WATCH: Egypt cleric promotes 5G coronavirus conspiracy theory on television
WATCH: Egypt cleric promotes 5G coronavirus conspiracy theory on television
During a television appearance, Egypt's former grand mufti Ali Gomaa advanced a debunked conspiracy theory linking 5G technology to the coronavirus pandemic.
1 min read
Ali Gomaa is former Egyptian grand mufti and staunch supporter of Sisi's government [Getty]
A prominent Egyptian cleric has promoted a coronavirus conspiracy theory on television on Friday, prompting ridicule on social media.
The false claim, which attributes the coronavirus pandemic to 5G technology, has been continuously debunked by experts.
The 5G conspiracy theory has been so widely shared that the World Health Organisation published a press release clarifying: "To date, and after much research performed, no adverse health effect has been causally linked with exposure to wireless technologies."
This did not deter Ali Gomaa, former Egyptian grand mufti and staunch supporter of President Abdelfattah Al-Sisi's government, from advancing the claim.
During his appearance, Gomaa claimed 100,000 satellites were launched to orbit around the earth and transmit 5G, leading to an imbalance in the electromagnetic field, which in turn spread Covid-19.
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Several internet users said Gomaa also claimed the 1918 Spanish flu was caused by electricity in the same broadcast.
"And the microwave is behind cancer," one user sarcastically tweeted.
Egypt continues to grapple with its novel coronavirus outbreak, recording 1,699 cases and 118 deaths as of Friday.
Authorities closed a hospital on Thursday after 21 positive cases of coronavirus were discovered among staff.
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