Top Syrian cleric visits Egypt

The Grand Mufti of Damascus, Sheikh Abdul Fattah Al Bezzem arrived on Sunday in Egypt where he is scheduled to meet with Egyptian officials and religious figures most notably the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Sheikh Ahmad Al-Tayyeb.

Al-Bezzem who is well-known for his close affiliation with the President of the Syrian regime, Bashar al-Assad will discuss during his visit the latest developments in Syria as well as his country’s support for Egypt in the face of “armed organizations”.

According to the Syrian Arab News Agency, SANA this is the first visit undertaken by the Grand Mufti of Damascus to Egypt since the outbreak of the Syrian revolution in March, 2011.

Observers believe the visit is part of an effort to strengthen relations between the Syrian regime and the Egyptian authorities in order to crush the Syrian revolution under the pretext of fighting terrorism.

Following the military coup led by, at the time, Defence Minister, Abdel Fattah Sisi against Egypt’s first elected civilian president, Mohamed Morsi, a high level Egyptian delegation accompanied by individuals close to the military visited Syria and assured President Bashar al-Assad of their support for him.

Under the deposed Morsi, Egypt had cut off diplomatic relations with the Syrian regime and announced its support for the Syrian revolution, allowing thousands of Syrian refugees to flee into Egypt.