Egypt enrolls Russian imams in 'fatwa training program' to combat Brotherhood

Egypt is helping Russia confront extremism, namely Muslim Brotherhood ideology, by training Russian imams in the Dar al-Ifta — including a 'fatwa training program.'
Muslim worshippers, mask-clad due to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, arrive at the courtyard of the historic al-Azhar mosque in the centre of Islamic Cairo to perform the Friday prayers under new pandemic restrictions, in Egypt's capital on Aug. 28, 2020.
Muslim worshippers, mask-clad due to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, arrive at the courtyard of the historic al-Azhar mosque in the center of Islamic Cairo to perform the Friday prayers under new pandemic restrictions, in Egypt's capital on Aug. 28, 2020. - MOHAMED EL-SHAHED/AFP via Getty Images
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George Mikhail
@Guirguisfekri1

CAIRO — Egypt has recently stepped up its support for Russia in the fight against extremist ideologies and groups, most notably the Muslim Brotherhood. On Aug. 3, Egypt’s Dar al-Ifta (the Egyptian authority responsible for issuing religious edicts) announced the graduation of 21 imams from Russia from a training camp on the issuance of fatwas against extremist ideologies.

Dar al-Ifta said in a report on its portal on the same day that “the training program for Russian imams aims to provide them with the ability to issue fatwas while adhering to the moderate approach of Islam, and to monitor and analyze extremist ideas.”

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