How do Egypt's official religious authorities view Shiites?

While Egypt's Al-Azhar officially accepts Shiism and teaches about Shiite schools of jurisprudence in its curricula, some claim Shiites are being persecuted in Egypt as religious authorities and security forces look the other way.
Egyptians stand outside El Sayeda Nafisa Mosque after funeral prayers for Shi'ite victims, who were killed in sectarian violence, in Cairo, June 24, 2013. Egypt's president, accused of fuelling sectarian hatred, promised swift justice on Monday for a deadly attack on minority Shi'ites as he tried to quell broader factional fighting to avoid a threatened military intervention. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh (EGYPT - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST RELIGION) - RTX10ZDZ
Egyptians stand outside El Sayeda Nafisa Mosque after funeral prayers for Shiite victims who were killed in sectarian violence in Cairo, June 24, 2013. - REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh
ahmedhidji_color.jpg
Ahmed Hidji
Read in 

The Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights issued a report July 21 showing that there were 70 incidents of assault against Egyptian Shiites during the period from January 2011 to May 2016.

The report also highlighted the killing of Shite cleric Hassan Shehata and three of his students in June 2013.

Access the Middle East news and analysis you can trust

Join our community of Middle East readers to experience all of Al-Monitor, including 24/7 news, analyses, memos, reports and newsletters.

Subscribe

Only $100 per year.

Videos

See more