Egyptian Army Says it is Aware of Risks Facing the State
Egyptian Minister of Defense Mohamed Zaki affirmed
Thursday that the armed forces are fully aware of the risks and challenges
facing the country.
Zaki, who is also commander-in-chief of the armed
forces, stressed the importance of self-discipline and maintaining combat
readiness.
The Egyptian Ministry of Awqaf said that it
dedicated Friday’s unified sermon at Egyptian mosques to combat rumours. Minister
of Endowments Mohammed Mokhtar Jomaa asserted that the sermons aim to build
national awareness, to face extremist thoughts and to foster coexistence.
This came as Mohammed Ali, an Egyptian actor and
contractor residing in Spain, called for anti-regime protests in Egypt.
Lawmakers intend to hold pro-government sit-ins to counter his call.
Last Friday and Saturday, Egypt witnessed rare and
limited protests in some cities. The State Information Service called on
international media to abide by “professional codes.”
A source from Awqaf told Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper
that Friday’s sermon will urge people to verify news before spreading them.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi has on many
occasions called for confronting extremist thoughts, the last of which was at
the eighth National Youth Conference two weeks ago.
During the session on the local and regional
experience of combating terrorism, Sisi affirmed that religious rhetoric should
be on par with current times.
