Cairo - Ahmed Abdullah
Egyptian MP Amr Hamroush, Secretary of the Religious Committee in the House of Representatives, said that there is a state of anger in the religious committee after the announcement of MP Mohammed Abu Hamid about a package of amendments to the law of Al-Azhar, signed by 130 MPs.
He revealed that a state of major resentment controled a number of members of the committee due to the movements of Abu Hamid, adding that they are now studying opposed movements to Abu Hamid amendments.
Hamroush stressed in an interview with Arabs Today that the head of the committee, Osama Al-Abd, rejected Abu Hamed project, stressing that Al-Azhar, over the course of 1000 years, provides an intermediate approach to 120 countries.
He expected that Al-Abd, ex-president of Al-Azhar university, will address the draft amendment of Abu Hamed.
The Egyptian MP stressed that there are moves to topple the Grand Sheikh of Al-Azhar Ahmed Tayeb, noting that the Parliament and all state institutions were supposed to support Al-Azhar at this stage and make sincere efforts to respond to criticism to Al- Azhar institution, not deliberately distort and seek to destroy it.
Hamroush said that Al-Azhar is the source of religious moderation and as an institution that always strives to develop itself. "In 2013, 100 Azhar scholars formed a large and extensive committee that purified the curricula and deleted the hardline ones, and presented an integrated vision to defend Al-Azhar," he stated.
He warned of the existence of a large bloc rejecting Mohammed Abu Hamid's project, adding that they are studying his movements to respond to them within the religious committee and the plenary session.
He stressed that Abu Hamed's amendments will affect the independence of Al-Azhar, adding that no matter how consistent between the amendments of Abu Hamed and the constitutional texts, but it is true that the immunity of the Grand Imam, which is stipulated in the constitution, is now being violated.
The MP said that he first called for understanding the motives and intentions of any laws aimed at reforming the ancient religious establishment, but he is currently warning of a state of discontent within the ranks of deputies about the amendments.
Hamroush called the parliament for focusing on citizens' problems, intensifying the follow-up of the markets, and seeking to solve the economic and living dilemmas.