El-Tayyeb made the remarks during a meeting at Al-Azhar headquarters in Cairo with Barham Salih, former Iraqi president and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees' representative, to discuss ways of enhancing cooperation on refugee issues.
Signed in 2019 in Abu Dhabi, the document urges the international community to protect their dignity and provide them with safety and support.
The grand imam said Al-Azhar has been making considerable efforts to support the rights of refugees and displaced persons and raise awareness of their rights worldwide.
"That is why this important issue occupied a substantial part of the Human Fraternity Document," El-Tayyeb said, expressing Al-Azhar's readiness to cooperate with all relevant institutions to promote and protect refugee rights as part of its global humanitarian mission.
Reflecting on contemporary global challenges, El-Tayyeb lamented what he described as a decline in moral and humanitarian values despite scientific and technological progress.
"We were led to believe that the modern era would be an age of progress and prosperity, where wars and forms of slavery would disappear. Instead, technological and scientific advances have been increasingly directed toward the production of weapons and the creation of markets for them, regardless of the destruction, conflicts and suffering they cause," he said.
The grand imam attributed these developments to humanity's departure from religious and ethical guidance, questioning whether there remains hope for a return to moderation and human values.
For his part, Salih praised Al-Azhar's role in promoting moderation, coexistence, and peace.
He said cooperation with Al-Azhar was essential to raising awareness of the rights of refugees and displaced people at a time when humanitarian pressures and challenges are intensifying worldwide.
Salih stressed that shared humanitarian values are crucial to providing protection and refuge for those forced to flee their homes, warning of a broader erosion of ethical standards in addressing refugee issues.
He also identified the international community's ability to develop realistic and sustainable solutions for displaced persons and refugees as one of the most pressing contemporary challenges.
He called for greater cooperation among religious, cultural, and humanitarian institutions.
The former Iraqi president further warned that technology and social media platforms can contribute to negative perceptions of refugees and migrants, often portraying them unfairly and undermining their human dignity.
Salih invited El-Tayyeb to participate in events marking the 75th anniversary of the UN refugee protection framework later this year, saying El-Tayyeb's participation would provide significant support to global efforts aimed at promoting refugee rights and humanitarian awareness.
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