Vice-chairman of the Salafist Nour Party Yosri Hammad stated on Wednesday that his party will not be joining Friday's planned protest on Tahrir Square demanding the implementation of Islamic Sharia law in Egypt's constitution. "More effort in educating Muslims about the principles of Sharia needs to be exerted so it can be a public demand," Hammad told Al-Ahram Arabic language news website. After the constitution is finished, Hammad continued, a public discussion will be held to convince the people of the necessity of enforcing the law of God. Hammad also added that the Salafist party is currently focusing its energies on the Constituent Assembly rather than participating in protests. Friday's demonstration was called for by several Islamist political groups including the Muslim Brotherhood, Al-Jamaa Al-Islamiya movement and the Salafist Calling. According to a Tuesday statement published by Al-Jamaa Al-Islamiya's political arm, the Building and Development Party, protesters will call for a new article to be included in Egypt's draft national charter stating that Islamic law should constitute "the main source of legislation."
