Feb
Egypt may ban protests in places of worship
PHOTO: Al Azhar mosque, Eric Olson, flickr.
The upper house of Egypt’s parliament, the Shura Council, just approved a law that would ban demonstrations in and around places of worship. This has been interpreted as a move against demonstrations that have taken place inside the Al Azhar mosque, a highly respected center for religious teachings and a historic landmark.
The legislation has caused worry among various groups. The Muslim Brotherhood, an Islamic organization that has long sparred with Egypt’s government, has criticized the move, saying it restricts their political freedom. The Egyptian government has jailed members of the brotherhood for speaking out against the government.
Saad Abboud, a leftist-leaning politician, says the legistlation targets groups like Kifaya, which means “enough” in Arabic. Kifaya is the slogan for the Egyptian Movement for Change, a group that has held pretty remarkable demonstrations in the last few years.
Abboud says demonstrations at Al Azhar mosque have been”especially embarrassing because protesters shout slogans against President Mubarak and his son Gamal which are then picked up by the international media”.
It will be very interesting to see where this legislation goes. It is expected to face harsh criticism in the lower house of the Egyptian parliament, the People’s Assembly.
Should demonstrations be allowed in places of worship? This isn’t the first time the issue has popped up in the Middle East.
Iran’s revolution in 1979 was rooted in Ayatollah Khomeini’s ability to reach worshippers in mosques through his taped sermons.
Also in 1979, hundreds of Saudi extremists took over the Grand Mosque in Mecca in a rebellion against the King of Saudi Arabia during a two-week stand-off. Saudi police forces, backed by French commandos, finally faced off with them in a blood bath in and around the mosque’s compound.
