The Islamic Winter rolls on.
(Al-Masry Al-Youm) — An Islamic preacher on Sunday called for the formation of a ministry to implement the teachings of Islam in schools, hospitals and in the street, similar to religious police in other countries.
About a week ago, a group of Salafis on Facebook formed a group calling for a committee for the promotion of virtue and prevention of vice. The group appears to no longer exist.
During an appearance on Al-Hayat satellite channel, Sheikh Youssef al-Badry supported the idea, saying, “The promotion of virtue and prevention of vice is the job of prophets.”
He said that those who do so are “praised by God and those who do not are cursed.”
Badry said he was imprisoned for one year under former President Anwar Sadat after returning from Saudi Arabia because he secretly formed such a committee.
Badry said he submitted a proposal to the government to establish the ministry. He also said he discussed the formation of a group for the promotion of virtue and the prevention of vice with ousted President Hosni Mubarak and secured his support.