Archive for Salafi Front

New Salafi party to be announced Tuesday

by admin
December 29th, 2012

Former spokesperson of Salafi-oriented Nour Party Yousry Hammad revealed that the establishment of the new Watan party will be announced on Tuesday at al-Azhar University.

In a note posted on his Facebook page on Saturday, Hammad wrote that at the third meeting of the party's founders it was agreed that Emad Abdel Ghafoor would represent them.

The contact details of those responsible for collecting signatures in different governorates to establish the party will be announced shortly.

Emad Abdel Ghafour, Nour Party head and Assistant to the President, announced his resignation from the party this morning, saying that he is now “in the process of establishing and founding Watan Party.”

Abdel Ghafour described it as “the biggest party combining all spectrums of Islamic and national forces in Egypt.”

About 150 leading members of the Nour Party, representing 23 governorates, have submitted their resignation from the party over the past week.

Hammad said the reason Abdel Ghafour resigned from the Nour Party was “the interventions of some members of the Salafi Front in party affairs.”

He revealed that a number of the party’s founders have been meeting with other Salafi figures to discuss with them the aim of creating the Watan Party.

The new party, Hammad said, is open to all those who will sincerely contribute to the building of this country.

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Morsy’s supporters and opponents to stage protests Tuesday

by admin
December 11th, 2012

Political forces, including the National Salvation Front, will march to the presidential palace from a number of prominent squares and mosques around Cairo Tuesday as part of a "million man" protest.

The demonstrations will demand the cancellation of the constitutional referendum slated 15 December and protest against the new constitutional declaration, which President Mohamed Morsy issued on Saturday.

The marches will head to the palace from locations in Nasr City, Abbasseya and Heliopolis, according to state-run TV’s website Egynews.

Mohamed Awwad, coordinator of the Youth Movement for Justice and Freedom, told Al-Masry Al-Youm that organizers had agreed to stage three. The Popular Current’s march will head from Matareyya, while marches of other parties and movements will head from Nour mosque in Abbasseya and Sa’a Square in Nasr City.

Meanwhile, the Islamist Forces Coalition, which includes Islamist groups and parties, announced in a statement on Monday that they will stage two protests Tuesday supporting constitution and "legitimacy" around the presidential palace. One will be at Rashdan mosque while the other at Raba'a al-Adaweya mosque, both in Nasr City.

Khaled Saeed, spokesperson of the Salafi Front, told the TV satellite channel Al-Jazeera Mubasher Masr that they will stage two protests on Tuesday to support the constitutional declaration and referendum.

Saeed said they will be committed to keeping the protests peaceful and that there will be no clashes with President Mohamed Morsy's opponents.

The Brotherhood-dominated Egyptian Student Union had announced it would participate in a mass demonstration planned for Tuesday to show support for President Mohamed Morsy and the 15 December referendum on the new constitution.

The union plans to march from Al-Rashdan Mosque in Nasr City.

The Salafi Nour Party had also changed its earlier decision and decided to attend the supporting demonstrations.

Clashes erupted over the past week outside the presidential palace between supporters and opponents of Morsy leaving at least seven killed.

Meanwhile, 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 Ministry of Interior had not been able to do its part and secure the Ittihadiya Palace, 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.

Presidential Guards forces have finished erecting a stone barrier at Merghany Street and the Orouoba Tunnel in Helipolis 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 wires, only leaving a few spots for residents of the area to pass

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Salafis to hold ‘Sharia First’ protest Monday at Media Production City

by admin
December 10th, 2012

Multiple Salafi movements have announced mass demonstrations Monday outside Media Production City, under the title of “Sharia First,” to demand the dismissal of talk show hosts they consider “tools for burning the country.”

Supporters of former Salafi presidential candidate Hazem Salah Abu Ismail, the Salafi Front, the Nour Party and the Coalition of Sharia Students issued a joint statement calling for a boycott of certain television channels and newspapers for their policies, which they say are against Islamists.

The statement said it expects millions to join the protests.

The statement singled out Dream TV for its “10 pm” talk show, hosted by Wael al-Ibrashy, and “Dream Morning” with Jehan Mansour; ON TV for its programs “Last Words” with Yousry Fouda and “ON Morning” with Youssef al-Husseiny; CBC for “Here is the Capital” with Lamis al-Hadidy; Orbit for “Cairo Today” with Amr Adib; and Cairo and the People channel for “This is Cairo” with Ibrahim Eissa.

The protesters also plan to boycott the newspaper Al-Sabah, headed by Wael al-Ibrashy; Al-Tahrir, headed by Ibrahim Eissa; and Al-Fagr, headed by Adel Hammouda.

Meanwhile, Salafis have continued their protest outside Media Production City for the third day in a row. They have been joined by additional protesters, who arrived from five governorates in 150 buses and set up tents in the public park.

Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm

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Update: Islamist movements rally outside Media Production City

by admin
December 7th, 2012

The privately-owned satellite channel ONTV Live, the sister channel of ONTV, reported Friday that its staff had been assaulted by Islamist protesters at Media Production City in 6th of October City.

