Archive for Salafi Dawah

Salafi Dawah: Nour Party remains sole representative

by admin
December 31st, 2012

The Nour Party remains the sole political arm of the Salafi Dawah, a statement by the group comprising leading Salafi scholars said on Monday, urging followers to join and provide financial support to the party which saw a wave of defections by leading figures last week.

“It is unimaginable that one group would provide support to more than one party simultaneously or have two political arms. Nour Party is the political arm of the Salafi Daawa based on the decision by its consultancy council on 30 June 2011," the statement said.

The statement urged followers of the Salafi political current to financially support the party during the upcoming parliamentary elections.

Earlier this month, party chairman Emad Abdel Ghafour announced his resignation and his plans to establish Watan Party, which he said would be the largest gathering of Islamist and nationalist groups. News reports said former presidential runner and ultraconservative Salafi cleric Hazem Salah Abu Ismail would chair the new entity.

Independent daily al-Shorouk said 150 Nour Party officials in 23 governorates resigned following a meeting last Tuesday. The quitting members will announce details for establishing Watan Party in a press conference tomorrow, Tuesday.
 

Tags: , , , , ,
Categories Egypt, Egypt Top Stories
Comments (0)

150 Salafi Nour Party members resign

by admin
December 26th, 2012

One hundred and fifty members of the Salafi Nour Party from 23 governorates submitted their resignation from the party following a meeting on Tuesday.

“We decided to resign from the party, and we wish it success. We will form a new political entity, which will be announced soon,” former party spokesperson Mohamed Nour told state-run news agency MENA.

Nour attributed the resignations to differences with the political views the party has adopted in the recent period.

Party head Emad Abdel Ghafour has not yet resigned, Nour said, and is still considering the situation.

Asked if the withdrawals from the party would mean separation from the Salafi Dawah as well, Nour said that both continuing and resigning members follow Salafi thought, and the differences only concern political views and administration.

Regarding reports that former presidential hopeful Hazem Salah Abu Ismail, who is currently forming his own political party, would be involved with the “new political entity,” Nour said all figures faithful to the new movement’s thought could join, of course including Abu Ismail.  

Nour added that the party welcomes everyone, including non-Salafis, as long as they believe Islamic Sharia should be the basic of governance. He said the country needs politicians who can serve without political conflicts.

Most of the Nour Party figures who quit were members of the now-dissolved People’s Assembly or the Shura Council.

Edited translation from MENA

Tags: , ,
Categories Egypt, Egypt Top Stories
Comments (0)

Nour Party leader to resign Tuesday, forms alliance with Abu Ismail

by admin
December 24th, 2012

A leading figure in the Salafi Dawah group said Monday that Emad Abdel Ghafour, head of the Salafi Nour Party, and the Salafi preacher Hazem Salah Abu Ismail agreed to form a new political alliance.

Sources from the party told Al-Masry Al-Youm Sunday that Abdel Ghafour, spokespeople Yousry Hammad and Mohamed Nour and other party leaders plan to resign Tuesday.

Hisham Abul Nasr, head of the Salafi Dawah branch in Giza, told Al-Masry Al-Youm that the new alliance will be named “Al-Watan,” and will be headed by Abu Ismail with Abdel Ghafour as his first deputy.

Abdel Ghafour and 95 percent of the party youths in greater Cairo are resigning on Tuesday to join the new party, Abul Nasr added.

He said the new alliance is negotiating with all Islamist parties and forces to join and face liberal parties in the upcoming parliamentary elections.

Ayman Elias of Abu Ismail’s campaign said the new party is not responsible for any divisions within the Nour Party. “They were already divided,” he said.

Nour Party Vice President Sayed Mostafa said no member of the party’s supreme committee expressed his wish to replace Abdel Ghafour.

Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
 

Tags: , , , , , ,
Categories Egypt, Egypt Top Stories
Comments (0)

Update: Pro-constitution Islamist rally continues into Friday evening

by admin
December 14th, 2012

Hundreds of protesters gathered in Tahrir Square after Friday prayers for the “No to the Referendum” protest, while thousands of rival Islamist protesters assembled in outside the Rabaa al-Adaweya Mosque in Nasr City to support the constitutional referendum.

