Deputy Al-Azhar University President Mohamed Mahmoud Abu Hashim has threatened resorting to the courts in protest against the decision of Al-Azhar Grand Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayyeb which stated the appointment of Mohamed al-Mahrasawy, currently dean of the Al-Azhar University’s Faculty of Arabic Language, as acting president of the university, succeeding Ahmed Hosni, who was dismissed after describing the Islamic researcher Islam al-Beheiry as an ‘apostate’ (kafir). In remarks on Sunday, Abu Hashim said Tayyeb overlooked his seniority, surpassing him for the appoinment, whereas he is the eldest deputy of the president; adding that law stipulates designating the eldest deputy as the acting president by a presidential decision. He indicated intentions to file an official complaint against Al-Azhar to the court of urgent matters in case his preliminary complaint was ignored. Informed sources said the university faculty members club was mulling the decision of staging a protest in solidarity with Abu Hashim. Meanwhile, other sources from Al-Azhar said it is not true that Tayyeb overlooked Abu Hashim in appointing another acting president; adding that Mahrasawy’s appointment is legal and that Tayyeb used his powers to temporarily appoint an acting president until official measures are taken.

Source: Egypt Independent May 08, 2017 09:11 UTC