CAIRO, July 18 (IslamOnline.net) – The US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) delegation rained Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Sheikh Mohammad Sayed Tantawi with question about Al-Azhar’s position on women empowerment, terrorism and freedom of expression, well-placed sources told IslamOnline.net on Sunday, July 18.

Tantawi responded that Islam places women and men on equal footing with no distinction whatsoever, noting that some two million male and female students are enrolled in Al-Azhar and half of the teachers are women.

Under Islam, every human being has the right to lead a life free of terror and fear, the senior scholar told the commission, which advises to Congress.

The Commission delegation is currently on a seven-day visit to Egypt for talks with Egyptian officials, including Mufti Ali Goma and Minister of Endowments Mohmmoud Hamdi.

They are also scheduled to meet with President Hosni Mubarak’s Political advisor Osama El-Baz, Head of the Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Relations Mostafa Al-Fiqi and officials from the National Council for Human Rights.

The Commissioners include Felice D. Gear, vice chair; Bishop Ricardo Ramirez, Tad Stahnke, deputy director for policy; Dwight Bashir and Executive Director Joseph R. Crapa.

Asked about tolerance in Egypt, Sheikh Tantawi said throughout their history the Egyptian people have been known for their open-mindedness and acceptance of the other.

"There is no compulsion in Islam and here in Egypt, whether Muslims or Christians, we are working in harmony irrespective of religious differences," he told the Commission.

The meeting also tackled Al-Azhar role in dispatching preachers abroad.

"Before sending Azhar scholars abroad, we talk to them on how to address such societies and the importance of respecting their laws," Tantawi said.

On Al-Azhar’s censorship of some books, he said Al-Azhar is entitled to opine on books that touches on religion because Egypt is an Islamic country.

"In case of a controversial book, it is incumbent on Al-Azhar to state frankly its opinion, but the judiciary does have the final saying and the same applies to books on Christianity and Judaism," Tantawi said.

The USCIRF was created by the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 to give independent recommendations to the executive branch and the Congress.

It is a bipartisan federal commission that advises the President, Secretary of State, and Congress.

According to its advice, the State Department issues an annual report on international religious freedom worldwide.

Countries criticized by the report are designated by the Secretary of State (under authority delegated by the President) as "countries of particular concern."