Press Releases
Christian and Muslim leaders make historic visit to Ireland
The Archbishop of Armagh, the Most Revd Dr Robin Eames, and the Archbishop of Dublin, the Most Revd Dr John Neill, will welcome senior Muslim and Christian leaders from Egypt to Ireland later this week as part of a programme to create and develop understanding between the two religious communities.
The historic visit, from 19-24 January, has been organised by the Church Mission Society Ireland (CMSI), and follows a similar visit paid by CMSI to Egypt led by the Archbishop of Dublin, Dr Neill, and the Roman Catholic Bishop of Dromore, the Most Revd John McAreavey in 2004. The guests will attend events in both Northern Ireland and the Republic.
The Egyptian delegation includes the Episcopal (Anglican) Bishop in Egypt, the Right Revd Dr Mouneer Hanna Anis, His Excellency Shaykh Dr Ali Gomma Mohamed Abdel Wahab, the Grand Mufti of Egypt and Rector of al-Azhar University, Shaykh Fawzy el-Zefzaf, and Dr Ali El Samman, President and Vice-President respectively of al-Azhar Mosque Permanent Committee for Dialogue with Monotheistic Religions.
In looking forward to the visit, the Archbishop of Armagh said, ?I am delighted to welcome this delegation from Egypt to Ireland. I know of the great work that is being carried on in the inter faith discussions at al-Azhar in Cairo which is leading to closer understanding between Christians and Muslims. It is a privilege to have the leaders in those discussions visit us and we look forward to what they have to share with us. With a growing Islamic presence in Ireland, I welcome this initiative as we seek to create a climate of understanding.?
Among the events the visitors will be attending are receptions hosted by both Archbishops, visits to churches and mosques and community groups. They will also meet with the Irish President Mary McAleese and pay a visit to Stormont Parliament Buildings. Receptions have been organised by the Egyptian Embassy, the Coptic Christian community, and the Muslim communities in Belfast and Dublin.
For further information contact:
Sarah Williams in Northern Ireland on +44 (0)28 90 232909 or +44 7787 881582 (mobile)
Revd Patrick Comerford for the Republic on +353 (0)1 4970931 (office), or +353 (0)87 6635116 (mobile)
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Guest details
The Rt Revd Mouneer Hanna Anis is the Anglican bishop in Egypt. His diocese is part of the Anglican Province of The Episcopal church in Jerusalem and the Middle East. Further information can be found at: http://www.dioceseofegypt.org/new/
His Excellency, Shaykh Dr Ali Gomma Mohamed Abdel Wahab, is the Grand Mufti of Egypt and Rector of al-Azhar University.
Shaykh Fawzy el-Zefzaf is President of the Permanent Committee of al-Azhar for Dialogue on Monotheistic Religions.
Dr Ali El Samman is Vice-President of al-Azhar Mosque Permanent Committee for Dialogue with Monotheistic Religions, and speaks of the need for the West to learn to respect the openness and diversity to be found within Islam. He attended the enthronement of Dr Rowan Williams as Archbishop of Canterbury, and says the dialogue between the al-Azhar Mosque and Anglicans in Egypt is a model for Muslim-Christian dialogue in other countries.
The Anglican Communion and al-Azhar al-Sharif
The Anglican Communion has an agreement with al-Azhar al-Sharif for a programme of dialogue between Anglicans and Sunni Muslims. This was signed by Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr George Carey and the Grand Imam of al-Azhar al-Sharif, Dr Mohamed Sayed Tantawy, on 30 January 2002 at Lambeth Palace in London. Further information can be found at: http://www.archbishopofcanterbury.org/carey/index.html - press releases/2002/14 January
The University of al-Azhar al-Sharif in Cairo is over a thousand years old and is an international centre for Sunni Muslim scholars. Usually known in Arabic as ?the honoured Azhar?, its Grand Imam, Dr Tantawy, is acknowledged as Egypt?s senior Islamic figure and holder of one of the most respected positions in Sunni Islam worldwide.
Further information on al-Azhar can be found at
http://www.alazhar.org/english/index.htm