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Al-Azhar alumni group reports facebook user for defamation of grand imam
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The Grand Imam of Cairo-based Al Azhar University, Muhammad Ahmad Al Thayyib, gives a speech during his visit to the eminent Gontor Islamic boarding school in Ponorogo, East Java, on Feb. 25. The visit to Gontor was part of his six-day trip to Indonesia to discuss cooperation in education and the propagation of moderate Islamic teachings. (Antara/Siswowidodo)
T
span style="letter-spacing:0.1px">The Indonesian Al-Alzhar Egypt Alumni Forum (FAAMI) reported a Facebook user to the Jakarta Police on Tuesday for allegedly defaming the grand imam of Egypt's Al Azhar University, Muhamamd Ahmad Al Thayyib.
The Facebook user, named Abu Aqila, allegedly posted a status on Feb. 26 at 9:15 p.m. accusing Grand Imam Ahmad of being a "fake Syaikhul Azhar" and "Pope of Al Azhar", FAAMI chairman Ali Mashar said. Abu allegedly also uploaded an edited photo, which FAAMI considered inappropriate, of Ahmad kissing Pope Francis.
"That is defamation, there's no two ways about it," Ali said as quoted by Antara news agency on Tuesday.
"It's unacceptable that the grand imam's visit to Indonesia has been greeted with profanity, slander and insults."
FAAMI reported Abu to the police under the 2008 law on electronic information and transactions (ITE).
The grand imam, Ali said, was a religious symbol and the highest leader of a historical Islamic education that had produced millions of Muslim intellectuals from countries around the world.
Islamic teachings value diversity of opinion but forbid insulting other people, he said, adding that as a state visitor, Ahmad must be welcomed with respect, in accordance with Islamic teachings.
"[Ahmad] stresses the unity of all Muslims and to respect differences, not to insult or declare other people infidels," he said.
Ahmad is on a six-day visit to Indonesia, meeting with President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo to strengthen cooperation between Egypt and Indonesia in religious teachings, education and culture. (afr/rin)
