Arab West Report Egyptian press summaries and media research for dialogue

The author refers to two stories published in al-Ahrām that report General Ismā‘īl al-Shācir, the minister of interior’s senior assistant, implemented the law preventing banning smoking in Ramadān during fasting time and referred two drivers who were smoking to the prosecution. A police officer in Gaza, belonging to Hamas, asked a driver who broke the law to Allah for forgiveness 1000 times in order not to withdraw his license.

The author points out that in both cases executive bodies enforce religious rules through the power of law and confuse what is religious with what is administrative. He warns that this may lead to the spread of implementing mistaken interpretations of religion by force.