Presidential spokesperson Ihab Badawi said President Adly Mansour issued a decree on speeches and religious lessons in mosques and public squares, forbidding preachers who are not authorized by Al-Azhar or the Endowments Ministry to give sermons or speeches.
The decree obliges authorized preachers to wear the Al-Azhar uniform, and grants Endowments Ministry personnel judicial arrest powers against unauthorized preachers.
It stipulates imprisonment for not less than three months and not more than one year, and a fine of not less than LE20,000 and not more than LE50,000, or either penalty, for those violating.
The penalty is doubled in case the violation is repeated.
It also stipulates imprisonment for not less than one months and not more than one year, and a fine of not less than LE10,000 and not more than LE30,000, or either penalty, for unauthorized preachers wearing the Al-Azhar uniform or demeaning it in any way.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
