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Culture Minister Saber Arab resigns, citing ongoing violence

Culture Minister Saber Arab submitted his resignation to the Cabinet on Monday in protest of the violence that erupted across the country since the second anniversary of the 25 January revolution, an informed source from the Culture Ministry told Al-Masry Al-Youm.

The same source added that Arab did not go to his office at the Culture Ministry on Monday, but he made sure through his communications that work flows at the ministry.

He also has not cancelled any meetings or events he was previously scheduled to take part in, including meetings with the head of the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, the grand sheikh of Al-Azhar's adviser and Bishop Maximus of Benha, as well as his meetings with 12 ministers at the 44th Cairo International Book Fair today.   

Arab had submitted his resignation twice before. The first time followed his nomination for the State Award in Social Sciences by the Supreme Council of Culture in June 2012, and the second time came after the violent protests that followed President Mohamed Morsy's 22 November constitutional declaration, which also coincided with the opening of the Cairo International Film Festival's 35th session.

Arab said that his position is psychologically exhausting and that he has been wanting to quit his post for some time.

Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm

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