Ministry calls on presidential candidates not to campaign in mosques
MENA Mon, 14/05/2012 - 19:24
http://www.egyptindependent.com/news/ministry-calls-presidential-candidates-not-campaign-mosques

Minister of Religious Endowments Mohamed al-Qousy has appealed to all
presidential candidates not to violate the sanctity of mosques in their
campaigning.

“Mosques are houses of God and edifices of worship that should not be
involved in politics,” he said in a statement on Monday, adding that he gave
strict instructions to preachers to remain impartial and prevent anyone from
using their pulpits for propaganda, and warning against violating these
instructions.

Earlier on Monday the liberal Free Egyptians Party has warned against what
it described as the “dire consequences” of using mosques to campaign for
presidential candidates.

The party said in a statement on its website that preachers in mosques have
been blatantly calling on people to elect a candidate who would apply
Islamic law.

The party held the Religious Endowments Ministry responsible for ensuring
mosques’ commitments to earlier directives by the ministry, Al-Azhar and Dar
al-Ifta that ban political manipulation in places of worship.

Egypt’s first presidential poll since the ouster of former President Hosni
Mubarak is slated for 23 and 24 May.

The final list of 13 candidates includes three Islamists: Muslim Brotherhood
candidate Mohamed Morsy, former Brotherhood leader Abdel Moneim Abouel
Fotouh and Islamic thinker Mohamed Selim al-Awa.

Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm