Two imams in Qaliubiya governorate were suspended from their positions on Monday for belonging to "terrorist groups", according to state-run newspaper Al-Ahram. The two preachers were accused of encroachment in talking about the police, the army, and insulting state institutions. The men were the imams of two different mosques in the Shubra El-Kheima area, on the outskirts of Cairo. The Ministry of Religious Endowments representative in the governorate said that they had been referred to the prosecution pending investigation into their alleged violations, which he said uncovered their allegiance to terrorist groups. The suspension comes amid a tightening grip on religious affairs by the Egyptian authorities. All mosques in the country are administered by the state. Also on Monday, the Ministry of Religious Endowment announced the formation of a company to oversee all large and ancient mosques across the country. In a high profile incident last week, renowned preacher Mohamed Jebril was also suspended. He was removed after allegedly praying against the "oppressors". President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi pushed the ministry, in charge of religious affairs in the country, as well Al-Azhar and other religious authorities to renew religious discourse. The state seeks to rid religious rhetoric of extremist ideologies, and promote "moderate" Islamic teachings.
