Presidential candidate 'Abd al-Mun'im Abū al-Futūh said he is counting on support from salafists, who he said are greater in number than the Muslim Brotherhood (MB).
“Salafists have been preaching in the mosques for 30 years under Mubārak without being persecuted like the Muslim Brotherhood,” he said.
The potential alliance of Futūh with salafists forces seems somewhat awkward, considering that the presidential candidate is considered to be liberal by the standards of the MB, of which he is a long-time member.
Futūh's relatively liberal views conflict with those of the salafists on many points, such as the position of women and Christians in society.
He believes that Copts need a state of law, adding that he supports a unified law for building houses of worship, and holding any official accountable who discriminates against Copts. Meaning that if there is an opening position for a college dean, they cannot choose Muhammad over Jirjis because the latter is a Muslim.
[Reviewer's Note: News story was also mentioned in al-Yawm al-Sābi', May 26, 2011]
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