Sisi urges Egyptians to renounce all forms of extremsim

CAIRO- 21 June 2017: President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi has greeted the Egyptian people and the Islamic world during a speech on the occasion of Lailatul Qadr, (the night in which the Holy Quran was revealed to the Prophet Mohamed).

During his speech, Sisi urged Al Azhar institution to prepare a draft law to counter hate speech.

Speaking at a ceremony marking the Awqaf Ministry's celebration of Laylatul Qadr (the night when the first verse of the Holy Qur'an was revealed), Azhar Grand Imam Ahmed el Tayyeb said the bill is planned to criminalize all forms of hate speech.

The proposed draft law is of great importance in light of misleading fatwa widely spread in the Egyptian community, he added.

The president called on all members of the society to shoulder the responsibility and look towards the future with renouncing all forms of extremism, bigotry, and seclusion and focusing on tolerance and mercy.

He called on men of religion, intellectuals, scientists and artists to present to the world a model of a moderate religious discourse providing happiness to all human beings.

The president stressed the importance of firmly confronting all countries that support terrorism, calling for a clear strategy to combat it without hesitation.

He said that Egypt's national security is a red line that cannot be crossed thanks to steadfastness of Egyptians and the sacrifices of policemen and army personnel.