‘Fears of ‘catastrophic’ return of Islamic fundamentalists in Egypt’
April 2nd, 2011 - 5:15 pm ICT by ANICairo, Apr 2 (ANI): Religious fundamentalists including Abboud al-Zomor, Egypt’s former intelligence officer who has been recently released after serving a jail term for supplying the bullets that had killed the country’s President Anwar el-Sadat, might have voiced in favour of establishing democracy in the country, but political experts fear that such a move could end up being ‘catastrophic’ as they might try to use the power in their favour.
Zomor, the group had carried out some of the bloodiest terrorist attacks across Egypt, has drawn the world’s attention following his release by asking the citizens to end the violent jihad he once led and establish democracy in the country.
“The ballot boxes will decide who will win at the end of the day. There is no longer any need for me to use violence against those who gave us our freedom and allowed us to be part of political life,” The New York Times quoted Zomor, as saying.
Zomor and other Salafis or Islamic fundamentalists, have reportedly expressed opinions about founding political parties and forging alliances with the more mainstream Muslim Brotherhood to maximize the religious vote, the paper said.
Many experts believe that one of the reasons for this is to protect the second amendment of Egypt’s Constitution, which enshrines Shariah, or Islamic law, as the main source of Egyptian law.
The parliament, which will be elected in September will guide the drafting of a new constitution.
Brushing off demands for minority rights in Egypt, Sheik Abdel Moneim el-Shahat, a preacher at Salafi mosque in Alexandria, said: “If the constitution is a liberal one this will be catastrophic. I think next they will tell us that Christians must lead Muslims in the prayers!”
About one month after the fall of the ousted President Hosni Mubarak, Egyptians went to vote on constitutional amendments on March 19. The most surprising thing however, was the participation of the religious organizations that had been criticising the democratic process as a Western, infidel innovation masterminded to undermine God’s laws. (ANI)
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