CAIRO: Potential presidential candidate Hazem Salah Abu Ismail said he would not allow drinking alcohol in public places for tourists and would only permit booze in private residences if he is elected as Egypt's next president, he said in television interview with the “90 minutes” program. He also called for an end to the peace treaty with Israel, saying that restarting relations with Iran is a better solution than maintaining ties with the Jewish state. He confirmed that relations with the US would remain strong as long as “it is bulit on mutual gains and interests.” When asked if he would force women to cover their hair, making the hijab mandatory, he said that this is an issue “of the nation and not the president,” but if elected he would embark on an conservative dress campaign and that one of his first duties would be to push the idea through the appropriate channels to force the Islamic dress on all women. Around 12 percent of Egypt's population are Coptic Christian and do not veil. The Islamist nominee also vowed to close down gambling casinos, which are only accessible to foreign visitors and not Egyptians currently, and said he would forbid two-piece bathing suits and if a tourist is walking around wearing one, she would be arrested. The Monday night statements were downplayed by secular activists, who still believe that the polls will lean towards a more moderate candidate. Abu Ismail, who started his public life as a member of the Muslim Brotherhood, split from the group in order to run in the presidential election, vaguely set for by the ruling military council for some time in 2013. Ismail is one of the stronger and popular potential candidates, although he will be running against a former MB member, Abdel Moneim Aboul Foutoh, who also had to quit the group to be able to run. BM
