CAIRO: Egypt's firebrand and controversial ultra-conservative presidential hopeful Hazem Saleh Abu Ismail said in a recent interview that Islam gives no guarantees of personal freedom. “If you claim that Allah considers it your personal freedom, show me your reference? Nobody has ever said that – except for people have no understanding of Sharia,” Ismail said in comments published by ibtimes.com. “If you join (military), then you are obliged to wear their uniform, to attend their classes, to attend the training with them and to obey their leader,” Ismail said, comparing military law to Sharia, or Islamic law. He continued to say that if elected president, he would force all women in the country to veil. Abu Ismail continued to say that if a woman wants to abandon the veil, she should “change her creed.” Last year, he told television host Reem Maguid that she should veil and stop wearing make-up during a televised interview on ONTV. Egypt's Coptic Christian population, which accounts for some 10 percent of Egypt's 80 million people, has become increasingly worried over Abu Ismail's public statements. “It definitely worries me because it sounds a lot like Iran, Afghanistan and Saudi Arabia in what he wants for Christians,” 33-year-old mother of two Shereen told Bikyamasr.com recently. “You see, this is the difficulty; this is Islam. Does she want to be a Muslim and not obey God's rules? Let them (women) say so; that's all I ask; let them be honorable and just speak up.” BM ShortURL: http://goo.gl/4AcnB Tags: Abu Ismail, Freedom, Islam, Justice Section: Egypt, Latest News, Religion
