The minister of justice in Egypt has apologized for apparently saying that he would jail the prophet Mohammed. Ahmed el-Zend made the controversial remarks last week in an interview on El-Balad, and Egyptian broadcaster.
El-Zend is no stranger to controversy. In January, he reportedly stated that 400,000 members of the Muslim Brotherhood should be put to death in revenge for the killing of Egyptian police officers and army personnel.
He also once reportedly told Egyptian news network Rassd that he would ensure former president Mohamed Morsi was executed.
In last week’s interview (see above), he was discussing the imprisonment in the country when the interviewer asked him if it was even okay to jail journalists. He responded by saying even the prophet could be jailed.
Social media users expressed their fury at his comments, forcing him to make a number of apologies over Twitter.
#حاكموا_الزند_الا_رسول_الله pic.twitter.com/ZAOAHIp5ld
— الأفندي (@afande91) March 13, 2016
The relationship between Egyptian justice and the prophets has been bad for ages. There was a prophet called Joseph (Yusuf) who got 7 years in jail for sexual harassment.
وزير باكستان قتله حارسه عندما سمعه ينوي محاوله أخراج متطاوله وحارس الزند سمع ولم يفعلها لأنه انقلاب الكنيسه #حاكموا_الزند_الا_رسول_الله
— Talaat (@abomhmmd64) March 13, 2016
A minister in Pakistan was killed by his bodyguard when he heard he was trying to release a blasphemer, but el-Zend’s bodyguard won’t do anything because the entire coup was organized by the Christian church.
#حاكموا_الزند_الا_رسول_الله
— فصبر جميل. (@reemahmed57) March 13, 2016
اعدموه رميا بالرصاص
Execute him by firing squad
ورب الكعبة لن نكتفي بإقالتك ولا عزلك من القضاء يا فاجر
— بحب الإخوان في حاجة (@Sakr62Y) March 13, 2016
#حاكموا_الزند_الا_رسول_الله
I swear on the Kaaba that your termination will not be enough, you sinner
His apology:
أستغفر الله العظيم و أتوب إليه.. ما كان مقصدي هذا مطلقاً و أنا أستنكر ما قلته و ما كان ينبغى أن أقوله في هذا الحوار امبارح. #أحمد_الزند
— احمد الزند (@Ahmed_AlZend) March 13, 2016
I repent to God for what I said, I didn't mean it at all and I shouldn't have said that
