On his visit to the Egyptian capital of Cairo, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has discussed Egyptian-Hungarian relations and European politics with Ahmed el-Tayeb, Grand Imam of the al-Azhar Mosque, the spiritual centre of the Sunni Islam world.

Mr. Orbán and the Grand Imam – who is also president of the Islamic world’s most important religious university – also had an in-depth discussion on the roots of the “incomprehension” with which the European political class looks at events in Egypt.

Photo: Balázs Szecsődi

Mr. Orbán said that it would be good if Europe could break out of the “bondage of political and philosophical preconceptions”, as its current political concepts make it hard for it to understand Egypt, and even harder to give advice.

The Grand Imam said that his talks with the Prime Minister had been useful and productive. After their discussions, he told Mr. Orbán that he would like to become better acquainted with the people of Hungary and their culture. The Prime Minister has therefore invited him to visit Hungary.