Egypt sacks justice minister after prophet remark

Egypt's Prime Minister Sharif Ismail on Sunday sacked the justice minister after he said on television that he would arrest even "a prophet", in remarks that sparked outrage in the country.

A handout picture made available by the Egyptian presidency shows President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi , right, shaking hands with the country’s new justice minister, Ahmed al-Zind.

"Prime Minister Sharif Ismail decided to dismiss justice minister Ahmed al-Zind from his post," a statement from the premier's office said, but without giving the reason for the decision. Zind sparked outrage on social media over the weekend and a warning from Cairo-based Sunni Islam learning centre Al-Azhar after an interview he gave to private satellite channel Sada al-Balad on Friday.


Asked about a case involving journalists accused of defaming him and whether he would jail them, Zind said he would imprison anyone. "Even if it's a prophet, God's peace and blessings be upon him," Zind said, using the Islamic saying of reverence spoken by Muslims only when referring to the Prophet Muhammad.

Upon realising what he had said, Zind immediately stopped and said: "I ask for forgiveness from God." He further said any "wrongdoer, whatever his identity - even judges" would be jailed if found guilty.

Angry Egyptians launched the Twitter hashtag "trial for Zind" as they lashed out at the minister.
"At least he should be sacked and then put on trial. This issue is not a joke," said one tweet.
"God will take revenge," said another.

Zind is the second justice minister to be dismissed in less than a year for controversial comments.
In January he angered human rights when he called for the "mass killing" of outlawed Muslim Brotherhood supporters.