to the launch of inspiring initiatives and projects in Thailand.

Thai Muslims will gain from the public meetings held by Al-Azhar institutions during the grand imam’s stay, the king said.

The grand imam expressed his happiness with his visit to Thailand and appreciation for the warm welcome.

He added that Thai students studying at Al-Azhar have set an example in ethics and diligence, and made notable social contributions in various faculties of Al-Azhar University.

Al-Tayeb said that Al-Azhar strives to maintain communication with its alumni worldwide, making them ambassadors of peace, tolerance, coexistence, and human fraternity.

He confirmed Al-Azhar’s readiness to establish centers for teaching the Arabic language in Thailand, serving Muslims in learning the language of the Qur’an, intensifying training courses for Thai imams at Al-Azhar Academy, and increasing scholarships for Thai Muslims to continue their studies at Al-Azhar.

DUBAI: An outspoken Iranian lawyer who has publicly criticized how the government handled the 2022 protests has been arrested, state media reported Sunday.
The unrest at the time followed the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini who was detained by the police for allegedly not properly wearing her mandatory hijab. Her death triggered massive protests that quickly escalated into calls to overthrow Iran’s four-decade-old Islamic theocracy.
The judiciary’s Mizan news agency said Sunday that Mohsen Borhani had been previously sentenced but did not give further details on his case or jail time issued.
Borhani, also a university professor, became popular on social media for his critical views of the Iranian government during the 2022 demonstrations that shook the Islamic Republic and sparked a security crackdown that killed more than 500 people and saw over 22,000 detained. UN investigators said Iran is responsible for the physical violence that led to her death,
The arrest came a day after reformist president Masoud Pezeshkian was elected to lead the country.
Pezeshkian promised to ease enforcement of the country’s mandatory headscarf law and reach out to the West after years of sanctions and protests squeezing the Islamic Republic.