Al- Azhar Sheikh denies American attempts to change educational curricula

Sheikh Muhammad Sayed Tantawi of al-Azhar has denied what has been rumored of American attempts made to interfere, restrict or amend educational curriculum in al-Azhar's institutes. He said no body has dared to put such a request which is considered an interference in the internal affairs of al- Azhar.

In statements he made on Monday to the Kuwaiti daily al-Rai al-Am, Sheikh Tantawi stressed his country's deliberate rejection to such attempts.

For his part, the Egyptian al-Awqaf minister ( Islamic trust) Mahmoud Hamdi Zaqzouq said in similar statements to the paper the rejection of the Egyptian leadership to any change in the of these curricula is just " religious doctrine."

For his part, the director of al-Azhar university said that al-Azhar does not receive instructions from the US or others.