Controversy erupts over prayer at restaurant in Mall of Arabia

A legal expert in Egypt has filed a report accusing three women of forming an extremist group and targeting the economy after a controversy erupted over prayer at a restaurant in Mall of Arabia. The incident began when a woman requested permission to pray within one of the restaurant's branches in Mall of Arabia, situated in 6th of October City.

The branch manager directed her to a designated prayer room within the mall, a short distance away. However, the woman insisted on praying inside the dining area, resulting in a verbal altercation. The controversy then spread online, leading to calls for a boycott of the establishment. In response, Hany Sameh, a legal expert, submitted a report to the Public Prosecutor, requesting that the case be transferred to the Supreme State Security Prosecution for investigation.

The lawsuit asserts that Nada Metwally and two other women allegedly formed an extremist group seeking to perpetrate terrorist activities targeting economic and tourist sites, thereby undermining social harmony. The complainant maintains that his primary issue is not with engaging in prayers as a religious act, but rather with what he perceives as an attempt to enforce religious regulations or authority outside the purview of institutions and laws through online mobilization and boycotts of commercial establishments.

He contends that disseminating defamatory statements on social media platforms and mobilizing collective action to pressure a commercial business into adopting specific practices may constitute intimidation and organized coercion, warranting a formal investigation. These events unfold amidst ongoing debates on social media platforms about the appropriate conduct of religious rituals within public and private establishments, as well as the rights of such venues to enforce specific rules and regulations on their premises.