Cairo: Egyptian authorities have removed the name of Hassan Al Banna, the founder of the now-outlawed Muslim Brotherhood, from a mosque in a Delta town as part of a relentless crackdown on the Islamist group, officials said on Monday.
Mokhtar Jumaa, the minister of Waqfs, who is in charge of mosques in Egypt, said that the mosque in the town of Damanhur, has been renamed “Al Rahma”, Arabic for mercy, and that a committee has been set up to take care of the site.
He added in media remarks that two local Waqfs officials would be investigated for dereliction of duty for having failed to change the name of the mosque earlier and bring under it state control.
The issue came to authorities’ attention on Sunday after pro-government online activists posted photos of the mosque with Al Banna’s name and the Brotherhood emblem appearing on its front. The whistle-blowers said that convicted members of the Brotherhood used to huddle inside the mosque built as pat of a residential building. It was not immediately clear when the mosque was constructed.
Egypt designated the Brotherhood a terrorist group in late 2013 months after the army deposed president Mohammad Mursi, a senior official in the group, following enormous protests against his rule. The group was accused of involvement in a series of deadly attacks in the country.
Religious authorities have since tightened their grip on mosques across mostly Muslim Egypt, denying the Brotherhood and allied groups a main forum to influence devout Muslims.
Over the past four years dozens of Brotherhood-linked businesses have been confiscated for financing the outlawed group.
In 1928, Al Banna founded the Brotherhood that has become the world’s largest Islamist group. He was shot dead in Cairo in 1949 at the age of 42.
The issue of the Damanhur mosque came to authorities’ attention on Sunday after pro-government online activists posted photos of the site with Al Banna’s name and the Brotherhood emblem appearing on its front.
The whistle-blowers said that several convicted members of the Brotherhood used to huddle inside the mosque built as pat of a residential building. It was not immediately clear when the mosque was constructed.
The town’s Islamic officials have vowed to stand firm against “unlawful” practices from now on in the mosque.
“Now that the mosque has come under the supervision of the Waqfs Ministry, any activities violating the ministry’s rules will be prohibited,” Shaikh Naji Fathi, the newly appointed imam of the mosque, said.
He told private newspaper Al Youm Al Saba that in addition to regular prayers, religious lessons will be held in the mosque.
The Waqfs Ministry has instructed local officials to take stock of the mosque’s library after the neighbourhood’s residents said that it has books authored by clerics belonging to the Brotherhood.
Some members of parliament have urged religious authorities to intensify oversight of mosques nationwide mainly in remote areas to ensure they will not come under militants’ influence.
“Vigilance is needed from everyone, state officials and citizens,” MP Omar Hamrush told the same paper. “Egypt is facing big challenges and is fighting against terrorism.”
Egypt designated the Brotherhood a terrorist group in late 2013 months after the army deposed president Mohammad Mursi, a senior official in the group, following enormous protests against his rule.
The group was accused of involvement in a series of deadly attacks in the country.
Religious authorities have since tightened their grip on mosques across mostly Muslim Egypt, denying the Brotherhood and allied groups a main forum to influence devout Muslims.
The clampdown has resulted in removing books promoting radicalism.
Since Mursi’s toppling, Egypt has seen a spate of fatal attacks mainly targeting security forces and the country’s Christian minority.
Over the past four years, dozens of Brotherhood-linked businesses have also been confiscated for financing the outlawed group.
Hundreds of Brotherhood followers and leaders have been rounded up and tried on charges of inciting or involvement in violence.
