Egyptian justice minister sacked after blasphemous remarks
Egypt’s Justice Minister Ahmed al-Zind has been fired two days after his blasphemous remarks sparked widespread criticism in the North African country.
“Prime Minister Sharif Ismail decided to dismiss justice minister Ahmed al-Zind from his post,” said a brief statement released by the Egyptian premier’s office on Sunday, without giving further details.
The decree came two days after Zind said on Friday that he would jail anyone who breaks the law “even if it's a prophet, God's peace and blessings be upon him,” using a reverence after the word prophet which Muslims use for Prophet Muhammad.
Zind immediately stopped after uttering the remarks in an interview with the private satellite channel Sada al-Baladand and said “I ask for forgiveness from God.”
He added that “wrongdoer, whatever his identity - even judges” would be imprisoned if found guilty.
Angry Egyptians launched the Twitter hashtag “trial for Zind” in the wake of Zind’s remarks.
Moreover, Egypt's highest Islamic authority, al-Azhar, responded in a warning statement, without naming Zind.
“All those involved in public discourse and in the media must respect the name of the Prophet. He should not be subjected to any insult even if it's unintentional,” it said.
Zind further clarified himself and apologized for what he said in a telephone conversation with the CBC television on Saturday, stressing that the remarks were just mere “slip of the tongue.”
“The thing that a Muslim or a non-Muslim is held culpable for is what is done willfully. I ask God Almighty for forgiveness over and over and over again... I know my apology will be accepted,” he said.
This was not the first time the 70-year-old Zind made controversial media statements. Back in January, he endorsed the mass killing of the now-banned Muslim Brotherhood supporters when he said he "would not be satisfied until 10,000 Brotherhood members were killed” for every member of the armed forces and the police who had lost his life in street protests.
The January comments outraged Brotherhood supporters and angered human rights groups, including Human Rights Watch.
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