Surveillance Cameras to be Installed in Mosques in Egypt to ‘Control Extremist Speech’

In another endeavor to enhance the security level nationwide, Egypt’s Minister of Religious Endowments has announced the installation of surveillance cameras at mosques across Egypt.

According to Al-Masry Al-Youm and Youm7, the cameras will first be installed at key mosques in Cairo before being installed in other mosques across Egypt.

Some key mosques where the Ministry has already commenced installing cameras are Amr ibn Al-Aas, Al-Noor and Al-Sayeda Zeinab mosques.

According to Mohamed Mokhtar Gomaa, the Minister of Religious Endowments, the CCTV cameras will be installed in an effort to protect mosques from terrorist attacks and to control “extremist” ideology. The Minister added that the cameras will ensure that the mosques sermons are monitored to ensure no extremist sermons are delivered.

The Minister said the idea to install surveillance cameras came after Saudi Arabia and Kuwait did so following deadly attacks. On June 26, a deadly bombing at a Shiite Mosque in Kuwait claimed more than 24 lives.

CCTV nationwide

The announcement comes several months after Egypt’s Prime Minister Ibrahim Mehleb announced the creation of a national committee for camera surveillance.

Building on previously installed surveillance networks such as those in Upper Egypt’s Minya which have been activated for traffic control purposes, new surveillance cameras will be installed to secure vital buildings, roads, squares, neighbourhoods and various structures.

Progress on this national initiative remains unclear.

Source: Egyptian Streets