A social media campaign went viral with Egyptians from different backgrounds denouncing the terrorist siege in Sydney and demanded the closure of the Egyptian embassy in Australia. "We have to close the Egyptian embassy offices in Australia, because of the unstable security situation there," Twitter user said. Hundreds of Egyptians tweeted denouncing the siege and urged the government to close the embassy to avoid any harm for the Egyptian mission in Australia. The demands came after a number of international diplomatic missions in Cairo, have either closed their doors or updated their travel advice to citizens over "security threats". On the other hand, the Egyptian foreign ministry spokesperson denied the reports of closing Egypt's embassy, affirming that the embassy is working normally and no exceptional procedures have been adopted. The gunman who held the hostages was Man Haron Monis, a 50-year-old Islamic cleric who arrived in Australia as a refugee from Iran in 1996. Monis was already on bail after being charged of the murder of his ex-wife in 2013, in addition to indecent and sexual assault allegations against him earlier this year. The Sydney siege gunman was not on any government terror watch lists despite having a long criminal history, mental instability and an "infatuation with extremism", Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott said, according to Sydney Morning. Abbott added even if the "sick and disturbed individual" had been on the terror watch lists and monitored 24 hours a day, the tragedy may not have been prevented. Martin Place, the scene of destruction and despair during the Lindt café siege, was turned into a spontaneous memorial as mourners created an extraordinary floral tribute to the victims of Sydney's hostage crisis. Meanwhile, Australia's Grand Mufti Ibrahim Abu Ahmed slammed the siege, stressing that "this terrorist act is not related to Islam." Abu Ahmed said in a phone interview with Privately owned Egyptian TV channel CBC , that the Islamic State's flag used by Monis is not exclusively used by terrorists, pointing out that the flag is misused by the extremist groups around the world. Moreover, Egypt's Grand Mufti Shawqi Allam stated Monday "Muslims respect laws and do not condone terrorist acts," slamming the siege of dozens in a café in Sydney.
