CAIRO, June 20 (Aswat Masriya) - Egypt's Religious Endowments Minister has said that Friday will witness a close monitoring of the noon prayer sermons at mosques to put into effect a law tightening control on these sermons.

There will be no leniency with violators, said Minister Mohamed Mokhtar Gomaa.

Former President Adli Mansour had issued a decree regulating the sermons given by preachers at mosques and limiting it only to preachers appointed by the endowments ministry and Azhar clerics authorised to preach.

Gomaa has ordered special committees to monitor today's sermons and report any violations that take place, a statement on the ministry's website said.

Last Friday, the ministry had begun its campaign to put the new decree into effect.

According to the decree, "Only specialists appointed at the Endowments Ministry and Azhar preachers are allowed to preach and give sermons at mosques and other similar venues."