Cairo: Al-Azhar al-Sharif has issued a strong condemnation of Iran's ongoing attacks against its Gulf neighbors, which include the UAE, the Kingdom of Bahrain, the State of Qatar, the State of Kuwait, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the Sultanate of Oman, as well as other Arab and nearby countries such as Jordan, Iraq, Trkiye, and Azerbaijan.
According to Emirates News Agency, Al-Azhar has called on Iran, as a Muslim neighbor, to immediately cease its hostilities against these Arab and Muslim countries, advocating for an approach guided by Islam and its Sharia. Al-Azhar stressed the importance of respecting the sovereignty of these nations and refraining from any form of infringement to safeguard the lives of innocent civilians who are uninvolved in these conflicts.
Al-Azhar highlighted that targeting civilian areas, including residential zones, airports, hospitals, and energy facilities in countries not involved in conflict, constitutes a severe breach of international humanitarian law. Such actions are seen as a direct violation of Islam's principles to protect lives and property and to uphold human dignity.
In addition, Al-Azhar praised the efforts of Egyptian leadership in working towards halting military operations across the region. It urged the international community to take responsibility in stopping the escalation of the conflict, emphasizing the need for wisdom, dialogue, and the preservation of regional security and stability to protect innocent lives.
Al-Azhar also extended its condolences and solidarity to the families of the victims in the affected countries, praying for God's mercy on the deceased and a swift recovery for the injured.