Al Azhar to propose bill criminalizing religious intrigues

Some sources close to scholars at the University of Al Azhar say head of the prominent academy has called for a committee to propose a bill to Egypt’s Parliament criminalizing he who pursues religious intrigues, violence or disagreements, reported Taqrib News Agency (TNA).

According to the sources the proposal has been prepared following a television program when Salem Abdul Jalil, former deputy of endowments, disrespected Christianity as a corrupt ideology desecrating the Christian community as atheists.

Sacrilegious remarks by the former official have been widely criticized by political and religious figures inspiring the head of Al Azhar with the proposal on criminalization of religious intrigues.

Mohammad Abd Assalam, legislative deputy of Al Azhar announced upcoming meetings to discuss the proposal since the academy intends to submit that to the supreme council of scholars in near future before the proposal is sent to the Parliament.

Proposal to criminalize religious intrigues is supposed to ban any intrigue, violence or desecration carried out under the name of religion.

KD