The news anchor of the channel didn’t add any further details on the incident. Islamists accuse satellite channels, including ONTV, of trying to tarnish their image. ONA news agency, also affiliated with ONTV, estimated the number of participants at 400 protesters.

The privately-owned Sada al-Balad news website reported that Salafi Sheikh Hazem Salah Abu Ismail was present among the crowd. It said that supporters of Abu Ismail announced their intention to sit-in before the city until the media is “cleansed.”

Youm7 newspaper published photos of the Central Security Forces cordoning the gates to block the protesters from storming the city.

Sixteen parties and movements, including the Salafi Front, the Construction and Development Party and the Peace and Development Party, called for the demonstrations, while the Muslim Brotherhood and leading Salafi parties did not immediately say whether or not they would take part.

In a joint statement Thursday, organizers said, “We call on the Egyptian masses to be present in huge crowds for a demonstration outside Media Production City to stop the suspicious, agitational role of these channels and to free the will of the people,” citing “the escalating events [that aim] to abort the blessed Egyptian revolution of 25 January.”

Organizers directed protesters to start gathering after Friday prayers in front of Media Production City’s Gate 4.

Abu Ismail said on his Facebook page that “the media has become biased against Islamists.” In his statement, he also said that the protests would happen “far from the opposition crowds to maintain national balance [and] peacefulness.”

The general coordinator of the Hazemoun Campaign, Gamal Saber, added, “We support the rally in front of the Media Production City because of the clear bias we see in media, which belongs to the feloul and which takes an immoral position against Islamists.”

Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
 

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Islamist movements to rally outside Media Production City

by admin
December 7th, 2012

Islamist political forces have called for a protest outside Media Production City in 6 October City Friday, citing the "inciting role" of some channels.

Sixteen parties and movements, including the Salafi Front, the Construction and Development Party and the Peace and Development Party, called for the demonstrations, while the Muslim Brotherhood and leading Salafi parties did not immediately say whether or not they would take part.

In a joint statement, Thursday, organizers said, "We call on the Egyptian masses to be present in huge crowds for a demonstration outside the Media Production City to stop the suspicious agitational role of these channels and to free the will of people," citing "the escalating events [that aims] to abort the blessed Egyptian revolution of 25 January."

Organizers directed protesters to start gathering after Friday prayers in front of Media Production City's Gate 4.

Former presidential hopeful Hazem Salah Abu Ismail also joined the call for protests, saying on his Facebook page tthat "the media has become biased against Islamists." In his statement, he also said that the protests would happen "far from the opposition crowds to maintain national balance [and] peacefulness."

 

The general coordinator of the Hazemoun Campaign, Gamal Saber, added, "We support the rally in front of the Media Production City because of the clear bias we see in media, which belong to the feloul and which take an immoral position against Islamists."
 
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
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Salafi Front to join Friday’s pro-Sharia protest

by admin
November 8th, 2012

The Salafi Front says it will participate in the “Return of Sharia” protest in Tahrir Square planned for this Friday, reversing an earlier statement to the contrary.

Friday’s protest demands a stronger application of Islamic law in the new constitution.

Salafi Front spokesperson Khaled Saeed said that the party objects to the controversial Article 2 in the draft constitution, which says that the “principles” of Sharia will be applied. Other articles contradict Sharia altogether, Saeed claimed.

An article should be added stating that the constitution would not include any articles violating Sharia, he said.

As an example, Saeed cited Article 3, which he alleged violates Sharia and diminishes the freedoms of non-Muslims by ordering them to resort to the rule of law in their own religions. Sharia already stipulates that non-Muslims have the freedom to choose between Islamic law and their own legislation, Saeed said.

The Front is also protesting language in the constitution that bans defaming the prophets, but doesn’t mention defamation of the divine, thereby permitting atheism as well as the defamation of other Quranic figures and Islamic symbols, he claimed.

Several Islamist forces, including the Jama’a al-Islamiya and other Salafi parties, have announced that they would participate in Friday’s protest. The Muslim Brotherhood has declined to participate in the protest.

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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

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West Alexandria AG orders arrest of suspect in Coptic girl’s kidnapping

by admin
November 3rd, 2012

 

Mohammed Abdul Salam, the Attorney General of the West Alexandria Prosecutor's office, ordered the arrest of a bookseller in the Dabaa area of Marsa Matrouh Governorate, alleging that the suspect was behind the kidnapping of a 14-year-old Coptic girl.

The family of the girl, Sarah Ishaq Abdel Malek, filed a report on 20 October accusing the man of abducting and marrying her against her will.

A deputy to acting Pope Bishop Pachomius in Marsa Matrouh had previously accused Salafis of being behind the kidnapping.  A statement from the Salafi Front in turn claimed that the girl had converted to Islam and married a Muslim.

The case has further exacerbated tensions between Coptic Christians, who make up about 10 percent of Egypt’s 83 million people, and Muslims.

Edited translation from MENA

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Salafis, liberals clash near Tahrir during pro-Sharia demonstration

by admin
November 2nd, 2012

Salafi and liberal revolutionary youths scuffled with one another near Tahrir Square on Friday, during a dozens-strong Islamist-led protest to demand the application of Sharia law.

