Egypt turns away Indian Shiite pilgrims
CAIRO (AP) — Egyptian officials say they have barred entrance to the country to 52 Shiite pilgrims from India who came to visit historic Shiite Muslim shrines.
The Indian passengers arrived Wednesday with the intention of staying in the country 24 hours to visit Cairo's famous Hussein Mosque, among other sites, before traveling to Iraq. After security officials refused them at the airport, the group left directly for Baghdad.
Shiites sometimes face discrimination in largely Sunni Egypt.
An airport official said that it was at least the fourth time in recent months for a large group of Shiite pilgrims to be refused entry. He spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the press.
In June, four Shiites were brutally killed in a village west of Cairo.
