Guterres calls for unity during Egypt mosque visit

THE UN secretary-general, António Guterres, called on all people to “focus on what unites us” during a speech at the al-Azhar mosque, Cairo, on Tuesday. He said that they must “counter and reject religious and political figures who exploit differences” amid “ever-rising anti-Muslim hatred, anti-Semitism, racism, and xenophobia”. Mr Guterres also argued that they should ask “why so many people feel excluded, and why they are tempted by extreme messages of intolerance against each other”. He spoke of “dark forces” that “menace democratic values, social stability, and peace. They stigmatise women, minorities migrants, and refugees.” Mr Guterres said that religious leaders had a big part to play in combating this.