Al-Azhar sets up advice kiosk to counter militancy

CAIRO: Two elderly sheikhs have set up shop at a kiosk in one of Cairo’s busiest underground stations, ready to dole out religious advice to commuters queueing outside.

It is the latest attempt by Al-Azhar university, Egypt’s highest religious authority and one of the world’s most eminent seats of Muslim learning, to touch base with the wider public and counter the appeal of militant Islam.

"We are saving people energy, time and effort by placing this desk in this blessed place that is the greatest meeting point for the Egyptian population," said Saeed Amer, deputy secretary general of the Al-Azhar department in charge of issuing religious edicts and one of the clerics in the kiosk.

Almost 2,000 people have come to seek advice since the initiative began two weeks ago in the Shohadaa subway station. Many questions to the clerics have touched on issues of Islamic prayer rituals, inheritance, marriage and divorce.

Commuters appeared to welcome the initiative, with some even calling for more kiosks to pop up at other stations across the capital. But some critics were not impressed. "It is clear Al-Azhar is disconnected from reality.

I am shocked that after almost four years of requests from the ... president, and passed through all levels of society, to make amendments to religious rhetoric, they only come up with this kiosk idea," parliamentarian Mohamed Abu Hamed said.