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Special Dispatch |4969 |September 21, 2012 Egyptian Sunni And Shi'ite Activists Come To Blows In TV Debate

Following are excerpts from a TV show, in which Egyptian Sunni activist Walid Ismail and Egyptian Shi'ite activist Mahmoud Ahmad Mahmoud come to blows. The show aired on Al-Shabab TV, via the Internet, on September 9, 2012. Click here to view this clip on MEMRI TV. Moderator: "Let's just talk about one more thing, since we have only a few minutes left. Let's talk about the citizen and citizenship. Are Egyptian Shi'ites more loyal to Egypt or to Iran? In Lebanon, Hassan Nasrallah said: 'I'm more loyal to Iran than to Lebanon.' Is it the same case with the Shi'ites in Egypt?" Shi'ite activist Mahmoud Ahmad Mahmoud: "Things are much simpler than that. There is this bunch of really stupid people, who are like a woodworm gnawing away at the Egyptian people. I'm talking about the Wahhabis. They are the ones who are responsible for everything – they are the ones who have driven a wedge between Muslims and Copts, and between Muslims and Muslims. They themselves are divided into different sects. "Secondly, I was a Salafi and then I became a Shi'ite. I wasn't born a Shi'ite. My father has a Masters degree in Sunni jurisprudence..." Sunni activist Walid Ismail: "He renounced you..." Mahmoud Ahmad Mahmoud: "You are a liar." Walid Ismail: "He did, and so did your brothers." Mahmoud Ahmad Mahmoud: "You are a liar..." Walid Ismail: "By God, they all renounced you..." Mahmoud Ahmad Mahmoud: "Your wife is contacting Shi'ites, offering to engage them in 'pleasure marriage.'" Walid Ismail: "That's inappropriate..." Mahmoud Ahmad Mahmoud: "Do you want me to provide recordings?" Walid Ismail throws something at Mahmoud Ahmad Mahmoud, who jumps out of his chair Walid Ismail: "Shame on you! That was below the belt! You're being insolent." Moderator: "That's enough, Walid. [To Mahmoud Ahmad Mahmoud:] How dare you mention his wife?! Shame on you!" Mahmoud Ahmad Mahmoud: "I didn't say anything like that." Moderator: "Show some respect! Shame on you!" Mahmoud Ahmad Mahmoud: "I didn't say anything like that." Moderator: "That's it, Walid. I apologize... Dear viewers, let's take a short break. We'll return shortly." [...]