Egypt Announces Terror-Fighting Council


TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Egypt's president has announced the formation of a new body to confront terrorism and extremism that includes the country's top officials.

Wednesday's decree by President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi says the National Council to Confront Terrorism and Extremism will be comprised of 10 Egyptian government ministers, the Grand imam of Al-Azhar, the Pope, Egypt's former Grand Mufti and parliament's speaker. It will be chaired by Sisi.

The council is tasked with drawing up a strategy to confront terrorism and extremism, coordinating with religious institutions and security authorities to promote moderate religious discourse and studying and proposing amendments to terrorism-related legislation, AP reported.

Following Palm Sunday's twin church bombings in April, Sisi ordered the formation of a body to fight terrorism. The church bombings left at least 45 people dead and more than 100 injured.