Is the grand imam of Al-Azhar joining in the attack against independent press, asks Mona El-Nahhas During a religious celebration attended by President Hosni Mubarak and broadcast live on Egyptian TV last week Sheikh Sayed , the grand imam of Al-Azhar, appeared to argue that journalists who publish libellous material should be flogged 80 times, claiming that such action was sanctioned in the Holy Quran. During the course of his speech cited a verse from the Quran which states that anyone who accuses a woman of adultery without being able to produce four eyewitnesses should be flogged 80 times. A similar punishment, he went on to argue, should be meted out to anyone who damages the reputation of an honourable man. The state-owned Al-Akhbar newspaper, and Sawt Al-Azhar, the mouthpiece of Al-Azhar, subsequently published the text of a fatwa from Sheikh reiterating his arguments. It has aroused controversy among Al-Azhar scholars. Sabri Abdel-Raouf, professor of comparative jurisprudence at Al-Azhar, told Al-Ahram Weekly that the Quran specifies the punishment only for those who accuse a woman of committing adultery without proof. It cannot, he said, be extrapolated to include other forms of libel. The controversial fatwa follows a series of recent cases in which seven journalists working for independent and opposition newspapers have so far received jail sentences. The seven had been accused of libelling senior figures in the ruling National Democratic Party (NDP), including President Mubarak and members of his family, and of falsely attributing statements to Justice Minister Mamdouh Marei. Ibrahim Eissa, the editor-in-chief of Al-Dostour, also faces charges of spreading rumours related to the health of President Mubarak. 's speech has been denounced by many journalists as an attempt to provide a religious justification for attempts by the regime to undermine press freedom. In pandering to the agenda of the regime, they argue, has shown himself unfit to occupy such a senior religious post and should be dismissed. The Press Syndicate issued an angry statement following 's comments: "we have been shocked by the grand imam's words and the way he appears to be joining in a growing campaign of intimidation against journalists and opinion-makers." The Press Syndicate, the statement continued, "was deeply saddened that such eccentric religious opinions will contribute in tarnishing the image of Islam." "The syndicate had expected that Al-Azhar would align itself with justice and freedom, principles that Islam both condones and preaches." A second statement, issued by the syndicate's Freedoms Committee, called upon journalists to boycott any reporting of 's activities. Member of parliament and editor-in-chief of the independent Al-Osbou, Mustafa Bakri, said he would submit an interpellation to Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif calling for to be dismissed. , who was appointed by presidential decree 10 years ago, is no stranger to controversy, and it is not the first time his relations with the press have been strained. In the past he has insulted journalists during interviews, demanding they leave his office after asking questions he deemed impertinent. Interviewed by Al-Mehwar satellite channel, appeared to make an attempt to appease journalists when he said that his comments -- which he defended -- were not aimed at any specific group. The ruling, he said, was general. He added that he maintained a good relationship with all journalists whose aim was to tell the truth.
