Minister of Religious Endowments and Islamic Affairs Mahmoud Hamdi Zaqzouq issued an order on Wednesday to all the ministry's directorates countrywide to advise Egypt's Imams to use their Friday sermons to encourage citizens to participate in Sunday's parliamentary elections.
In a statement, Zaqzouq called on the nation's Imams to raise public awareness about the importance of voting in the upcoming polls and avoiding electoral boycotts. He also urged them to notify citizens that voting in elections constituted a religious and national duty.
The minister went on to warn against the use of mosque pulpits by electoral candidates and political parties for campaigning purposes.
Translated from the Arabic Edition.
