Muslim preacher calls for banning Iranian tourism

Muslim preacher Rami Issa called for suspending the Iranian tourism, warning of the spread of a "Shiaa tide" in Egypt. He made the remark during a symposium organized by Egypt's Islamist group Ansar al-Sunnah al-Muhammadiyah Society, who is currently visiting Aswan. Egypt is the biggest Islamic and Arab country in the region and the one which preserved the Sunni approach throughout the Islamic history, he said. He, meanwhile, warned of the spread of Shiism in Egypt. There has been increased criticism by many Egyptians, specifically by Salafists groups, regarding the return of diplomatic ties between Egypt and Iran, with fears expressed of the rising influence of the Shiite branch of Islam in the country. Mahmoud Ahmedinejad s historic February visit to Egypt the first visit of an Iranian leader to the country since the 1970s was met with severe criticism from Salafist groups.