Egypt's Al-Azhar appreciates Iran's decisive action in safeguarding Sunni religious beliefs

Pars Today- Al-Azhar’s Observatory for Combating Extremism has praised the decisive and timely action of Iranian authorities in safeguarding Sunni religious beliefs.

According to Pars Today, Al-Azhar’s Observatory for Combating Extremism commended the swift and firm response of Iranian officials following an insult to Sunni sacred symbols during a television program. 

The center announced on its official Facebook page: "This action is a positive step that underscores opposition to offensive remarks and reflects the efforts of official institutions to prevent anything that might cause division among Muslims." 

The Observatory emphasized: "This move by Iran comes at a time when Ahmed el-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, recently called for an end to any insults against Islamic symbols and holy sites during the Islamic-Islamic Dialogue Conference aimed at strengthening Muslim unity in Bahrain." 

The center concluded by stressing the importance of respecting the holy sites of all Islamic sects, prioritizing wisdom, and avoiding anything that could lead to discord or division. 

On April 23, during one of the programs on Iranian TV's Channel One, a poem was recited by one of the guests, which was perceived by viewers as a blatant insult to Sunni religious beliefs. This incident immediately triggered widespread reactions across Iranian media, society, and even judicial circles. 

The Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) directorate of television issued an official statement addressing the error. In the statement, the IRIB emphasized the importance of Islamic unity and described the occurrence of such an error as "unforgivable and suspicious," adding: "The related video was immediately removed from IRIB's affiliated platforms, including Telewebion and Sepeher." 

Legal action has been initiated against eight individuals involved in the program, with the case referred to judicial authorities. 

The head of the production group and the broadcast manager of Channel One were dismissed from their positions. 

A special committee has also been formed to identify other potential parties involved. 

Another part of the statement read: "IRIB strongly condemns any divisive actions" and called for serious intervention and investigation by security agencies to uncover the roots and masterminds behind this incident.

MG