In his latest interview with Sherif Amer on MBC Masr, Dr. Moustafa Elfeki, Director of the Library of Alexandria, said that all Muslims are hurt by the offensive cartoons of Prophet Muhammed, and that reactions should not be naïve, loud or extreme. He stressed that we should handle these sentiments with tolerance and calmness.
He explained that Islamophobia is an existing phenomenon that all Muslims must confront, stating, “We are partially responsible for its prevalence because of the way we were brought up, and our current aggressive reaction.” He also noted that Islam is a great and holy religion that will never be affected by mere offensive cartoons.
Moreover, he emphasized the importance of reconsidering the educational systems, since there are many curricula that discuss the subjectivity and individuality of Muslims, highlighting the fact that President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi was the first to call for the renewal of the religious discourse while still in office. He also added that imams and preachers who are sent on overseas missions should be carefully selected in order to increase their influence and enforce their respect, with an aim to give a good impression on Islam.