In the early evening, pro-constitution demonstrators proclaimed from the stage in front of the mosque that the “Islamic current is not weak,” but rather is strong and can bring retribution to the martyrs of the presidential palace clashes.

That retribution will not take the form of thuggery, but rather will come through maintaining the unity of the country and spreading justice, protesters said.

They chanted: “Oh martyr rest in peace, we will continue the struggle,” “Down with the feloul,” “God is our patron, and they (the opposition) have no patron,” and “God is our objective, and they have no objective.”

Former parliamentary speaker Mohsen Rady addressed the crowd, saying: "We thank everyone who participated in drafting the new Egyptian constitution." He claimed that the opposition seeks neither stability nor development.

"The Egyptian people are aware that the draft constitution is the greatest constitution in Egypt, and even in whole world. It will be the source of legislation for the coming Parliament, which the people will elect very soon," Rady said.

 "Yes to the Sharia, yes to the constitution, and no to the fake opposition,” he continued.

"The battle is now between those who want the revolution to succeed and those who want it to fail, and certain political parties who offer nothing, but merely keep attacking (us) through the media,” Rady said.

Earlier in the day, members of the Muslim Brotherhood, the Salafi Dawah and the Jama’a al-Islamiya had formed a human chain as they demonstrated for a ‘yes’ vote in Saturday’s referendum.

The protesters raised banners that read: "Yes to the constitution," and "Sharia and legitimacy say Morsy is the president of the republic."

The rally blocked traffic in the area.

Meanwhile, at the rival protest in Tahrir Square, protesters chanted, “Oh martyr we swear by your blood, another revolution anew,” and “The people demand the fall of the regime.”

They hung images of the martyrs of the 25 January revolution, and street vendors spread across the square in anticipation of the arrival more protesters.

Cairo and other cities have seen a series of often violent demonstrations over the past three weeks since Morsy assumed sweeping new powers to push through the constitution.

The first round of voting on Saturday will take place in Cairo and other major cities. Official results won't be announced until after the second round, though it is likely that details will emerge to give a good steer on the first-day figures, which are expected to show a strong vote in favor.

Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm

Tags: , , , ,
Categories Egypt, Egypt Top Stories
Comments (0)

Opposition protests in Tahrir, Islamists rally in Nasr City ahead of referendum vote

by admin
December 14th, 2012

Hundreds of protesters gathered in Tahrir Square after Friday prayers for the “No to the Referendum” protest, while thousands of rival Islamist protesters assembled in outside the Rabaa al-Adaweya Mosque in Nasr City to support the constitutional referendum.

In Tahrir Square, protesters chanted, “Oh martyr we swear by your blood, another revolution anew,” and “The people demand the fall of the regime.”

They hung images of the martyrs of the 25 January revolution, and street vendors spread across the square in anticipation of the arrival more protesters.

Secularist forces plan to march to the presidential palace in Heliopolis later in the afternoon.

Meanwhile in Nasr City, members of the Muslim Brotherhood, the Salafi Dawah and the Jama’a al-Islamiya formed a human chain as they demonstrated for a ‘yes’ vote in Saturday’s referendum. The protesters also built a stage in front of the mosque.

The protesters raised banners that read: "Yes to the constitution," and "Sharia and legitimacy say Morsy is the president of the republic."

The rally blocked traffic in the area.

Cairo and other cities have seen a series of often violent demonstrations over the past three weeks since Morsy assumed sweeping new powers to push through the constitution.

The first round of voting on Saturday will take place in Cairo and other major cities. Official results won't be announced until after the second round, though it is likely that details will emerge to give a good steer on the first-day figures, which are expected to show a strong vote in favor.

Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm

Tags: , , , , , ,
Categories Egypt, Egypt Top Stories
Comments (0)

Update: Rival rallies over constitutional referendum

by admin
December 11th, 2012

Protesters opposed to the constitutional referendum began dismantling one of the recently-erected walls blocking the streets surrounding the presidential palace Tuesday evening, Al Jazeera reported.

Presidential Guards forces had erected a stone barrier at Merghany Street and the Orouba Tunnel in Heliopolis to block entrances to the presidential palace, according to state-run MENA news agency. The forces, assisted by Central Security, also installed metal barricades and barbed wire, only leaving a few spots for residents of the area to pass.

