'Islamic Mickey Mouse' provokes anger in Egypt
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Hardline Islamists have reacted with fury after a millionaire Egyptian telecoms mogul posted online cartoons of Mickey and Minnie Mouse wearing Islamic clothes.
The pictures, which were published by the high-profile businessman-turned-politician Naguib Sawiris, showed Mickey Mouse with an Islamic-style beard and his fictional wife, Minnie, wearing a face veil. Since being circulated a few days ago they have provoked ire among Egypt's Salafists – followers of a fundamentalist branch of Islam that has become increasingly visible after the uprisings this year.
An online campaign has now been launched calling on Egyptians to boycott Mr Sawiris's mobile-phone company, Mobinil. More than 60,000 people have also signed up to a Facebook group whose creators have threatened to "cut out the tongue" of anyone who insults Islam. According to Mahmoud Fathi, a leading figure in one of the newly formed Salafi political parties, Mr Sawiris is "playing with fire".
Mr Fathi told The Independent: "I'm upset. It's not acceptable to do these things."
A Salafi cleric called Mazen el-Sersawi has also appeared on television to berate Mr Sawiris. "Shame on you," he said. "How can a man like this make fun of Muslims, in a country on the brink of sectarian discord."
Mr Sawiris, who launched the liberal Free Egyptians Party in April, has since posted an apology on Twitter and claimed the cartoons were just a joke.
Mr Sawiris tweeted: "I apologise for those who don't take this as a joke; I just thought it was a funny picture; no disrespect meant. I am sorry."
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments