Is regulating fatwas solution to extremism in Egypt?
A parliamentary committee is currently reviewing a draft law that limits the issuance of fatwas to Al-Azhar and Dar Al-Ifta scholars and sheikhs, as a way to fight the spread of extremist thought.
CAIRO — On Dec. 20, the secretary of the Religious Committee at the Egyptian parliament, Omar Hamrouche, presented a draft law on regulating fatwas. The law will limit the issuing of religious edicts to senior scholars at Al-Azhar and Dar Al-Ifta and put an end to the numerous fatwas that incite violence and intolerance.
The draft law stipulates that those issuing fatwas without licenses from Al-Azhar and Dar Al-Ifta shall either be imprisoned for a period of no more than six months or pay a fine of no more than 2,000 Egyptian pounds ($110), or both. Should the violation be repeated, the perpetrator shall be imprisoned and pay a fine of no more than 5,000 Egyptian pounds ($274).
The draft law sparked controversy. Some supported it and saw it as a new step toward renewing religious discourse and confronting extremism. Those opposing it saw it as an attempt by the government to control religion in order to serve its own decisions.
In this context, Hamrouche told Al-Monitor that the draft law does not target a specific movement, but is intended to regulate fatwas in general in order to achieve a moderate religious discourse and highlight the tolerance of Islam after numerous fatwas were issued calling for intolerance and discrimination, such as abandoning giving holiday greetings to Coptic Christians.
