Pressure on Al-Azhar to control Zakat funds
The cooperation protocol signed between the “Long live Egypt” fund and the Egyptian Zakat and Charity House Foundation caused widespread controversy, amid concerns about the fate of funds contained in Zakat House in the event that the fund and state agencies control it, after there was great satisfaction between citizens and those who dealt with the institution. , because they were subject to Sheikh Al-Azhar Ahmed Al-Tayeb.
Control of the “House of Zakat and Charity”
At the beginning of this year, the establishment of the so-called “National Alliance for Civic and Development Action” was announced, which included all major charitable institutions, including the “House of Zakat and Charities” affiliated with the Grand Sheikh Al. -Azhar.
According to a source close to the Board of Directors of the House of Zakat and Charities, “the plan to control the house began with the appointment of the former Minister of Investment and International Cooperation, Sahar Nasr, as the Executive Director of the Foundation, by Al-Tayeb decisions, as a result of pressure from the sovereign authorities in the country. “
The plan to control the house began with the appointment of Sahar Nasr as the executive director of the foundation
According to former government officials, Nasr is close to the presidency and the intelligence service. A source close to the Board of Directors of the House of Zakat said: “Nasr controlled the management of the institution, and caused the termination of the work of a large number of high-ranking officials and advisers in it, at the beginning of her assumption of office. position, including Sheikh Al-Azhar’s adviser on medical affairs, Tariq Salman, who resigned in protest at the way it was run.” However, Sheikh Al-Azhara issued a decree thereafter appointing him as Assistant Secretary-General of the House of Zakat for Treatment and Healing Affairs.
The source confirmed that “although Nasr controls the management of Zakat and the charity house, so far money from the Zakat funds is not spent unless Sheikh Al-Azhara personally signs the cheques.”
According to the official announcement, last Tuesday, the “Long Live Egypt” Fund signed a cooperation protocol with the “House of Zakat and Charities” Foundation for the implementation of a series of sustainable development projects and social protection programs.
The protocol comes after parliament approved, in June last year, the Charitable Foundations Act, which brought charitable trusts under government control, sparking widespread controversy at the time.
According to a source in Sheikh Al-Azhar, the latest step “was not welcomed by the Council of Senior Scholars of Sheikhs,” noting that Sheikh Al-Azhar “has assigned specialized departments to prepare a feasibility study regarding the proposal of one of the government bodies to sign such a protocol.” .
A source told Al-Araby Al-Jadeed that this move “came after a series of decisions and pressures on the sheikhdom to submit its funds to the control of the Long Live Egypt Fund and include them in a system of funds directly managed by the government or the Presidency.”
Pressure on the sheikhdom of Al-Azhar
According to the cooperation protocol between the Fund and the House of Zakat and Charitable Societies, it will contribute to projects for the development of the most needy villages, launch complexes for the provision of state services and services for youth, as well as implement the activities of the “Balhan and Shafa” initiatives to provide food support to those who meet conditions, and the “Store of Joy” initiative for the preparation of girls who will get married.
The source cited examples of the pressures the sheikhdom has been exposed to in recent times, including the appointment of Nasr as the executive director of the Zakat House Foundation.
He said: “One of the parties informed Sheikh Al-Azhar of the necessity of taking the position after leaving the government, given that she enjoys the trust of the state and decision-making circles.” It came from important authorities in the country.”
According to the source, “the attack campaign against Sheikh Al-Azhar earlier, led by media professionals on channels and newspapers owned by state agencies, was not because of his positions related to the rejection of some official approaches to law-making and rulings that contradict Sahih al- Dino, first of all, because there were other issues related to the work of the sector in the sheikhdom, in addition to financial issues, among which were certainly the funds of the House of Zakat and Charities Foundation.
Among the pressures brought to bear on the Grand Sheikh of Al-Azhar was the removal of his legal adviser, Muhammad Abd al-Salam
According to the source, “among the pressures brought to bear on Sheikh Al-Azhar during this period was the dismissal of his legal adviser, Muhammad Abd al-Salam, after his assignment from the Council of State was terminated against the wishes of Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayyib, because enjoyed great confidence on the part of the sheikh.” infinitive phrase.
For his part, the executive director of the Long Live Egypt Fund, Tamer Abdel-Fattah, appreciates what he described as a “strategic partnership” with Zakat and Charity House, stressing that the signed cooperation protocol “will ensure the expansion of the implementation of the Fund’s projects aimed at caring for the socially vulnerable families in the most needy areas, which will be reflected in the improvement of the quality of life in these areas by providing flexible tools for the implementation of social protection and urban development programs.
An Egyptian parliamentarian, who wished to remain unnamed, said: “The government’s current approach is to centralize work with all endowments and donations, whether Islamic or Christian. However, until now state agencies’ plans have controlled church donations and endowments face strong opposition. .« side of the head of the church.
He explained that “the more severe the financial crisis and the greater the cash liquidity crisis for the country, the attention is directed towards charitable and private funds that have large balance sheets, such as endowment funds and the Egyptian Zakat House Foundation.”
