PM Modi meets Grand Mufti of Egypt, discusses tackling extremism, radicalization

Cairo: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has discussed issues related to Egypt-India relations as well as promoting social harmony and combating extremism and radicalism with Grand Mufti of Egypt Dr. Shawky Ibrahim Abdel-Karim Allam. On his first state visit to Egypt, the Prime Minister apprised the Grand Mufti that India would set up a Center of Excellence in IT at Dar-El-Ifta – the Egyptian Consultative Society for Islamic Legal Research under the Ministry of Social Justice. Egypt.

The Ministry of External Affairs said in a press release on Saturday’s meeting that the Grand Mufti also appreciated the Prime Minister’s leadership in promoting inclusiveness and pluralism. The Grand Mufti warmly recalled his recent visit to India and highlighted the strong cultural and people-to-people ties between India and Egypt.

The discussion also focused on issues related to social and religious harmony in the society and combating extremism and radicalism, the press release said. “Honored to have met Dr. Shawky Ibrahim Allam, Grand Mufti of Egypt. We had an in-depth discussion on relations between India and Egypt, especially cultural and people-to-people relations,” Prime Minister Modi tweeted after their meeting.

The Grand Mufti said, “I was honored to meet Prime Minister Modi. It was a very nice and interesting meeting. Indeed, he shows a wise leadership for a country as big as India.” He said he had earlier met Modi at a Sufi convention in Delhi.

“Between both the meetings, I have seen that there has been a big development in India. It shows that he is working continuously in India. This is the strategy adopted by Prime Minister Modi to bring coexistence between different factions in India. It also shows the wise policies being followed.” He said. “At the religious level, we and India have strong cooperation and we are looking forward to further expanding and deepening this cooperation,” the Grand Mufti said.

The Grand Mufti visited India last month at the invitation of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations. In an article written ahead of his visit to India, the Grand Mufti referred to statements by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and Prime Minister Narendra Modi about the need for cooperation and bridge-building in a challenging world.

While such efforts have been welcomed by many, he said practical steps need to be taken to convert such wishes into an ongoing relationship of mutual trust and respect. He wrote, “This is the message I want to give this week on behalf of the Muslim world in India.” In 2013, Dr. Allam became the first elected Grand Mufti of Egypt. He holds the position of Chairman of the Supreme Council of the General Secretariat for Fatwa Authorities Worldwide – an umbrella organization that was created to coordinate between more than 100 fatwa authorities globally.