Egyptian Foreign Minister, Tunisian Grand Mufti Affirm Deep Ties

CAIRO – 26 January 2026: Badr Abdelatty, Egypt’s minister of foreign affairs, immigration and Egyptian expatriate affairs, met Monday with Sheikh Hisham bin Mahmoud, the grand mufti of Tunisia and grand imam of the Al-Zaytuna Mosque.

The meeting, held at the Al-Zaytuna Mosque headquarters in the presence of the Tunisian minister of religious affairs, focused on the historical, cultural and religious ties between Egypt and Tunisia. Both sides emphasized the importance of strengthening communication between the religious institutions of both nations.

 

Abdelatty highlighted the cultural and civilizational affinity between the two countries, noting that Egypt prioritizes cooperation in intellectual and religious fields to promote values of moderation, tolerance and peaceful coexistence.

The minister praised Tunisian religious institutions for disseminating enlightened discourse. He reaffirmed Egypt's commitment to renewing religious rhetoric, consolidating the values of citizenship and confronting extremist ideologies and hate speech.

Abdelatty also noted the pivotal role of Al-Azhar in supporting a centrist approach to Islam. He expressed Egypt's readiness to enhance the exchange of expertise and coordination with Tunisia to address contemporary intellectual challenges.

The grand mufti expressed appreciation for the fraternal relations between the two countries and commended Egypt’s role in promoting moderation. Both sides concluded the meeting by affirming their commitment to continued consultation to serve the shared interests of the two nations.