Al-Azhar to set up religious booths in Cairo Metro stations

Egypt’s religious institution Al-Azhar has set up booths in Cairo’s Metro stations to provide religious advice to commuters.

The move is the latest initiative to stop Egyptian Muslims from misinterpreting and having misconceptions of religious texts viewed largely as the reason for extremism and Islamist militancy in the country.

The Sunni religious institution revealed its plans following militant attacks this month that killed at least 28 security personnel in the restive Sinai Peninsula and near Cairo.

Al-Azhar’s Islamic Research Academy released a statement last week on the launch of its latest project as part of the institution’s efforts to correct misconceptions and radical ideologies. The booths will be manned by Al-Azhar preachers who will engage with commuters.

But Gamal Eid, director of the Arabic Network for Human Rights, criticised the effectiveness of the project, saying other measures should be taken to confront terrorism like fighting the widespread corruption and crackdowns under the Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi’s presidency.

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“I don’t think these booths will confront terrorism,” Eid explained. “This measure is not a priority.”

Mohieddine Afifi, the academy’s secretary-general, disregarded the criticisms stating that Al-Azhar is serving the interests of the nation and its citizens.

Who will face the violent currents and protect the nation and citizens from their edicts?

Al-Sisi has continually blamed “outdated religious discourse” for rising Islamist militancy in the country and has called for the “modernisation of religious discourse”.