Egyptian clerics reach out to vacationing young people
Egypt’s Ministry of Religious Endowments is sending clerics to the North Coast, as videos of young people dancing on the beach there have recently surfaced.
Egypt’s religious authorities are sending clerics to the town of El-Alamein on the country’s upscale North Coast (Sahel) to speak with vacationing Muslims. The move is aimed at making inroads with young people, especially during the summer season, and is part of the government’s plans to revive Islamic preaching and rejuvenate religious discourse.
The Ministry of Awqaf (Religious Endowments) said in an Aug. 14 statement that previous efforts have been successful nationwide. In 2017, the ministry launched missions to cafes to promote a moderate version of Islam.
However, the clerics won’t be preaching to “half-naked” people on the beach, as Sheikh Salem Abdel Galil, former undersecretary of the ministry, told Al-Monitor.
“There are mosques in these resorts where the preachers will open communication channels with the vacationers in these spots. The Awqaf Ministry sends missionaries from time to time to various destinations across the country. The objective is to reach out to as many people as possible, especially in the summer,” Abdel Galil said.
