Parliamentary election boycott ignites conflict among Islamic movements

Participants in the election process are sinners, according to Muslim Brotherhood supporters

A number of parties and individuals affiliated with the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood called for boycotting the parliamentary elections, claiming it is only a sham. Brotherhood figures have been issuing fatwas that participation is religiously forbidden and campaigning against Al-Nour Party for its decision to participate. On the other hand, the Salafist Call, which is the religious arm of Al-Nour Party, believes that participation is the right of citizens.
A member of Strong Egypt Party's political board, Fekry Nabil, said that the decision to boycott parliamentary elections is a bet on the people's awareness. He added that the people will push to reach real democracy that cannot be limited to a ballot box.
He said, in a statement, that Egyptians seek a democracy built under the transparent laws of the constitution, and freedom of institutions and security apparatus.
Nabil noted that the Strong Egypt Party believes that the current election process is a sham that appears to give legal validity.
Vice-chairman of Al-Wasat Party, Mohamed Abdel Latif, said the party did not participate due to the ongoing political exclusion advocated by the state.
He pointed out that the current political situation does not provide space for others and that the party does not support any candidates running for elections.
Fugitive Islamic scholar, Wagdy Ghoneim, also described participation in parliamentary elections as religiously forbidden. Ghoniem said that a fatwa issued by the so-called "Association of Muslim Scholars" affirmed his position. On a TV show broadcasted in Turkey, he attacked the Salafist Al-Nour Party, considering them traitors.
Leader of Ghad Al-Thawra Party, Ayman Nour, as well as Tarek Al-Zumar, called on Muslim Brotherhood members to boycott parliamentary elections.
In a statement, a number of figures affiliated to the Brotherhood called on Egyptians to boycott parliamentary elections saying: "The people must know that freedom isn't granted, but rather seized, and free people do not get suppressed but they revolt. Rights will not be lost as long as we demand them."
The statement was signed by Ayman Nour, Tharwat Nafea, Hatem Azzam, Seif Abdel Fattah, Tarek Al-Zumar, poet Abdel Rahman Youssef, Amr Darrag, Mohamed Mahsoub and Yehia Hamed.
An association affiliated to the Brotherhood abroad, called "The Muslim Clerics Association Abroad", also issued a fatwa that participating in elections is religiously forbidden.
A statement also claimed that those who take part in elections are sinners, and that Al-Nour Party candidature is false, describing Al-Nour Party as ‘not related to religion'.
On the other hand, Sheikh Sameh Abdel Hamid, a leader in the Salafist movement, said that taking part in the elections is a religious obligation, stressing that participating in elections is a religious political matter that is based on bringing benefits and warding off corruption.
"We must take part in the Egyptian elections and not boycott them. We must choose those are best able to reform the country; because Egypt is in a crossroad and many movements are fighting to have control over it. The upcoming people's assembly has many challenges ahead of it. We must actively participate for the sake of the public interest. Boycotting is giving up on supporting what is right," he added.