Egypt Interior Ministry bans religious slogans on vehicles

Security forces will be removing from vehicles the widespread sticker asking onlookers “Have you praised the Prophet (Mohamed) today,” among other religious slogans, Deputy Interior Minister for Media Affairs Abdel-Fattah Osman said in a televised interview on Sunday. The phrase, which has spread extensively on cars and street shop façades of late, is inspired by a Quranic verse in which Muslims are clearly requested to emulate God and his angels' praise of Prophet Mohamed. Talking to TV host Amr Adeeb in the Al-Qahera Al-Youm TV programme, Osman said this is not the first time the interior ministry launches a campaign against banners or stickers betraying religious affiliations which, he argued, could lead to “sectarian tendencies”. Osman added, however, that no banners whatsoever, religious or otherwise, will be allowed on vehicles. "Nothing but license plates will be tolerated," he said. Security forces have launched an ongoing crackdown on Islamist groups loyal to ousted president Mohamed Morsi who hails from the Muslim Brotherhood. Thousands have been arrested and hundreds have been killed in clashes since last August. Militant attacks have also escalated against security personnel, leaving over 500 killed since Morsi’s ouster.