Islamists Rely on TV Sheiks to Woo the Masses in EgyptCAIRO—Secular youth used Facebook and Twitter two years ago to help topple President Hosni Mubarak from power, but now Salafi Islamists are gaining sway in Egypt because of TV sheiks like Khaled Abdullah.Mr. Abdullah, a bearded 48-year-old, isn't a real sheik. But he plays one on a popular Egyptian religious satellite station, where he has blasted the secular-leaning opposition as homosexuals and atheists and decried legislation that would ban marital rape.
"Here in Egypt, anyone who has a beard can be called a sheik," said a smiling Mr. Abdullah, whose daily show on the Al Nas network is watched by millions.
What's interesting about this is that this could be Islamism making its last stand in Egypt for a long time. The extreme extent of the religious fervour - if these Salafist groups get their way - could poison the Egyptians against religion permanently. I suppose it depends on how much well-educated people feed into their delusion.
12 May 2013, 3:41 am
