Saudi Gazette report JEDDAH — The Ministry of Islamic Affairs is closely monitoring the tweets made by mosque imams on Twitter, according to Abdulmohsin Al-Alsheikh, assistant undersecretary for mosque affairs. There are special committees that keep a close watch on what influential mosque imams write on social media websites, Al-Hayat newspaper quoted Al-Alsheikh as saying. “We should follow the Prophet's sayings and traditions with regard to preaching and giving advice and stay clear of things that might cause sedition,” he said. This step has come after some Egyptians and Saudis were involved in a fight two weeks ago after the former criticized Al-Firdous Mosque's imam for condemning Egyptian Defense Minister Abdul Al-Fatah Al-Sisi during the Friday's sermon. Many people expressed their indignation at the imam's behavior on Twitter and called upon all mosque imams to keep politics out of Friday sermons. Others said imams should realize the enormity of Friday sermons and focus on daily matters that touch people's life. They added that they should always use wisdom and choose the right words when they want to talk about anything, politics included. Al-Alsheikh told Al-Hayat that the ministry does not require imams to have a unified Friday sermon. It actually leaves them the option of choosing a right and suitable topic, he said.
