Tashkent: Grand Mufti of Egypt Nazir Mohamed Ayad met a delegation from the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) during his official visit to Uzbekistan to discuss closer cooperation in combating extremism, terrorism, and Islamophobia.

According to State Information Service Egypt, during the meeting, Ayad outlined Egypt's approach to countering extremist ideology, emphasizing that addressing extremism requires religious guidance, research, public awareness, and international cooperation. He highlighted the importance of collaborative efforts in tackling these issues on a global scale.

Ayad reviewed the work of Egypt's Dar al Ifta and its Salam Center for Extremism Studies and Combating Islamophobia. These institutions focus on research, capacity-building, and countering misconceptions about Islam. The Grand Mufti emphasized the significance of these efforts in fostering a better understanding of Islam and reducing the spread of extremist ideologies.

The RATS delegation praised Dar Al-Ifta's efforts in combating extremist ideology and expressed interest in expanding institutional cooperation with the Egyptian side. The delegation highlighted that extremism is a global challenge requiring coordinated international action and reiterated their commitment to working with Egypt on these pressing issues.

The meeting concluded with an agreement to continue consultations on joint initiatives, expertise exchange, and cooperation between RATS and the Salam Center. The delegation extended an invitation to the Grand Mufti to participate in its upcoming international conference, signaling a commitment to ongoing dialogue and collaboration.