Parliament member demands a punishing amendment for insulting Al Azhar

Cairo – 26 March 2017: The Egyptian parliament’s legislative committee refused Monday a request to make insulting Al-Azhar punishable by law. The legislative committee reviewed the request submitted by the parliament’s religious committee and did not give a reason for its rejection.

Egyptian Parliamentarian Shoukry el Gendy had demanded Friday a constitutional amendment requiring punitive action against any person or institution that insulte4d Al-Azhar, as it is the oldest religious organization in Egypt.

Gendy, a member of the parliament’s religious committee, said Al Azhar is “part of the nation’s foundation.”

According to Youm 7

, Gendy believes that insulting Al-Azhar is equivalent to insulting Egypt as a nation.

The religious committee requested the punishment for insulting Al-Azhar to be implemented based on Egypt’s constitutional law. Moreover, the committee, in collaboration with Al-Azhar leaders, had discussed a fine of EPG 10,000 and up to three years in prison as fair punishment based on Egyptian law.