Is the Salafist-Muslim Brotherhood honeymoon over? On Saturday the Salafist Front unveiled its political wing, the People's Party, and called for a mass demonstration on 2 November to demand the application of Islamic law and denounce the new constitution that has so far appeared only in draft form, reports Amani Maged. Like many political forces, the Salafist Front accuses the Muslim Brotherhood and its political arm, the Freedom and Justice Party (FJP), of dominating the process of drafting the new constitution. The Salafist Front is headed by leading Islamist and Salafist figures and consists of several likeminded blocs. It is not a political party or distinct Salafist society or organisation, lacking an emir to whom members declare allegiance. It does not require that member groups agree on everything. Rather, the constituents of the front adhere to a certain set of objectives and principles while otherwise retaining their independence. The stated purpose of the front is to expand the scope of the application of Islamic Sharia in Egyptian society, to oppose laws it regards as contradictory to Islamic law, and to push for the promulgation of laws it views as consistent with Sharia. It has also set itself the task of defending the legitimate rights of Muslims, in general, and Islamists, in particular, through all available legal, media and grassroots channels. The front says it seeks to develop an innovative Salafist discourse that will preserve the fixed principles of its ideology while taking on board the realities of life in Egypt today. It is keen to present itself to the public as not being aloof from society but sharing in the pains and aspirations of the people. It says it will work to counter media attacks against Islamists and Salafis or, as spokesmen for the front have put it, to block attempts to obstruct "the path and law of God". Towards this end it will fight attempts by secularists to exploit certain types of Salafist rhetoric, which the front acknowledges as flawed, and will counter "incorrect views that have gained acceptance over the past decades". Another stated purpose of the front is to revive the cause of the Islamic nation and to promote a concept of a single Islamic nation that will transcend partisan insularity. The Salafist Front believes one way to achieve its objectives is to organise peaceful demonstrations and strikes to oppose unacceptable laws, advocate a cause or demand the release of prisoners as long as they are Muslim and have been "wrongfully" detained. It says it will also use Friday sermons and lessons in mosques delivered by preachers from the front to promote its agenda. The People's Party, meanwhile, will engage in all political processes. The party is distinct from the Salafist Front: many members of the Front refuse to become members of the party because they disapprove of politics, and involvement in politics, in principle. The front insists that the People's Party is a separate entity, a stark contrast to the relationship between the Muslim Brotherhood and its political wing, the FJP. The new party's leaders, however, have stated they will adhere to the ideas and outlook of the front and consultations will continue between the two. Significantly, some Salafist Front leaders will also be in the party leadership. The party says it will press for social justice and champion the rights of workers and farmers. Party spokesmen claim the social justice agenda has been "hijacked by leftists who have provided it with no real support". They add that the party will take part in demonstrations of workers and peasants and work to advance their legal rights. While the party may be viewed askance by Salafis averse to engaging in politics and approved by others who believe that political involvement is acceptable if it observes certain restrictions in Islamic Law, the Salafist Front sees itself as above such arguments. While one of its tasks will be to mobilise participants to take part in mass rallies the front has no political goals of its own, say its spokesmen. Its leaders include Khaled Said, Ashraf Kamal and Rifaai Sorour, and both Hazem Abu Ismail and Fawzi Al-Said have been linked with the front: it should not, however, be confused with the Islamic Law Organisation for Rights and Reform. The latter, as its name suggests, is more theologically focussed and consists of religious scholars from across the Islamist spectrum. Observers of the Islamist movement believe there are significant differences between Salafis and Jihadists in terms of ideology, methodology and approaches to political involvement. The Salafist Front's new party will join the current opposition. Some of their leaders have denounced President Mohamed Morsi's letter to his Israeli counterpart and the references it contained about the affection between Egypt and Israel. They also oppose borrowing from the IMF. They object to loans in principle as a form of usury prohibited by Islam and say that borrowing from the IMF will deepen Egypt's dependency on the West and further impoverish the Egyptian people. Since being made public last week the draft constitution has been the subject of vehement criticism from the Salafist Front. The demonstration scheduled for 2 November will protest against what it describes as the weakening role of Islamic law in the new constitution. They are calling on all Muslims to turn out to the "million-man march" against the "secularist constitution" and support "establishing the rules of Islamic law in the new constitution". Salafis are opposed to the current wording of Article 2, which states that the "principles of Islamic law" are the main source of legislation. Some go further and object to the principle of democratic majority rule, which they hold violates Sharia. Observers predict a large Salafist turnout for the demonstration which Salafi leaders say will be on the scale of "Friday of Identity", the demonstration of 29 July which was quickly dubbed "Kandahar Friday". Some commentators predict that the demonstration will precipitate an open clash between Salafist forces and the Muslim Brotherhood, while others believe that while tensions may surface leaders from both sides will move quickly to patch up their differences.
