On 27 October 2025, the President of the Italian Republic, Sergio Mattarella, received at the Quirinale Palace the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar University in Cairo, Ahmed Al-Tayyeb, as announced by the official statement from the Quirinale.
Al-Tayyeb, who heads the historic Islamic university — a reference for more than one billion Sunni Muslims — met with Italy’s highest state authorities in an atmosphere of fruitful dialogue and mutual respect.
Born in Luxor in 1946, Al-Tayyeb graduated in Islamic theology and philosophy in Cairo in 1969 and obtained his doctorate in 1977, with further academic experience at the Sorbonne in France. His distinguished career includes serving as Rector of Al-Azhar University and Grand Mufti of Egypt before assuming his current position as Grand Imam.
During the meeting, the Grand Imam emphasized the importance of interreligious cooperation and ethical responsibility in the era of new technologies. He highlighted a joint initiative between Al-Azhar, the Vatican, and the Muslim Council of Elders to draft an “Ethical Charter” on artificial intelligence, ensuring that technology serves humanity and contributes to building a fairer future.
For the European Muslims League (EML NGO) – Dialogue and Cooperation – registered under the WOS-IPSP, this meeting represents a strong signal of a shared commitment to fostering dialogue, cooperation, and peace between religious communities in Europe and the Muslim world. It underlines how leading religious and state institutions recognize the need for joint ethical, educational, and social pathways.
In this perspective, EML aims to translate these principles into concrete actions: interreligious forums, cultural events, educational initiatives on responsible technology use, and partnerships with academic and religious institutions both in Europe and in Muslim-majority countries.
The European Muslims League extends its compliments to President Mattarella and Grand Imam Al-Tayyeb for today’s important meeting, reaffirming its commitment to provide a genuine space for cooperation between Muslims, Christians, and other faiths — in support of peaceful coexistence, respect for rights, and the promotion of human dignity.
