Controversy ensues in Egypt over Sisi's use of religious endowments

President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi is discussing the option of investing religious endowment assets in national development projects to promote the economy, although some point to issues of this action's legality.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi greets soldiers during a presentation of combat efficiency and equipment of the armed forces in Suez, Egypt, October 29, 2017 in this handout picture courtesy of the Egyptian Presidency. The Egyptian Presidency/Handout via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY - RC1250593000
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi greets soldiers during a presentation on combat efficiency and equipment of the armed forces, Suez, Oct. 29, 2017. - The Egyptian Presidency/Handout via REUTERS
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Ahmed Aleem
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CAIRO — The idea of using religious endowment funds to finance major national investment projects has unleashed a religious controversy about the legality of the use of endowment funds.

On Dec. 26, President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi met with Minister of Religious Endowments Mohamed Mokhtar Jumaa and the head of the Endowments Authority, Ahmed Abdel-Hafiz, to discuss the use of endowment assets to support national projects to help promote growth of the Egyptian economy. Both Jumaa and Abdel-Hafiz expressed agreement with Sisi's overall approach, which he had set in motion in 2016.

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