Died Sheikh Al-Azhar, Muhammad Sayed Tantawi | World | News |
March 11, 2010 – 12:51 am
Today at 82 году died Sheikh Al-Azhar, Muhammad Sayed Tantawi. Death occurred as a result of acute heart failure, reported Al-Jazeera ».
According to the information agencies” Al-Sharq al-Awsat, Tantawi died in the Saudi capital Riyadh , where he arrived to attend the award ceremony of King Faisal.
Sheikh Tantawi was born in the province of Sohag in Upper Egypt in 1928. In 1996, he assumed the post of Sheikh of Al-Azhar “and has since become a subject of fierce debate in political circles and Information of Egypt and the Arab world.
In a number of controversial positions Tantawi — his handshake Israeli President Shimon Peres, meeting with Jewish rabbis, his opinion about the actions of feed (the people who sacrifice themselves for the sake of faith) in Palestine, as well as the conclusion to build a wall along the border with Gaza and the requirement of wearing niqab in women.
At the same time Tantawi strongly opposed any attack on Islam. In December 2005, after publication in a Danish newspaper of provocative caricatures of Prophet Muhammad Tantawi asked the UN and the International Organization for Human Rights. “These cartoons insulting the religious beliefs of over one billion Muslims today worldwide, including thousands of our brothers living in Denmark”, – said Tantawi.
“Al-Azhar” – the oldest Muslim educational center and a mosque. Was founded in Cairo in 972, the Fatimid dynasty. At Al-Azhar Islamic Research Academy operates a number of other institutions and agencies.
