Egypt says no to Iranian pilgrims before resumption of ties

By: Sultan Ahmed

CAIRO, Egypt: Egypt’s Minister for Tourism has said that his country would not accept any tourist group from Iran save after completion of resumption of political ties between Cairo and Tehran.

The Egyptian government also made condition of resumption of diplomatic relations with Iran before agreeing on welcoming the Iranian pilgrims for visits of holy sites and shrines belonging to holy Prophet (PBUH&HP)’s Ahlul Bayt (PBUT) in different cities of Egypt.

Tehran had severed its diplomatic ties with Cairo in 1979 protesting against Egypt’s signing of a peace agreement with Israel.

Meanwhile, Iranian and Egyptian sources have ruled out possibility of recommencement of diplomatic ties during the current year. The sources added that the two sides are focusing on boosting economic ties.

Egypt is home to:

Al-Hussein mosque in Cairo - it keeps a shrine where the severed holy head of the grandson of prophet Mohammed (PBUH&HP) Al-Imam Al-Hussein (PBUH) is believed to be in entombed while according to some other traditions Imam (PBUH)’s head was placed here.

Shrine of Sayedah Zeinab Bint-e-Ali (PBUH) – some reports say that when she returned Medina, the city of her grandfather Prophet Muhammad (PBUH&HP), from Karbala, Kufa and Syria with other holy ladies of the family and Al-Imam Zeinul Abidin (PBUH), Umayyads made the land narrow for them; therefore, they adopted Egypt for stay. And when she stepped in the land of Egypt, the people here warmly welcomed her. Since that date she is here.

Shrine of 4-year-old Sayedah Sakinah bintul Hussein (PBUH) – she was also with her aunt Sayedah Zeinab (PBUH) when she came to Egypt after the event of Karbala.

Place of Al-Imam Ali bin Al-Hussein Zeinul Abidin (PBUH) – according to reports he accompanied his aunt Sayedah Zeinab (PBUH) in her travel to Egypt. The head of Al-Imam Zeinul Abidin (PBUH)’s son Zaid bin Ali bin Al-Hussein (PBUH) was also placed in this place.

Besides these, there are several other places belonging to the holy family of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH&HP) in Egypt.

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Egypt Ulema flay Najaf Shrine attack as assault on Islam, call for UNESCO role

CAIRO, Egypt: Egyptian religious scholars from Al-Azhar have condemned aggression on the holy shrine of Al-Imam Ali bin Abi Taleb (peace be on him) in the holy city of Najaf and demanded from the government of Egypt to interfere immediately for halt of such attacks and safety of all holy sanctuaries during war times.

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