Theology, terror and politics in egypt: Interplay in the triangle

This article highlights the menace posed by the Salafist movement to the moderate mainstream Islam followed by a majority of Egyptians, many of whom espouse Sufi beliefs. Salafist ideology, behind both the Muslim Brotherhood and the Islamic State/Daesh is fi ghting to take over the country and has carried out many deadly attacks on Sufi mosques and congregations. The Egyptian state under President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi is waging a campaign to purge Egyptian Islam of Salafism and extremist literature and preachers. However, the success of this policy is doubtful due to the resilience and ferocity of the Salafi st fighters and to the unpopularity of the armed repression among the poorer sections of the population, which resent the government's de facto alliance with Israel.