After rumors in various media outlets about a government plan to displace residents of North Sinai to make way for army operations against militants there, Parliament Speaker Ali Abdul Aal denied the claims. In an emergency parliamentary session, Abdul Al said that these rumors are “not correct,” according to state-run newspaper of Akhabr Al-Youm. He further noted that the residents of the Sinai Peninsula are a fundamental part of Egypt and that they are co-operating with army and police forces to achieve peace and stability there. Despite no claim of responsibility has been announced, residents say they had received threats from the Islamic State-affiliated “Sinai Province” group because the mosque was attended by followers of Sufi Islam. Since 2013, state security forces have been engaged in violent clashes with the “Sinai Province”, previously known as Ansar Beit Al-Maqdis.

Source: Egypt Independent November 28, 2017 14:15 UTC