Political forces, including the National Salvation Front, are marching to the presidential palace from a number of prominent squares and mosques around Cairo as part of a mass demonstration demanding the cancellation of the constitutional referendum slated 15 December and the new constitutional declaration.

A march left Nour Mosque in Abbasseya toward the presidential palace Tuesday afternoon, with participants chanting “Down with Morsy Mubarak” and “Morsy loves Mama America,” as well as chants referring to Salah Gaber, the young activist known as Jika killed during the protests commemorating the Mohamed Mahmoud Street clashes in 2011.

A row of eight Al-Azhar sheikhs holding a banner reading, “Yes to Sharia, no to the constitution,” marched toward the beginning of the demonstration.

Marches headed to the palace from locations in Nasr City, Abbasseya and Heliopolis, according to state-run TV’s website.

Mohamed Awwad, coordinator of the Youth Movement for Justice and Freedom, told Al-Masry Al-Youm that organizers had agreed to stage three marches.

Meanwhile, thousands of protesters supporting President Mohamed Morsy gathered before Raba’a al-Adaweya and Al-Rashdan mosques in Nasr City to take part in the demonstrations entitled “‘Yes’ for Legitimacy” called for by Islamist forces.  

Jama’a al-Islamiya, the Salafi Dawah and the Muslim Brotherhood took part in the protests, and there were a large number of women present, according to state television and Al Jazeera Mubasher Misr.

Demonstrators held banners supporting the draft constitution, which would be up for referendum on Saturday, and distributed fliers about the document’s controversial articles.

The Islamist Forces Coalition, which includes Islamist groups and parties, announced in a statement on Monday that they would stage two protests Tuesday supporting constitution and “legitimacy” around the presidential palace.

Khaled Saeed, spokesperson of the Salafi Front, told Al Jazeera Mubasher Misr that protesters will be committed to keeping the demonstrations peaceful and avoiding clashes with opposition demonstrators.

Mohamed Refaa al-Tahtawi, chief of the presidential staff, warned against any attempts to storm the presidential palace, describing such actions as “crimes that should be confronted.”

“The Interior Ministry was not able to do its part to secure the Ettehadiya Palace [last Wednesday], which prompted the president’s supporters to play that role,” he said in an interview with MBC Egypt on Monday. He stressed that those defending the palace were peaceful demonstrators and did not start the clashes with opponents.

Tags: , , ,
Categories Egypt, Egypt Top Stories
Comments (0)

Nour Party decides not to take part in Tuesday protests

by admin
December 10th, 2012

Galal Morra, secretary general of the Salafi Nour Party, said the party has so far decided not to take part in a protest to be staged by Islamist powers Tuesday.

He added that the party is busy preparing for a campaign to persuade voters to vote in favor of the new constitution, scheduled to be put to a nationwide referendum Saturday.

An Islamist powers coalition, which brings together the Muslim Brotherhood, the Salafi Dawah and other groups, called for two protests Tuesday in front of Rabea al-Adaweya and Aal Rashdan mosques in Nasr City for their members to voice their support for Mohamed Morsy as the legitimate president.

The party will intensify its campaigns to raise awareness about the new constitution and encourage citizens to vote “yes” in the referendum, in order to continue building state institutions and end the transitional period, Morra said.

Edited translation from MENA

Tags: , ,
Categories Egypt, Egypt Top Stories
Comments (0)

Islamist coalition: all options are open to “maintain legitimacy”

by admin
December 8th, 2012

The Islamic Forces Coalition warned on Saturday of what it described as “manipulators of the will of the people” who were attempting to coup against legitimacy.

The coalition, comprised of 13 parties and Islamist movements, including the Muslim Brotherhood and Salafi Dawah, released a joint statement saying, “All options are open before the Islamic forces to maintain legitimacy and elected state institutions.”

 “Representatives of the Islamic Current in Egypt will not allow, under any pretext or under any name, the return and [resurrection] of the former corrupt regime,” the statement said. “Millions who have gathered in this peaceful revolution will not stand idly by, while seeing the gains of their revolution taken away.”

The statement added that the coalition “supports all activities aiming to maintain legitimacy,” while also condemning what it described as the “paid corrupt media.”

