The Salafist Call decided to appeal to Adly Mansour’s presidential decree banning non-appointed preachers at the Ministry of Religious Endowment or non-graduates from Al-Azhar Institute from delivering sermons or giving lessons at mosques, reported Youm7.
Sources at the Call told Youm7 that the decree “outraged” its leaders, adding that a number of its preachers have given sermons Friday.
The Ministry of Endowments issued a statement Saturday warning preachers from giving sermons with no authorization, adding that the presidential decree would enter into force Friday.
The ministry also urged authorities to take the necessary procedures to protect mosques, along with the ministry-affiliated preachers against any assault, the statement added.
In his phone call with Al Arabiya TV channel Saturday, Gaber Tayee, deputy head of the Ministry of Endowments, praised the law and said that the Salafis’ rejection to it is “expected.”
The new decree aims at controlling the mechanism of giving sermons which, according to Tayee have been “chaotic” and caused a notable polarization among Muslims since the 25 January Revolution. A preacher must go through different stages before being assigned to address people, said Tayee.
Sameh Abdel Hamid, a leader at the Salafist Call told Youm7 Sunday that the law cannot be applied easily, due to the large number of the mosques.
Abdel Hamed asserted that the call will appeal to the decree.
According to the law, those who will deliver a sermon without a permit will face up to one year in jail and pay a fine ranging from 20,000 to 50,000 EGP ($4,200- $7,000.)
In a statement issued in January, the ministry said three preachers were suspended from work in South Sinai because they violated its rules for preaching.
On March 11, the Ministry decided to put all mosques in Egypt under its supervision for a period not exceeding one month, according to Youm7.
Tayee told Youm7 April 22 that the Salafi preachers are prohibited from giving sermons in Cairo mosques even if they possess a certificate from Al-Azhar.
No one is allowed to take to the podium except for preaches assigned by the Ministry of Religious Endowment, Tayee said.
