The Cairo Court of Urgent Matters ordered on Monday the court's lack of jurisdiction in the lawsuit demanding banning of the Salafist Al-Nour Party from running for the upcoming parliamentary elections. Naguib Gabrial, the lawyer who filed the lawsuit accusing the party of using religious discourse in their rhetoric, said that he will appeal against the ruling. He demands that the party be banned as it contradicts the constitution. Gabrial also accused the party's leaders of aiding the now outlawed Muslim Brotherhood group. However, Talaat Marzouk, Member of the High Committee of Al-Nour Party said that the court's ruling proves the party's clear and legal position. The party, a strong backer of the current regime, remains untouched as it prepares for the country's upcoming elections at the end of 2014, amid a government crackdown on Islamist parties. A statement was published last June by the party clarifying its stance and legal situation, arguing that the Political Parties Affairs Committee approved the party and its activities. Last August the Muslim Brotherhood's political wing, the Freedom and Justice Party (FJP) was banned and had all its assets confiscated. Also the Alexandria Urgent Matters Court is looking into a lawsuit filed by Tarek Mahmoud, legal advisor for the Popular Front against the "Brotherhoodisation" of Egypt, calling for the dissolution of all political parties founded on a religious basis. Lately, two Islamist parties, Al-Wasat and Al-Watan, withdrew from the Anti-Coup Alliance (ACA). Both parties denied taking part in the upcoming elections but intend to build a more diverse and wide umbrella to ensure national reconciliation and a successful transition to end all disputes in the political scene. The upcoming parliamentary elections are the third pillar of the roadmap declared by the interim government after the ouster of president Mohamed Morsi in July 2013. President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi told Daily New Egypt that "the election of a new legislature – will follow in the very near future."
