Crisis in Tahrir

Egypt’s presidential hopeful Abu Ismail says Islam gives no freedom

| 11 February 2012 | Comments (7)

Hazem Abu Ismail

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: , , ,

Section: Egypt, Latest News, Religion

Egypt in Crisis
Religion in Focus

  • Pingback: February 13, 2012 | SUSTG

  • Amazoncard

    All his words here are taken out of context. you will all know when he will rule Egypt. He is not only a hope for us Egyptian Muslims he is the hope of All Egyptians including Liberals and christians

  • Pingback: News – Saudi Arabia – 2012-02-13 | ArabiaLink

  • Pingback: News – 2012.02.13 | SUSRISbiz

  • Tlmoetl

    This guy is such an idiot. It is important that his views are presented and rejected in elections so that his followers know where they stand.  So long as they are not allowed to join society and free elections they will keep thinking they are the voice of the majority and are oppressed.  Now they can spew their dribble and watch the people say ‘thanx but no thanx’.

    Of course the enemies of Islam will use his quotes as representative of the religion and its followers.  We will deal with them later.

  • Pingback: TRUTH TELLING EGYPTIAN PRESIDENTIAL HOPEFUL: ISLAM ENSLAVES……. |

  • Mag

    this kind of man and his thinking is a worry for Muslims first, their are many simple obvios answers to his claim.

    one is that actions are free (mubah) unless specifically restricted or obligated. 
    another is that their is no compulsion in religion.
    and another is that while the veil is part of the faith, their is no Islamic judicial authority concerning it.