Egypt's Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry has assured concerned Egyptian MPs that the Organisation of Islamic Conference will be asked to take action to "correct" the mistake of its secretary-general who last week made a joke at President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi's expense.
At an OIC conference in Tunisia, Iyad Madani mistakenly read out Tunisian President Essebsi's name as El-Sisi. In a bid to correct his mistake, Madani told Essebsi that "this is a terrible and unforgivable mistake."
Madani, a Saudi Arabian minister, also poked fun of a statement made by President El-Sisi during a conference in Sharm El-Sheikh that week. Exhorting his audience to be frugal and resilent, El-Sisi told the audience that his own fridge had contained “only water” for ten years. Madani told the Tunisian president that "I am sure that your fridge has more than water."
In a statement to parliament on Sunday, Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said Egypt expects the OIC to take action to correct Madani's indecent comments.
Shoukry indicated that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has also filed an official complaint with the OIC to protest Madani's irresponsible behaviour and would follow up with the organisation to ensure that action would be taken.
"We asked that copies of this complaint be made available to all of OIC's members," said Shoukry said, adding that "we – the government and Egyptian people – expect that clear-cut measures will be taken to correct his behaviour."
'Unacceptable'
Shoukry described comments made by Madani in Tunisia last week as "unacceptable", "deplorable", "indecent" and represent a “grave mistake” from an international official.
"Such comments go against the responsibilities and duties of an international official like OIC's secretary-general and violate the rules which must govern the behavior of such an official," said the minister.
Shoukry’s statement before parliament on Sunday came in response to "urgent statements" which were delivered by six MPs on Madani's remarks.
It also came after a statement by parliament's Arab Affairs Committee strongly denounced "the irresponsible behaviour of a man who occupies a high-ranking post in the OIC."
"Madani's cheap words direct insult and mockery to Egypt's president and people as a whole," read the statement.
“Madani's bad remarks also insult the OIC and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia which he represents at the OIC, as well as Egypt."
"It is highly deplorable that this man has held different official positions in his country and these should have taught him to be extremely careful before he selects his words.
"Not to mention that the OIC should be a symbol of good manners because it is an Islamic organisation which aims to support noble religious values among Islamic nations. But Madani chose to break the wall, opting to show himself as a man of bad manners and whims," the statement added.
The committee, however, heaped praise on what it called "the honourable position of Saudi brethren who rejected Madani's shameful remarks, opting to launch a campaign entitled ‘he does not represent me'."
"This demonstrates again that the relations and bonds between the two countries are strong and deep-rooted, and for this reason we request the OIC take action against its secretary-general, who did a lot of damage to its reputation," read the committee statement.
The committee urged the media in both Egypt and Saudi Arabia not to exaggerate Madani's irresponsible behavior, and make sure that it does represent any official positions.
Mohamed Atta Selim, an MP from Alexandria, said he is afraid that "Madani's bad comments about President El-Sisi do not reflect an official position from Saudi Arabia."
"It was a great honour for us to welcome King Salman [of Saudi Arabia] in our parliament this year and so I hope that Madani's irresponsible behavior was not aimed at sowing the seeds of sedition between Egypt and Saudi Arabia," said Selim.
Ismail Nasreddin, an MP from the Cairo district of Helwan, said "Madani should resign from his post because his indecent remarks represent an insult to the OIC itself and show that he is a man of low manners."
Mostafa Bakri, an independent MP, said Madani's remarks express a personal – rather than official – position.
"Saudi Arabia's positions in support of Egypt since 30 June have been always strong and we should not allow for anyone, including Madani, to drive a wedge between the two nations," said Bakri.
