Egyptian mufti bans shrine destruction

Following the efforts to destroy Rasul Hussein in Cairo, Egyptian mufti issues a decree banning the destruction or any desecration of the holy shrines urging Al azhar scholars to confront Wahhabism and radical thinking.

Ahmad Al Tayyeb, Egyptian thinker and Al azhar grand mufti in a meeting with students expressed his concerns over spread of Wahhabism and radical ideas and said, "this issue goes against the moderate approach of Al azhar," and continued with demanding Al azhar figures to stand against the problem, reported Taqrib News Agency (TNA).

Al azhar Sheykh also expressed his opposition with invitations to destroy the holy shrine of Rasul Hussein (place where the head of Imam Hussein (As) was kept for some time and turned into a holy shrine for Muslims) saying that such moves end in nothing but bloodshed.

"Those who ban praying in mosques which have Zarih (shrine) are totally wrong," said Egyptian thinker and counted thinking as the only way to confront these people.

Not long after February revolution, Saudi-backed Wahhabis in Egypt in a move to oppose Shia and Christians in the country made efforts to destroy some holy shrines in Cairo and Alexandria, the act which has previously been slammed by Sheykh Ali Juma'a, Al azhar grand mufti.

To foil the plot, young Shias in Egypt determined to guard the the holy places.