Egyptian law seeks to control political speech at mosques
Egypt’s new Law of Oration has stirred conflicting opinions, as some consider it a government attempt to control religious discourse, while others argue it aims at limiting the use of religion for political reasons.
Enforcement of Egypt’s new Law of Oration, which regulates Friday sermons in mosques, shut down hundreds of small mosques with unlicensed imams in Egypt. Moreover, dozens of citations were issued against imams who took the pulpit in mosques without a permit.
The law stipulates that religious oration and lessons be limited to Al-Azhar graduates who hold a permit from the Ministry of Endowments. Any person violating the law will be imprisoned for up to one year or fined up to 50,000 Egyptian pounds ($7,000).
The newly introduced law faced criticism. Following are some of the main censures:
The state’s monopolization of religious discourse
