Usama al-Abd | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Nationality | Egyptian |
| Education | B.A., M.A., and PhD from Al Azhar University |
| Occupation | President of Al Azhar University |
| Years active | 2011 – 2014 |
Usama al-Abd (also spelled: Osama al-Abd; Arabic: أسامة العبد) is a former president of Al-Azhar University in Cairo, Egypt.
Biography
Al-Abd is a 1975 graduate of Al-Azhar University. After serving for a stint as a teacher at Al-Azhar, he worked as an Attorney General for 10 years. In 1981, he earned a M.A. in Comparative Fiqh from Al-Azhar and in 1985, he completed a PhD in the same subject. Thereafter, he returned to academia and was appointed Professor of Shariah and Law again at Al-Azhar University. In 1988, he moved to Kuwait where he taught Islamic law. In 2003, he returned to Egypt where he was appointed Vice President of Al-Azhar University; in 2011, he was appointed President of Al-Azhar University. [1] In April 2013, Al Azhar University's Council of Senior Scholars decided to hold elections to replace Al-Abd after a major food poisoning incident at Al-Azhar University's student hostel. [2] He was later allowed to stay after hiring a new catering company. [3]
In May 2014, Al-Abd announced that Al-Azhar University punished 1,301 students for their participation in anti-coup protests of which 131 were expelled outright from the university, 150 expelled from their dormitories, and 750 were referred to disciplinary boards. [4] Al-Abd stated that primary goal of the university protests was to disrupt studying and denied siding with Egyptian government headed by Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. [3] Al-Abd also stated the Muslim Brotherhood was an exclusionary group hostile to the sheikh of Al Azhar University, Ahmed el-Tayeb, and solely dedicated to returning to power in Egypt without consideration for dissent. [3] Although some Brotherhood members were on the Al-Azhar University faculty, Al-Abd maintains the university will continue to adhere to "moderate and enlightened ideas and always rejects extremist ideas.” [3]
Al-Abd is fluent in Arabic and French. [1]
References
- ^ a b Gateway to Divine Mercy Project: Professor Dr Usama al-Abd retrieved June 1, 2013
- ^ All Africa: "Egypt: Azhar Asks State Council Judges to Oversee Election of University President" April 26, 2013
- ^ a b c d Al Monitor: "Al-Azhar denies siding with Egyptian government" November 2013
- ^ Middle East Monitor: "Al-Azhar University expels 1,031 students" 11 May 2014