By EIPR –
On May 11, 2025, Egypt’s Parliament passed a new Law on the Regulation of Islamic Fatwas, drawing criticism from the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR). The law, EIPR argues, expands the power of official Islamic institutions at the expense of freedom of belief, expression, and civic inclusion. EIPR urges the President not to ratify the law, and to return it to Parliament for reconsideration.
Although presented as a regulatory measure, the new law defines public fatwas as binding religious rulings on public matters, ignoring Egypt’s religious diversity. It assigns exclusive authority to Al-Azhar, Dar al-Iftaa, and affiliated institutions to issue such fatwas, sidelining other religious voices and interpretations.
EIPR warns that this framework could lead to:
- Conflicts between religious and state institutions, especially where fatwas contradict state policies (e.g., previous rulings on bank interest).
- Obstruction of progress on social issues, such as gender equality and opposition to harmful practices like female genital mutilation.
The new law fits into a broader trend since 2014, aimed at consolidating control over religious discourse. It follows constitutional provisions elevating Al-Azhar and previous laws restricting unlicensed preaching.
Although a similar bill failed in 2020 due to disputes between Al-Azhar and the Ministry of Religious Endowments, this revised version reflects Al-Azhar’s influence. It passed after the Religious Affairs Committee amended it to align with the institution’s views.
The new law categorizes fatwas into:
- Public fatwas: Reserved for Al-Azhar’s Council of Senior Scholars, the Islamic Research Academy, and Dar al-Ifta.
- Private fatwas: Related to personal matters, issued by six designated bodies (three Al-Azhar institutions, Dar al-Ifta, joint committees, and qualified Endowments Ministry imams).
EIPR highlights several concerns:
- The Council of Senior Scholars holds unchecked authority, including over disputes between fatwa bodies.
- Training and licensing are restricted to Al-Azhar-approved institutions.
- The law criminalizes unlicensed fatwa issuance, with penalties including up to 6 months’ imprisonment and fines up to EGP 100,000 (~USD 2,000).
- Media outlets and social platforms are required to publish only approved fatwas, extending state censorship and contradicting Article 71 of the Constitution, which bars imprisonment for publishing offenses.
Despite objections from the Journalists’ Syndicate, Parliament rejected calls to remove prison penalties.
The law violates the principle of civil governance and entrenches religious institutional dominance over public discourse. It also erodes individual and communal rights to religious interpretation, silencing independent scholars, minority groups, and reform voices.
EIPR calls on the President to refuse ratification and return the law for comprehensive debate on its constitutionality, necessity, and social implications.
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Edited translation of this report:
https://manassa.news/news/24134?fbclid=IwY2xjawKQBx1leHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETF2RUFsRFVodlpoQmgzNU1jAR4ZERbZ8xATVyfiiNs554o4H9KblQ7q2jWkIWch1cP1nZtIyrxKmL99lqvE5g_aem_rrOPyATXZn1Yjs5XXZ-BvQ
