"Egypt clamps down on religious Ritual" - Al Monitor

"While many Muslims have come to anticipate the holy month as an opportunity to perform this duty, this year, some of those desiring to participate in these retreats might not get their wish. For the first time ever in Egypt, many new conditions on such activities have been imposed by the Egyptian Ministry of Awqaf in response to the current security and political situation in the country.
On May 29, the Ministry of Awqaf issued a statement   on its official website warning that not following these conditions would render a itikaf assembly an illegal meeting, and subject to legal action:

• An itikaf gathering must be held at a licensed mosque and not a neighborhood prayer meeting.
• A religious retreat must be supervised by a Ministry of Awqaf-authorized imam or preacher.
• A report must be filed by the administrative director of the mosque, indicating that said mosque is suitable for holding such assemblies.
• Participants must be inhabitants of the neighborhoods adjacent to the mosque and known by mosque administrators.
• Names and national identity card numbers must be recorded by the supervising imam at least one week prior to the commencement of the assembly.
• Any disturbances during such assemblies fall under the purview of the Awqaf department to which the mosque belongs.
• The mosque must be authorized to hold these gatherings by the Ministry of Awqaf by submitting an application to the mosque’s corresponding Awqaf department between June 6 and June 13."
  
  Read more