Political Groups in Egypt to Protest Abuhatzeira Pilgrimage

Groups from across the political spectrum in Egypt announced a plan to form human shields to prevent “Zionist” visitors from visiting the tomb of Yaakov Abuhatzeira on Jan. 9-10, the anniversary of his death. Abuhatzeira, a venerated Moroccan rabbi who died in 1880 while on pilgrimage to Israel, is buried in the Egyptian village of Damtu.

The tomb is registered with the Egyptian Ministry of State for Antiquities as a Jewish heritage site. Nevertheless, the Nasserist Trend, the Muslim Brotherhood, the Freedom and Justice Party, and the Mohamed ElBaradei campaign all signed the group statement, claiming that the visit was unpopular, and unacceptable legally and politically.