(Photo courtesy of Ministry of Endowments official website)
A small group of imams protested on Wednesday in front of the Ministry of Endowments against the spreading Muslim Brotherhood influence inside the ministry.
The protest was organised by the Independent Union of Imams and the Popular Movement for the Independence of Al-Azhar; demonstrators set up three tents in front of the ministry’s headquarters in Bab El Louq area of Downtown Cairo.
“The protest will continue until the minister resigns” said Head of the Independent Union for Imams Osman El-Bastawesy, according to state-run news agency MENA.
The protesters chanted against Minister of Endowments Tala’at Afifi, accusing him of appointing ministry officials according to their political affiliations rather than their qualifications.
The imams also demanded the establishment of an authority to manage monetary endowments, increasing bonuses for Da’aw missionaries and removing Muslim Brotherhood and Salafi leaders from the ministry.
Afifi had held a meeting on Tuesday with several Da’wa missionaries and imams where he denied any Brotherhood influence over the ministry; the protesters said they were excluded from the meeting.
In Gharbeya, a protest was held on Wednesday against the attack on the office of Deputy Minister of Endowments Sabry Ebada; few were injured in the attack.
The protesters stated that about 60 imams affiliated with the Brotherhood attacked Ebada’s office for his stances against the Brotherhood. The deputy minister claimed Afifi wanted to replace him with a deputy from the Muslim Brotherhood, reported state-owned Al-Ahram.
Ebada could not be reached for comment.
