King of Thailand Welcomes Grand Imam of Al-Azhar to Promote Peace and Tolerance

King Maha Vajiralongkorn of Thailand, along with Queen Suthida, received Prof Dr Ahmed Al-Tayeb, the Imam of Al-Azhar and Chairman of the Muslim Council of Elders, at the Grand Palace in Bangkok.

Warm Welcome and Praise

The King expressed his happiness with the visit and praised Al-Azhar and the Muslim Council of Elders for their efforts in promoting dialogue, peace, tolerance, and human coexistence. He emphasized that Al-Azhar is highly respected by the Thai people, who live in harmony and unity.

Strengthening Cooperation

The King highlighted Thailand’s eagerness to strengthen cooperation with Al-Azhar by increasing student exchanges, expanding accreditation of religious institutes, and coordinating with Islamic centers in Thailand. He noted that Al-Azhar is a global beacon of enlightened thought and that its graduates hold significant positions in Thai society.

Imam’s Response

The Imam expressed his happiness with the visit and appreciation for the warm welcome. He praised Thai students at Al-Azhar for their ethics and diligence and emphasized Al-Azhar’s commitment to maintaining communication with its alumni worldwide. The Imam also confirmed Al-Azhar’s readiness to establish Arabic language centers in Thailand, increase scholarships, and organize a global conference on coexistence.

Future Initiatives

Both leaders expressed confidence that the visit would result in inspiring initiatives and projects, benefiting Thai Muslims and promoting peaceful coexistence and human fraternity.