“Non-Muslims are free to their own faiths and we have to offer them amity and peace if they do not fight us,” said ‘Awwā during a rally next to the al-Fayoum cultural center on Friday (March 16), adding only true believers (Muslims) will apply the Islamic sharī’ah and be fair between Muslims and non-Muslims.
On the peace treaty between Egypt and Israel, ‘Awwā said he refuses the “unfair” terms of the peace agreement.
“If I become president, I will try to have those terms amended and also the agreement on natural gas exports by contracts and laws, never by arms,” he said.
He also added that he refuses reconciliation with the former officials imprisoned in Turah in return for returning the people’s money.
Touching on his differences with Secretary of the Coptic Orthodox Church’s Holy Synod Bishop Bīshūy, ‘Awwā said he was the target of a “bone-breaking battle” because he allegedly said there were weapons inside churches.
“I have not said that. I was just speaking about a certain incident in Port Said governorate,” he accentuated, pledging to stand up against anyone claiming that the Holy Qur’ān is corrupted just like he did with statements made by Bishop Bīshūy.
He pointed out that he is totally against promoting the Shiite sect in Egypt.
“These are invented ideologies. I, as a Sunnī Muslim and Salafist, will prevent with all the powers I have any spread of the Shiite denomination when I become president,” ‘Awwā said, adding he will seek the establishment of relations with Pakistan and Afghanistan. [Michel ‘Abd Allāh, al-Shurūq al-Jadīd, March 18, p. 4] Read original text in Arabic
