Al-Azhar Sheikhs march to Tahrir Square. (DNE / FILE PHOTO/ Hassan Ibrahim) Sheikh Hassan Abdel-Baseer has resigned from his post as the Imam of El-Shohadaa mosque in Alexandria, because he believes the Ministry of Religious Endowment attempted to censor him. Abdel-Baseer announced his resignation in front of members of the Muslim Brotherhood who were holding a rally outside Sidi Gaber mosque on Friday. Abdel -Baseer explained, “I gave a speech last Friday at El-Shohadaa mosque about the need for social reform and unity at this critical time in Egypt. I did not mention President Mohamed Morsy once." He claimed that after his speech he received a call from the head of the religious endowment in Alexandria and was asked to attend a meeting. During their meeting Abdel-Baseer says that he was asked to sign transfer papers to move him to the Sidi Gaber Mosque, which he refused. Abdel-Baseer said “on Friday I was preparing to give my weekly address at El-Shohadaa and 15 minutes before I was told that the Sheikh from Sidi Gaber was at El-Shohadaa and I was to replace him at Sidi Gaber." He says that the other sheikh was a guest in his mosque and out of respect he went to Sidi Gaber, which was the meeting point for the Brotherhood's pro-Morsy rally. After he delivered his speech he then announced his resignation to the crowd. Abdel-Baseer said he will hand in his formal resignation papers on Sunday. He said on Saturday “I have been opposing Mubarak for 14 years and never experienced censorship like this," he added, “Al-Azhar needs to be more independent." Politicisation of religion was apparent on Friday at Hassan Al-Sharbatly mosque in New Cairo where Morsy was attending prayers. The imam used his speech to justify Morsy's constitutional declaration, prompting other worshippers in the mosque to voice their opposition. Morsy stood up and spoke to the crowd and assured them of the judiciary's independence. Similarly in Tahrir Square on Friday the tone of the Imam's speech had an anti-Morsy slant. Al-Azhar and the ministry were not available for comment.
