Date of source: Thursday, April 22, 1999 to Wednesday, April 28, 1999
Egypt’s state theologian, Mufti Nasr Farid Wasel on April 17, denied reports that he had issued a fatwa (religious opinion) saying that it was haram (forbidden) under Islam for actresses and belly dancers to perform the hajj (Muslim pilgrimage).
Date of source: Monday, October 19, 1998
The use of Fatwas (religious decrees) has been exploited to the full: the murder of President Sadat generated a Fatwa, the attack on the Population Conference in 1994 resulted in another Fatwa, the lootings of gold shops was followed by a Fatwa and the list is long.
Date of source: Friday, July 24, 1998
In a meeting with the American ambassador to Egypt, Dr. Nasr Farid Wassel, the Grand Mufti of Egypt, said that there is no religious persecution of Christians by Muslims.