Arab West Report Egyptian press summaries and media research for dialogue

Mosques and non-governmental Zāwiyahs [small mosques on the ground floor of an apartment building] in Alexandria, which are not supervised or monitored by the Ministry of Endowments, are considered incubators developing junior members of the banned group [the Muslim Brotherhood] and young extremists. At some of these places young men go to perform their religious rituals, while others stir them politically against the regime and lead them to view the whole society as kākfirs.

 

Shaykh Karam ‘Abd al-‘Azīz, a senior imām in the Alexandria Department of Endowments, refers to the existence of some resolutions to ban mosques from remaining open after the salāh of ‘ishā’, but they are not implemented for a shortage of inspectors.

 

Shaykh Muhammad Abū Hatab, Endowments undersecretary in Alexandria, pointed out that Zāwiyahs are built without obtaining a licensee from the Ministry of Endowments. They are built to be exempt from taxes.