In a move raising fresh concerns about freedom of expression and the political balancing act within Egypt, Al-Azhar, one of the world’s oldest and most respected Islamic institutions, has deleted a public statement of solidarity with Gaza following what sources describe as a stern warning from Egypt’s Foreign Minister.
The statement, originally posted on Al-Azhar’s official platforms, condemned the continued Israeli aggression in Gaza, calling for urgent international intervention and voicing support for Palestinian resistance. But within 24 hours, the post vanished quietly, without explanation.
Diplomatic Warning Behind the Scenes
According to insiders within Egypt’s religious and diplomatic circles, Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry personally intervened, cautioning that Al-Azhar’s statement risked “disrupting Egypt’s mediation efforts” in the ongoing Israel-Gaza negotiations. Cairo has been positioning itself as a central broker in ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas.
“This wasn’t just about tone,” one diplomatic source said anonymously. “It was about timing, regional optics, and Egypt’s role as a neutral mediator. A strong religious condemnation could derail delicate conversations behind closed doors.”
A Symbolic Silencing
Critics say the deletion reflects growing state control over religious institutions and public messaging, especially when it intersects with regional geopolitics. Al-Azhar, revered by millions of Sunni Muslims worldwide, has historically taken bold stances on justice and Islamic ethics particularly on issues concerning Palestine.
“This shows the shrinking space for moral leadership in Egypt,” said Dr. Hanan Mostafa, a political analyst based in Cairo. “Even Al-Azhar, with all its legacy, is now expected to toe the foreign policy line.”
Mixed Reactions
The erasure of the statement sparked debate online, with many Egyptians and broader Arab audiences questioning why a religious institution would be silenced for supporting Gaza especially as civilian casualties mount.
“Al-Azhar speaks for the soul of the Muslim world. Silencing it is silencing us all,” one user wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
Others defended the move, saying Egypt’s priority must be diplomatic stability and preventing further escalation in the already volatile region.
The Bigger Picture
The incident underscores the delicate position Egypt occupies caught between its public’s pro-Palestinian sentiment, its role as a regional peace broker, and its close but cautious ties with Israel and Western allies.
Al-Azhar has yet to release an official statement addressing the deletion. Its silence now speaks volumes.
Conclusion:
What began as a simple post of solidarity has become a symbolic moment a test of institutional independence, state diplomacy, and the ever-tense intersection between faith and politics in the Middle East. As the war in Gaza rages on, so too does the quiet battle over who gets to speak and who gets silenced.
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