State tightens grip on mosques for Eid al-Adha

The ministries of endowments and interior tightly controlled Eid al-Adha prayers on Saturday, with a host of restrictions and security regulations preventing oppositional clerics from delivering sermons critical of the ruling regime.

Nationwide, several million Egyptians ventured out to the 3,928 mosques and prayer areas designated by the Ministry of Endowments for the religious commemoration of Eid al-Adha.

Uniformed and plain-clothed police kept a watchful eye over worshippers.

Ahead of the Islamic festival of sacrifice, the Ministry of Endowments stipulated that only clerics from Al-Azhar University could deliver Eid sermons.

However, state-owned Al-Ahram newspaper reported that, “in contravention of the Ministry of Endowments,” the Brotherhood organized its own prayer areas in the east and west of Alexandria. They “attacked the current regime, and instigated against the police, Armed Forces and state institutions.”

Representatives of the ministry reportedly said they would take legal action against those who broke their Eid regulations, Al-Ahram added.

Other Islamist groups, particularly the ultra-conservative Salafi current, are reported to have largely abided by the regulations concerning clerics and their sermons, mosques and prayer areas.

Privately owned Al-Shorouk newspaper claimed on Saturday: “Eid sermons entirely void of politics this year.” However, other articles reported that individuals hoping to win seats in the upcoming parliamentary elections capitalized on the massive Eid congregations by hanging up their campaign banners and posters near designated prayer areas in Qalyubiya, Suez, Minya, and Assiut.

Some campaigners are even reported to have distributed campaign fliers and leaflets to worshippers around designated prayer areas, although the ministry clearly called on all campaigners to refrain from doing so during Eid prayers.

Several thousand policemen were reportedly deployed around designated prayer areas to protect worshippers and prevent anti-regime protests.

Bomb squads were also on standby near mosques, prayer areas and around state buildings.

Privately owned Al-Watan newspaper, citing sources from the Ministry of Interior, reported that 165 explosives experts, along with 300 assistants and 55 sniffer dogs were deployed in Cairo alone.

Earlier this week, the radical Islamist group Ansar Beit al-Maqdes issued a statement announcing their intention to conduct armed attacks against security forces during the Eid al-Adha holiday.