In the statement, the coalition emphasized the need for the constitution referendum to be conducted on time, and emphasized the need for political and economic stability.

Other groups signing on to the statement, aside from the Muslim Brotherhood and Salafi Dawah, included the Jurisprudence Commission for Rights and Reform, Jama'a al-Islamiya, the Association of Sunni Scholars, the Preachers Syndicate, the Revolution Board of Trustees, the Salafi Front, the Nour Party, the Freedom and Justice Party, the Construction and Development Party, the Asala Party and the Reform and Development Party. 

Edited translation from MENA

Tags: , , , ,
Categories Egypt, Egypt Top Stories
Comments (0)

Prominent Islamist groups to skip Sharia demonstration

by admin
November 7th, 2012

More Islamist groups on Wednesday rejected Friday’s planned demonstration demanding the application of Islamic Sharia in the new constitution.

Article 2 of the 1971 constitution, which remains unchanged in the draft of the new constitution issued in October, stipulates that the principles of Sharia are the main source of legislation. The article has been the subject of heated debate over the drafting process, with Salafis wanting the word “principles” omitted. Secular groups and the Brotherhood wish to keep the original phrasing.

The Salafi Dawah, which originally called for the protest, has announced that it would not take part in the demonstration. The group had called for the protest on 25 October, but on 29 October they announced its postponement to 9 November as many movements said they would not take part.  

Jama’a al-Islamiya and the Salafi Front, among others, staged protests last Friday for the same purpose. According to official news reports, about 22 Islamist groups participated in the Friday protest.

In a statement on Tuesday, the Salafi Dawah said Sharia is the major reference for all Islamist movements, particularly the Salafi doctrine, and that the climate of freedom that Egypt has been blessed with since the 25 January revolution proved that the majority Egyptians demand its application.

The movement also called on other Islamist forces not to claim their actions, including the Salafi movement, without coordinating with it first. The statement added that the movement is organizing rallies in defence of Sharia and in response to suspicions raised around it.

Muslim Brotherhood spokesperson Mahmoud Ghozlan said the group would not take part on Friday, adding that an agreement was reached in the Constituent Assembly to assign Al-Azhar scholars to add text in the constitution that explains the meaning of the Sharia principles. “This should suffice,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Jurisprudence Commission for Rights and Reform, which includes members of the Al-Azhar, Salafi movements and the Muslim Brotherhood, asked Islamist forces and the Salafis to postpone the demonstration until the final draft of the constitution is issued. It also called for deleting the word “principles” from the article so as to avoid controversy over it.

Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm

Tags: , , , , ,
Categories Egypt, Egypt Top Stories
Comments (0)

Constitution authors lean toward restricting gender equality, religious freedom

by admin
November 7th, 2012

Political groups represented in the Constituent Assembly have tentatively agreed on four controversial articles in the draft constitution, an Islamist assembly member said Wednesday.

The four articles in question involve gender equality, children's rights, forced labor and freedom of belief. 

in question are Article 68 on gender equality, Article 67 on children's rights, Article 71 on forced labor, and an article on freedom of belief.

Farid al-Ismail, an assembly member and an official of the Muslim Brotherhood’s Freedom and Justice Party, said members agree in principle on rewording Article 71, which states, "Slavery, forced labor, the violation of the rights of women and children, as well as the sex trade shall be prohibited and punishable by the law.” It is expected to be changed to add the prohibition of all forms of exploitation.

Ismail told Al-Masry Al-Youm that representatives of political forces agreed, during their meeting on Tuesday, to maintain the children's rights article in its current form.

The agreement also involves restricting freedom of belief and the right to exercise religious rituals and build places of worship to followers of divine religions, namely Islam, Christianity and Judaism.

He noted that those articles will be submitted to the wording committee before being put up for a vote in the General Assembly.

Mohamed Saad Gawish, representative of the Salafi Dawah, said the freedom of religion text was changed from a version granting unrestricted freedom to all religions, not only the divine religions.

He also said the group agreed with representatives of the Salafi Nour Party to either cancel articles on gender equality or maintain them with a requirement of conformity to Islamic law.

Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
 

Tags: , , , ,
Categories Egypt, Egypt Top Stories
Comments (0)
Next Page »