Hardline Islamist campaign against Egyptian Sufi shrines focus fears
7th April 2011
Wielding crowbars and sledgehammers, two dozen Islamists arrived at the Sidi Abdel Rahman shrine in the middle of the night aiming to smash it to pieces. Word spread quickly through the narrow, dirt roads of the poor Egyptian town of Qalyoub. Within minutes, the group were surrounded and attacked by residents who rallied to defend the site revered by their families for generations.
“They say the shrine is haram (something forbidden in Islam), but what they are doing is haram,” said Hussein Ahmed, 58, describing the shrine attackers as Sunni fanatics, at least two of whom witnesses said were then badly beaten.
When there aren’t any Jews or Americans handy, Muslims will cheerfully beat up each other. That’s some fine Religion o’ Peace™ you got there, Mohammed.