Egypt to ‘restrict’ religious sermons in Ramadan

Preaching in mosques was restricted by the religious affairs ministry to state-authorized clerics.

Cairo – ArabTelegraph – Egypt’s top official in charge of religious affairs said on Sunday that Egypt will restrict Ramadan sermons to topics of faith and morality.

Mohammed Mokhtar Gomaa said the decision should “unite people, not divide them,” compared to what he described as a more politicized past when the country was run by Mohammed Morsi.

Following last year’s overthrow of President Mohammed Morsi, the measure is the latest attempt by the state to control religious speech. In recent months Egypt has banned Morsi’s Muslim Brotherhood, and passed a new law restricting protests.

Preaching in mosques was restricted by the ministry to state-authorized clerics.