U.S. Copts Association

By  Ahmed el-Khatib, Munir Adeeb   

Dr. Abdel Moneim al-Barri, professor of Islamic Culture of Facutly of Da’wa and chief of deposed Al-Azhar scholars front revealed that Ministry of Interior has called him and a number of scholars specialized in Shiite ideology to deliver some lectures to state security investigation officers inside some prison buildings and dept. offices on the Shiite ideology and plans to break through the Sunni countries.  A security source refused to comment on this issue.

 In special statements to al-Masry al-Youm, Al-Barri said that inviting a number of scholars specialized in Shiite ideologies for this task by Ministry of Interior came following thousands of Shiites entering October 6 governorate and their attempt to spread the Shiite ideology in the Egyptian Sunni community.  Having recognized this attempt, Ministry of Interior is studying now how to face and deal with it through educating officers of state security investigation officers.

 He pointed out that his earlier lectures to state security officers in Torah Prison were on introducing the danger of Shiite ideology that needs quick actions to maintain the security of Egypt.

 Al-Barri revealed that some Shiite groups spread recently in a number of new cities, and that most of them belong to the twelfth Imam Gaafari sect, which is one of the most hostile Shiite sects to Sunnis.  A large number of them submitted applications to Ministry of Endowments to establish Shiite mosques known as ‘Al-Hosayniyat’ (belonging to al-Hussein) which have places for slapping faces and slashing bodies with iron chains to mourn the death of Imam al-Hussein.  But Ministry of Endowments did not respond to their requests following the rejection of Ministry of Interior.

 He added that a number of Shiite leaders moved to some governorates in Lower Egypt, one of which is Abu Hamad City in Sharqiya.  He revealed that there were attempts to bribe committees of approximation between Shiites and Sunnis, which are sponsored by Al-Azhar, from the Iranian side under what is called lecture allowances that reach $3000 for each lecture.  This demonstrates their bad intentions.

 For his side, Dr. Salem Abdul Galil, deputy of Ministry of Endowments said; “It is possible that some applications were submitted to endowments directors to establish mosques for Iraqi Shiites in October 6, but Ministry of Endowments did not receive any.  We even reject such applications in principle.”

 Sheikh Mahmoud Ashour, general secretary of approximation of ideologies committee in Al-Azhar, said to al-Masry al-Youm; “There is no proof the committee received any money from any side, as funding is individual and voluntarily.”