MP calls on Al-Azhar to purge extremism-inducing ideas from curriculums

CAIRO – 11 April 2017: Member of Parliament Omar Hamroush, secretary of the Religious Committee at the House of Representatives, has called Islamic heritage books that are part of the curriculum at Al-Azhar “rife with extremist and violence-inducing ideas.”

“Al-Azhar must reconsider material studied in its books since most of them can’t keep up with the modern age,” Hamroush told local media, stressing the necessity of fighting ideologies by filtering books in light of the country’s ongoing war against terrorism.

He further clarified that he would petition the Parliament to release an urgent statement calling on Al-Azhar to review its curriculums.

Hamroush’s remarks came on the heels of two church bombings in Tanta and Alexandria on Sunday.

The blast at Mar Girgis church in Tanta left at least 44 dead and over 70 injured. Another attack four hours later occurred targeted Saint Mark's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral in Alexandria, resulting in 16 fatalities and at least 40 injuries.

President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi has consistently stressed the importance of renewing Egypt’s religious discourse.