Former Grand Mufti Ali Gomaa survives assassination attempt
Former Grand Mufti Ali Gomaa survived an assassination attempt in 6 October City on Friday morning, the state-owned Al-Ahram newspaper reported.
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Masked men fired live ammunition at Gomaa as he entered Fadel Mosque in 6 October City to lead midday prayers and deliver the Friday sermon, security sources reported.
Continuing to deliver the sermon after the attempt, Gomaa said it was meant to distract people from the celebrations to mark the anniversary of the new Suez Canal passageway on Saturday, emphasizing that President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi is on the right path.
The nation's main Sunni Islamic institution Al-Azhar and the Minstry of Endowments both condemned the assassination attempt. Endowments Minister Mohamed Mokhtar Gomaa said in an interview with Egyptian state television that the attempt shows the cowardly nature of “groups that have lost their sanity.”
Gomaa served as grand mufti from 2003 to 2013. His recent religious opinionshave stirred great controversy, including his approval of hymen reconstruction operations.
No one has yet been arrested in connection with the attempt.
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