Dr Amr Al-Wardani, fatwa secretary and director of training at Dar Al-Iftaa, attended the opening ceremony as the chief guest of honour, representing the Grand Mufti of Egypt.
The event was also attended by senior Egyptian officials, ambassadors, former ministers, university and research heads, media representatives, members of the diplomatic corps, UN agencies, the Indian community, and journalists.
In his remarks, Dr Al-Wardani discussed how terrorists exploit religion, politics, and social divisions to advance their agendas, calling for joint efforts to eliminate extremism.
He also referred to Egypt's experience in combating terrorism, highlighting the role of institutions like Dar Al-Iftaa in countering extremist ideologies and promoting peace.
For his part, Indian Ambassador Suresh K. Reddy spoke about the devastating human toll of terrorism, reaffirming India's firm stance against terrorism in all its forms.
He also reiterated his country’s support for the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people.
He recalled that India was among the first non-Arab nations to recognize the Palestine Liberation Organization in the 1970s and the State of Palestine in 1988.
The ambassador noted that India has provided about $170 million in development and humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian people over the years, both bilaterally and through UNRWA, and pointed to ongoing cooperation between India and Egypt in counterterrorism efforts.
Former Egyptian foreign minister Mohamed El-Orabi and Ambassador Dr Mohamed Hegazy, Egypt’s former envoy to India, also spoke about Gandhi’s values and the urgent need to reject violence and extremism.
Speakers emphasized that both Egypt and India have long suffered from terrorism, and that joint efforts to combat it form a vital part of their strategic partnership.
Guests toured the interactive exhibition, which documented major terrorist attacks in India and other parts of the world under the message: “Terrorism anywhere is terrorism everywhere.”
A special section highlighted the solidarity between India and Egypt, including President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi’s call to Prime Minister Narendra Modi following the Pahalgam attack in April 2025.
The exhibition continued on 3 October, welcoming members of the Indian community, Egyptian academics, students, and media representatives, who engaged with the displays and reflected on the need for collective resolve against terrorism.
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