Egyptian Parliament Postpones Vote on Draft Law Opposed by Al-Azhar

Al-Azhar mosque in Cairo, Egypt, on May 24, 2020. (Reuters)
Al-Azhar mosque in Cairo, Egypt, on May 24, 2020. (Reuters)
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Egyptian Parliament Postpones Vote on Draft Law Opposed by Al-Azhar

Al-Azhar mosque in Cairo, Egypt, on May 24, 2020. (Reuters)
Al-Azhar mosque in Cairo, Egypt, on May 24, 2020. (Reuters)

The Egyptian parliament postponed a debate on a controversial draft law regulating the country's Dar al-Ifta, which was strongly opposed by al-Azhar Foundation and its Grand Imam Ahmed el-Tayeb.

Tayeb said the bill creates “a parallel entity” to the most prominent Islamic religious institution in the country and endangers the independence of Dar al-Ifta.

He warned that it violates article 7 of constitution, which gives al-Azhar absolute supervision of religious affairs, including the issuing of religious fatwas, or edicts.

The constitution stipulates that al-Azhar is an “independent scientific Islamic institution, with exclusive competence over its own affairs. It is the main authority for religious sciences and Islamic affairs. It is responsible for preaching Islam and disseminating the religious sciences and the Arabic language in Egypt and the world.”

Lawmakers Haitham al-Hariri and Ahmad al-Tantawi stated that the draft law will be discussed by the next parliament.

Monday’s plenary session will most likely be this parliament’s last meeting, given that parliamentary elections will be held in November.

Prior to the session, Tantawi called on MPs to avoid committing a legislative “disaster” by separating al-Azhar, which every religious institution should be affiliated with, from Dar al-Ifta, which under the proposal would become answerable to the government.

In March, al-Azhar strongly condemned and rejected the bill submitted by Osama al-Abd, the parliament's religious and endowment affairs committee head, along with 60 other lawmakers.

The bill aims to restructure the authority of the grand mufti, the head of Dar al-Ifta, as well as the appointment procedures, tenure and procedures to renew the term of the mufti.

According to the sponsors of the draft law, the amendments are aimed at “reorganizing Egypt’s Dar al-Ifta” and giving it independent legal power and financial, technical and administrative autonomy, while defining the mufti’s work.

Abed said that the draft law did not diminish the powers of al-Azhar, seeing as it appoints the mufti. He added the draft law was approved by the religious committee, and the final decision is in the hands of parliament.



Lebanon Parliament Speaker Accuses Israel of 'Flagrant Violation' of Truce

Border fence between Lebanon and Israel (AFP)
Border fence between Lebanon and Israel (AFP)
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Lebanon Parliament Speaker Accuses Israel of 'Flagrant Violation' of Truce

Border fence between Lebanon and Israel (AFP)
Border fence between Lebanon and Israel (AFP)

Lebanon's parliament speaker accused Israel of violating a ceasefire, after authorities said two were killed in Israeli strikes on Monday, the sixth day of the truce.

"The aggressive actions carried out by Israeli occupation forces... represent a flagrant violation of the terms of the ceasefire agreement," Nabih Berri, who helped mediate the ceasefire on behalf of ally Hezbollah, said in a statement.

Also, France's foreign minister Monday told his Israeli counterpart that all sides should respect a ceasefire started last week between Israel and Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, the French foreign ministry said.

Jean-Noel Barrot stressed to Israeli minister Gideon Saar in a phone call "the need for all sides to respect the ceasefire in Lebanon", the ministry said, after several Israeli strikes hit Lebanon since the ceasefire started Wednesday.

At least two people were killed on Monday in Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon, Lebanese authorities said, as a ceasefire ending more than a year of hostilities between Israel and Lebanese armed group Hezbollah appeared increasingly fragile.

The truce, which came into effect early on Nov. 27, stipulates that Israel will not carry out offensive military operations against civilian, military or other state targets in Lebanon, while Lebanon will prevent any armed groups, including Hezbollah, from carrying out operations against Israel.

Lebanon and Israel have already traded accusations of breaches, and on Monday Lebanon said the violations had turned deadly.

One person was killed in an Israeli air attack on the southern Lebanese town of Marjayoun, about 10 km (six miles) from the border with Israel, Lebanon's health ministry said.

Lebanon's state security said an Israeli drone strike had killed a member of its force while he was on duty in Nabatieh, 12 km from the border. State security called it a "flagrant violation" of the truce.

The Lebanese army said an Israeli drone hit an army bulldozer in northeast Lebanon near the border with Syria, wounding one soldier.

The Israeli military did not immediately respond to questions from Reuters about the incidents in Marjayoun and Nabatieh. It issued a statement saying it had attacked military vehicles operating near Hezbollah military infrastructure in Lebanon's Bekaa Valley and military vehicles near the border with Syria.

The Israeli military acknowledged that a Lebanese soldier was wounded in one of its attacks and said the incident was under review.