Saudi Preacher Investigated For Anti-Sisi Prayers

Saudi Arabia’s ministry of Religious Endowments and Affairs is investigating a Saudi preacher concerning his prayers against Egyptian Defence Minister and army chief, Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi, reported Saudi satellite channel Al-Arabiya on Sunday.

The preacher was attacked by some of those who were praying after he finished his prayers in Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh.

Earlier, AFP reported that a top Saudi Arabian Al-Qaeda member had criticised King Abdullah’s support for the Egyptian army’s ouster of Islamist former President Mohamed Morsi, which took place on 3 July after nationwide anti-Morsi protests.

“One of their latest crimes is supporting the secular forces in Egypt against the government of Morsi,” the reglious affairs chief of the Yemen-based Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, Ibrahim al-Rubaish said.

Saudi Arabia has become one of the interim Egyptian government’s strongest allies. The Kingdom has promised Egypt a $5 billion aid package, undermining threats of cuts to aid by Western countries who have condemned Egypt’s crackdown on pro-Morsi sit-ins by Egyptian security forces.

The dispersal of the sit-ins has led to hundreds of deaths and thousands of injuries. The US and EU have been cautious in backing the current interim Egyptian government.

Saudi Arabia’s support for the interim government was also shown by Gulf countries Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates, unlike Qatar, which is a staunch Muslim Brotherhood ally.

Source : Ahram