A number of Islamic books in English were delivered by Egypt’s ambassador to New Zealand to head of the Federation of Islamic Associations of New Zealand (FIANZ,) MENA reported Sunday.
Ambassador Tarek al-Wasimy delivered the books donated by the Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs in Egypt to FIANZ’s head Hazem Arafa; the books are planned to be placed at mosques and Islamic centers in New Zealand.
Arafa requested more of such books to be at the disposal of the Muslim community in New Zealand to explain the role and rights of women in Islam, as well as the tolerance of the religion, according to MENA.
For his part, Wasimy said that Egypt’s Al-Azhar, the most prestigious religious institute in the Islamic world, is keen on meetings the needs of mosques and Islamic centers around the world by providing books translated in different languages to refute ideas that promote radicalism.
Established in 970, Al-Azhar has embarked on a campaign in the past few years to “correct” the image of Islam as well as promote tolerance in the religion to curb recruitment of youth by extremist groups. It has provided translated books to several Muslim communities in different countries around the world.
