Grand Imam of Al Azhar hails Khalifa’s release of 103 prisoners

Grand Imam of Al Azhar hails Khalifa’s release of 103 prisoners (WAM) / 30 April 2013 The Grand Imam of Al Azhar Al Sharif, Dr Sheikh Ahmed Al-Tayyeb, today hailed the orders by the President, His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, yesterday to release 103 Egyptian prisoners, who were sentenced in different cases and his pledge to settle their financial obligations as a result of enforcing those sentences. In a statement to 24 news service, Dr Al-Tayyeb also expressed appreciation of the directives by the President, His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan to fund projects worth AED250 million at Al Azhar Al Sharif. “This is extremely generous and the grant was expected from the UAE and its leaders. The move follows the construction of the Zayed Institute for Teaching Arabic for Non-Native Speakers, which was funded by the UAE to qualify students willing to pursue studies at Al Azhar University,” he added. He also said he was pleased to meet His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, who sent a private jet to carry him to Dubai for the meeting. “This was a generous gesture by Shaikh Mohammed. We met, spent a good time and talked about Al Azhar, its relations and on the historic ties between the UAE,” Dr Sheikh Al-Tayyeb added. He noted that Shaikh Mohammed expressed willingness to support Al Azhar to enable it to spread the message of moderate Islam.   Taylor Scott International