Jumaa said that Egypt would continue to “welcome” Qatari and Turkish students into Al Azhar, a prestigious Islamic seat of learning.

Relations between Egypt on the one hand and Qatar and Turkey on the other have deteriorated since July last year when the Egyptian military toppled Islamist president Mohammad Mursi following enormous street protests against his one-year rule. Qatar and Turkey are staunch backers of Mursi and his Muslim Brotherhood group.

Earlier this year, Egypt summoned the Qatari ambassador in Cairo to protest Doha’s condemnation of a security crackdown on the Brotherhood’s followers.

Egypt disclosed this month that it has recalled its ambassador from Qatar and will not send him back in the near future. The disclosure was made after the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain withdrew their envoys from Doha, accusing Qatar of meddling in their internal affairs.

“The Ministry of Waqfs will not resume contacts with Turkey until the Turkish government apologises to Egypt and to his eminence Imam of Al Azhar, and changes its policy towards Cairo,” said Jumaa.

Late last year, Egypt expelled the Turkish ambassador and downgraded diplomatic ties with Ankara to the level of charge d’affaires in protest against what it described as meddlesome remarks by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The Turkish premier has condemned Mursi’s overthrow as a coup and called for his reinstatement. Turkey has also criticised Al Azhar Shaikh for backing Mursi’s removal.