Al-Azhar University continues cooperation with China

Close cooperation between Arab and Islamic countries and China is one of the main reasons that contribute to reducing the international impact of China's treatment of Uyghur Muslims. Countries such as Egypt and Pakistan are not only economic and diplomatic partners of China, but Islamic organizations, universities, and research institutes in these countries also contribute to strengthening relations with the Chinese Islamic Association, which is considered an anti-Islam entity.
Recently, the "Zimistan" website published an article indicating that the Chinese Islamic Association welcomed the visit of Abbas Shoman, Secretary-General of the Council of Sheikhs of Al-Azhar University, and praised the Chinese government's "Xinjiang policy" and its support for the crackdown on the Uyghurs.
In late October 2024, members of the Chinese Islamic Association met with Abbas Shoman and took him on a tour of the Dongxi Mosque and the Exhibition Center in Beijing, which focus on the Sinicization of Islam. This visit came after the meeting of the General Secretary of the Communist Party of China, Xi Jinping, with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, as the visit marked the 10th anniversary of the establishment of strategic cooperation between the two countries and the strengthening of their public relations in various fields.
Mr. Abdulhakim Idris, head of the Uyghur Research Center in the United States, said that Egypt and China are inseparable partners in terms of economy and diplomacy.
According to the Chinese side, Abbas Shoman praised China's "religious freedom policy," stressing that Egypt and Al-Azhar University support China's campaign against what it calls "radical Islam," "religious extremism," and "separatism."
The article points out that these terms "radical Islam," "religious extremism," and "separatism" are justifications used by the Chinese Communist Party to justify the suppression of the Uyghurs and other Turkic Muslims. Some countries describe this suppression as "genocide." However, Abbas Shoman stated that Egypt should strengthen cooperation with China, stressing that both countries face threats from religious extremism and terrorism and that they will take measures to combat them.
In 2017, when the mass detention of Uyghurs began, the Egyptian government cooperated with China and returned hundreds of Uyghur students studying in Egypt to China, where they were imprisoned and tortured. A 2021 report stated that these Uyghurs were arrested and detained in harsh conditions for more than 15 years.
Many Sunni Muslim countries consider Al-Azhar University in Egypt a leading intellectual institution, so a prominent figure from the university visiting China and congratulating and supporting the policies of the Chinese Communist Party is a matter of criticism. In an article on the Zemestan website, it was emphasized that China and Egypt are cooperating to hide their human rights crimes at the United Nations and other forums.
Mr. Abdul Hakim Idris said that the Chinese and Egyptian governments are working together to control the media and freedom of expression, and that Al-Azhar University is one of the victims of these efforts.
The support of many Islamic countries for China in its suppression of the Uyghurs gives the Chinese government great support in promoting its pro-policy propaganda abroad.
On November 30, in a video posted on the social media platform X, Chinese Ambassador to New Zealand Wang Xiaolong denied the repression of the Uyghurs, saying: “When Western countries make accusations about our actions against the Uyghurs in Xinjiang, no Muslim or Islamic country dares to criticize China or say: What China is doing is wrong; it is a violation of human rights.” This statement showed the closeness of the relations between the Chinese government and Islamic countries and their support for the policies of repression of the Uyghurs.