Several presidential candidates were keen to meet veteran politician Mustafá al-Fiqī, including ‘Abd al-Mun’im Abū al-Futūh. Al-Fiqī discussed with Abū al-Futūh a state of doubts prevailing in the Egyptian street over the Islamist candidate, particularly by proponents of a civil state and women who have concerns that Islamists could pose a threat to public freedoms.
Abū al-Futūh asked how this trust crisis be surmounted and Fiqī replied that the former leading member of the Muslim Brotherhood must issue a paper to pledge he will preserve Copts rights, guarantee women’s freedoms and respect pillars of a civil state advocated by many political powers.
Abū al-Futūh praised Fiqī’s suggestion but ruled out the possibility he would issue such a paper, adding he has asserted over and again in many rallies that he would maintain those rights and freedoms.
His refusal perhaps was out of anticipation for the position of the Salafists regarding his candidacy as they announced they would support him in the presidential elections after he pledged to them that the implementation of the sharī’ah, not just its principles, will be one of his top priorities. [Muhammad al-Bāz, al-Fajr, May 3, p. 10] Read text in Arabic
