Controversy erupts over naming of “Shenouda Mosque” in Buhaira Governorate, Egypt

Dubai, United Arab Emirates (CNN) – A state of controversy erupted through social networks in Egypt, because of the “Shenouda Mosque” located in the Buhaira Governorate in the western Delta of Egypt in the north of the country.

After hours of controversy, the Undersecretary of the Egyptian Ministry of Endowments for Da’wah Affairs, Ayman Abu Omar, said that the name of the mosque is due to the name of the estate or the area in which it is located, and where Muslims and Christians live.

Abu Omar added, in a video he posted on his Facebook page, that among the 3 mosques that will be opened in Buhaira Governorate this week, there is “Izbat Shenouda Mosque. Its name is Shenouda Mosque.

Abu Omar indicated that the people of the village insisted that the mosque bear the name of the estate, as an expression of the good relations between its Muslim and Christian residents.

Later, the villagers agreed to change the name of the mosque to “Ebad Al-Rahman,” according to Abu Omar.

Before the endowment official commented on the ongoing controversy, Egyptian businessman Naguib Sawiris had responded to a question from one of his followers, saying: “Engineers are saying the opening of the Shenouda Mosque in Damanhour. Do you think we will see Ahmed’s church one day?”

At that time, Sawiris replied, saying: “We don’t need churches or mosques again… we need hospitals and schools… better.”