FJP Leader Denies it Will Force Islamic Law in Egypt

FJP Leader Denies it Will Force Islamic Law in Egypt

Discussing the newly-formed MB’s Freedom and Justice Party’s (FJP) ideology of using Islam as its basis, Dr. Mohamed Morsy spoke in an interview to clarify its stance.

 
The FJP chairman stressed that the group is hoping for a diverse parliament after elections in September and is not seeking to impose Islamic law on Egyptians, nor will it issue religious rules in individual cases. However, he maintained that Islamic law can have a place in a civil state in Egypt and would in fact guarantee the rights of all people, and their religious and ideological differences
. He denied allegations that the MB would sideline women and Copts, asserting that 93 of the FJP co-founders are in fact Copts, and the deputy chairman, Rafiq Habib, is a highly respected Coptic intellectual.


Emphasizing the necessity of democracy, Morsy highlighted that the FJP encourages dialogue, not monologue, asserting that the MB does not seek to control parliament but rather, it hopes for a parliament where different political forces are represented.
Morsy confirmed that the MB will not field any of its members in the upcoming presidential elections, nor will it support any member planning to nominate, even if he is running as an independent.


Discussing Egypt’s economy, Morsy acknowledged that tourism contributed much to Egypt’s national income, and that any decision concerning the banning of alcohol would be up to the parliament to decide, not the Brotherhood. After all, he said the Egyptian constitution is not the constitution of the Brotherhood, but of the Egyptian people, based on the principles of Islamic law.