azhar archives — 3arabawy

Religion and Morals in Sisi’s New Republic

Posted on 03/09/202503/09/2025 By 3arabawy

I wrote an article on the recent moralist crackdown in Egypt, and how Sisi polices the religious establishment.

Religion in service of the state

Posted on 09/02/201202/03/2021 By 3arabawy

Just like in April 2008, and 25 January 2011, both Al-Azhar and the Coptic Church, the two main arms of the state’s religious establishment, have come out to denounce the calls for general strike and civil disobedience planned on 11 February 2012.

Add to the list of course, the Muslim Brotherhood. Their leadership did not endorse the 6 April 2008 strike, neither did they endorse the 25 January 2011 protests (they only officially lent support to the revolution on its fourth day), and now are they are denouncing the calls for this coming 11 February strike.

Religion in service of the army

Posted on 05/08/201127/02/2021 By 3arabawy

They used to denounce strikes in the past and call for obedience and submission to Mubarak the dictator, today the religious establishment sheikhs are more than happy to lend their services to the ruling SCAF, “calling on Muslims not to protest or stage sit-ins during Ramadan.”