The clashes occurred on adjoining Mohamed Mahmoud Street after liberal youths chanted against President Mohamed Morsy: “Oh Morsy, you spare tire, we will return you to prison” and “They said freedom, they said dignity, but all we have seen is remorse.” The chants angered Salafi youths, who attacked the liberals. Some sheikhs who were participating in the protest eventually intervened and broke up the clashes.

Salafi youths then returned to the square, chanting, “Bread, freedom, Islamic Sharia,” while opposing protesters chanted against them.

جمعة «تطبيق الشريعة» بميدان التحرير

The Salafi Dawah had called for the protest on 25 October, but later postponed it to 29 October as many movements, except for Jama’a al-Islamiya and the Salafi Front, said they would not take part.

The Islamist forces that declined to participate included the Muslim Brotherhood and its Freedom and Justice Party, as well as the Salafi-led Nour and Asala parties.

The protest was further postponed to 2 November due to disagreements over Article 2 of the constitutional draft, which is expected to be completed within days. The article in question concerns the role of Islamic law in Egypt’s legal system.

About 22 Islamist groups announced their participation in the Friday protest, and said they would stage other protests over the week in preparation for a massive protest next Friday to demand the inclusion of articles obliging the application of Sharia in the new constitution.

Secular and liberal forces said the Islamists’ call for demonstrations is an attempt to show off power and pressure the Constituent Assembly to respond to their demands.

The traffic flowed smoothly through Tahrir Square and nearby streets early in the day Friday. Police directed cars through, which were unaffected by the dozens of protesters.

A single stage was set up in front of the Mugamma administrative building, where protesters waved banners demanding the application of Sharia, purging Egypt’s judicial institutions and the dismissal of the head public prosecutor.

جمعة «تطبيق الشريعة» بميدان التحرير

The Islamist protesters raised white flags reading, "There is no god but God; Mohamed is the messenger of God," and raised banners that read, "Islamic Sharia is the main source of legislation and accepts no amendment or referendum" and " An Islamic revolution to apply Sharia."

The Islamist protesters rejected the current wording of Article 2 of the draft constitution. They also demanded that the constitution give Al-Azhar senior scholars the responsibility of interpreting Sharia.

Head of the Cairo Security Directorate Osma al-Sagheer inspected Tahrir Square on Friday morning to ensure the demonstrations would be secure. Those who met Sagheer in the square complained about the government’s decision to close shops at 10 pm.

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Christian girl abduction could cause sectarian crisis, says women’s council head

by admin
November 2nd, 2012

The Salafi Front’s statements about a Christian girl in Matrouh Governorate who allegedly converted to Islam could lead to sectarian strife, the head of the National Council for Women warned on Thursday.

On 30 September, Sarah Ishaq Abdel Malak, 14, disappeared after leaving her school in Dabaa, a city in Matrouh. Her father filed a report at the Matrouh Public Prosecution to investigate, after which one of her school friends came forward to say a local Muslim man could have been behind Abdel Malak’s disappearance, Egypt Independent reported Thursday.

A Salafi Front leader said Monday that Abdel Malak is not a minor, raising speculation that the group knows of her location. On Wednesday, the front released another statement denying any relationship with the girl or her alleged abductor, saying it is only volunteering to defend Abdel Malak’s right to choose any religion she believes in.

Mervat al-Talawy, the council head, told Al-Masry Al-Youm that the council brought the story to the media’s attention after Abdel Malak’s father filed a complaint with the council claiming a young Muslim man — identified by the Association for Victims of Abduction and Forced Disappearance as Mahmoud Abu Zied Abdel Gawwad, 27 — abducted his daughter.

"The girl, who is still a minor, was forced to marry at an early age, in violation of Egyptian law and the international Convention on the Rights of the Child," Talawy said. She added that the girl's young age makes it impossible for her to differentiate between religions, complicating her alleged conversion to Islam.

Talawy said she feared Abdel Malak could become another Kamilia Shehata. In July 2010, Shehata, a Coptic Christian woman from Minya Governorate, disappeared suddenly. Wide scale demonstrations broke out across the country amid rumors that she had converted to Islam but was being detained inside a church. In May 2011, she appeared in a video posted on several Coptic websites denying she had converted to Islam, but had in fact left her house after a conflict with her husband. 

The National Council for Women is a government body responsible for the development of policies for the advancement of Egyptian women, and therefore if we disregard this girl’s case, we will be neglecting our duty, Talawy said.

Talawy insisted that those who violate the law regarding early marriage should be prosecuted.

Talawy said the girl's family is coordinating with the council to pressure the government to return their daughter to their custody. She emphasized that the issue has been brought to the attention of President Mohamed Morsy in a council report.

Hany Helal, secretary general of the Egyptian Coalition for Children’s Rights, denounced the Salafi Front's attack on human rights organizations. He said the front’s statements to the media would lead to sectarian strife.

The girl “is not responsible for her actions” due to her young age, Helal said, accusing the Salafi Front of sexual exploitation for forcing a minor to marry and abducting her from her family.

He called on the Public Prosecution to investigate the claims filed by civil society organizations so that the girl can be returned to her family.

Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm

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