Sunni Islam's highest authority has been given the power by Egypt to seize items it deems violate the religion, a rights group said Wednesday.
Justice Minister Faruq Seif al-Nasr granted al-Azhar the power to confiscate publications, videotapes and other materials which it believes violate Islamic principles, values and morals, the Egyptian Organization for Human Rights said.
The rights group slammed the decision, taken on Tuesday, saying it would lead to violations of freedoms, including of thought and expression, which are enshrined in the constitution.
"The decision to grant al-Azhar the right to confiscate publications comes in addition to a long series of legal and administrative restrictions impeding freedom of opinion and expression in Egypt," the organization said.
It expressed fear the religious establishment might use its new powers to suppress free thought as well as literary and artistic works.