Saudi Arabia ignores Al-Azhar’s call to end war

Reactions to Al-Azhar Grand Imam Ahmed El-Tayeb’s call to end the war in the Gulf have ranged from outright silence to conditional support, while an Islamic body affiliated with Yemen’s Saudi-backed government has called for fighting what it describes as “the rebellious faction.”

In a statement published two days ago, El-Tayeb issued an “urgent, fraternal appeal to all our brotherly Arab and Muslim nations,” calling for an immediate and comprehensive halt to all acts of war, fighting, destruction, and sabotage.

He also called for the formation of an urgent mediation and de-escalation committee “comprising representatives from across the Arab and Muslim worlds, selected from among respected, wise, and principled figures sincerely committed to peace, reconciliation, and stability.” The committee would work “to defuse ongoing crises and conflicts, bridge differences between the parties concerned, and resolve disputes among members of the same faith and Ummah.”

The appeal has drawn sharply different responses in Yemen, where the competing positions reflect a broader disagreement over whether mediation can help end the conflict or risk legitimizing the Houthi movement. El-Tayeb’s statement did not identify which countries or parties should participate in the proposed committee, or specify how it would be formed or when it would begin work.

In Yemen, reactions to the appeal were divided. The Yemeni Scholars Association, affiliated with the Ansar Allah (Houthi) movement, said it was “keen to respond positively and sincerely to the appeal, engage with it constructively, and express its high appreciation for its substance.”

In its statement, the association said it and the Yemeni capital, Sanaa, were ready to receive the proposed committee, made up of “reasonable, wise and sincere people from various Arab and Islamic countries, to understand the reality in Yemen as it is.”

The association called on the committee to remain equally distant from all parties in the Yemeni-Saudi conflict, and to serve as a starting point for reforming conditions across the Muslim world and redirecting hostility toward the “Zionist enemy.”

By contrast, the Yemeni Scholars Authority, affiliated with the Saudi-backed internationally recognized government, took a different position. In an open letter to El-Tayeb, it described his appeal as “blessed” but warned against allowing de-escalation to become “a cover for perpetuating the coup and continuing crimes, aggression and transgression.”

In its statement, the authority listed crimes it attributed to the Houthi movement, saying the appeal risked “equating the victim with the executioner.”

“What is happening in Yemen is not a conflict between two states, nor a war between the Yemeni people and their neighbor, as the terrorist and rebellious Houthi militia claims,” the authority said. “It is a coup by an armed group against the state, its institutions and elected constitutional legitimacy. The group imposed its authority by force, with backing from the Iranian regime.”

The authority called on Al-Azhar to clarify the religious ruling on armed rebellion against the state, arguing that Islamic law “does not equate the aggressor with the one subjected to aggression.” It cited verse 9 of Surat Al-Hujurat: “And if two factions among the believers should fight, then make settlement between the two. But if one of them oppresses the other, then fight against the one that oppresses until it returns to the ordinance of Allah.” The authority argued that reconciliation requires first restraining aggression and restoring rights to their rightful owners.

Saudi Arabia has made no official statement on El-Tayeb’s appeal. Saudi state-run media have not reported on the initiative or reactions to it, although the Saudi newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat published a report by its Cairo correspondent outlining supporters’ and opponents’ views.

The newspaper reported that media figures Ahmed Moussa and Mostafa Bakry supported the appeal, while Egyptian Grand Mufti Nazir Mohamed Ayyad welcomed it. On the other side, the Saudi paper cited an unnamed opposing camp that expressed “clear objections and reservations,” not to the principle of ending wars but to which parties might be included in mediation efforts.

The report quoted commentators as saying that “any calls for regional reconciliation should not ignore Iran’s role in a number of conflict zones and its crimes in the region, as well as its support for certain proxies accused of fueling conflicts.” It also said some opposed negotiating with armed groups, particularly the Houthi militias.

The debate over de-escalation is unfolding as Egypt considers whether to provide military support to Saudi Arabia. On Saturday, President El-Sisi called on the House of Representatives to hold an emergency session to authorize military action to defend Saudi Arabia’s security and borders if the kingdom requests it, amid escalating clashes between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis in Yemen.

During the graduation ceremony of the first cohort of the Egyptian Military Academy, El-Sisi said, “We stand strongly and with full support to protect the lands of our brothers in the Gulf and defend them.” He then addressed the Saudi leadership, saying Egypt would take any measures necessary to protect and defend the kingdom, in accordance with directives from King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Any such deployment would require parliamentary approval. Article 152 of the Egyptian Constitution prohibits the president from declaring war or deploying the armed forces on a combat mission outside the country without first consulting the National Defense Council and obtaining approval from two-thirds of the members of the House of Representatives.

The House has held two closed-door sessions to discuss El-Sisi’s proposal. A third session is scheduled for next Monday, when lawmakers are expected to vote on it.