The following is the full text of the interview with 'Imād 'Abd al-Ghafūr, Leader of al-Watan Party (under establishment), former leader of the Salafī al-Nūr Party and Vice-President for social networking:
Q: What is al-Watan Party? And how do you coordinate with Hāzim Abū Ismā'īl in the so-called "Free Homeland Coalition"?
A:- We were founding members of al-Nūr Party. We have a political and administrative viewpoint that we tried to implement within that party, however some differences of opinion occurred and we tried everything to reach a consensus but in the end we found that there were two opposing viewpoints that could not be resolved, so we took the decision to leave. Shaykh Hāzim Abū Ismā'īl or any of his supporters joined the party; their presence is merely part of an electoral alliance. However, every party will separately candidate for the parliamentary seats.
Q: Is the new party the other long arm of the Salafī Da’wah (Salafī call)? Some Shaykhs said that solely al-Nūr Party is the long arm of the Da’wah?
A:- Al-Watan is a political party with a Salafī orientations. However, we are not the long arm of any other party.
Q: Some say that the Muslim Brotherhood is behind the internal differences among al-Nūr Party members if we consider that it (al-Nūr Party) win more parliamentary seats than the MB?
A:- I do not like to hold the MB as the sole responsible for this discord, but the party (Nūr) members failed to solidarize.
Q: Do you think a coalition with al-Nūr Party is conceivable with regards to the upcoming parliamentary elections?
A: Firstly, our reference is Islamic Sharī'ah law, and that is the general model for all Salafist parties. However we are not antagonistic towards the rest of the political forces and will look for suitable common ground for cooperation; everybody is invited to participate in the country’s construction and development.
Q.:- How do you perceive your role as the President’s advisor for societal encounter? What are your future plans on this behalf?
A:- Since I have been in this post in September 20, we have been working on improving our performance . However, there are many issues that we will have to deal with, such as encountering with the Christians, the Nubians , as well as Marsá Matrūh tribes and Upper Egyptian communities. We will still need to agree upon one codex for media outlets, as well.
Q: But many say that the Advisory Council is just a matter of form?
A:- That might have been the case at the beginning; but now we meet more often with the President, especially since our bureau has moved to the Ittihadyah Presidential Palace.
Q: How would you evaluate the performance of President Mursī, and what is your opinion on decisions he had made and then taken back?
A: President Mursī has been in office for just six months, which is not a long time to make a judgment on his performance. We cannot expect that everyone will support his decisions; if we compare with President Obama, almost half of the voters did not cast their ballots in his favor. However, I was against the tax and price increases on basic foodstuff. The decision has been suspended. There is a consensus that in future decisions should take into consideration the people’s chance of acceptance before disclosure.
Q: How far is the (MB) Supreme Guide’s influence on the decision-making of President Mursī?
A:- It is illogic to think that President Mursī receives a daily list of do’s and don'ts. I tell those who spread this rumor that the upcoming government will depend on the majority seats in the House of Representatives. Their performance in the parliament and legislative councils will decide.
Q: You were member of the Constituent Assembly; how do you perceive the controversy that has been raised about this Assembly?
A:- The Constitution is not a holy book, and, thus amendable. When we look at the number of articles that have been rejected, it is merely 5 per cent of 240 endorsed ones, which makes around 12 articles, and not 20 or 30 as some said. We have agreed to amend some articles as required. But other articles were supported by the majority and, we expect the opposition to accept that.
Q: It is said that you negotiated to end the crisis between the Presidency and the National Salvation Front?
A:- I met Hamadīn Sabbāhī on December 1, the same day when the President initiated the constitutional plebiscites. Sabbāhī commented that there is a strong tendency towards Brotherhoodizing the country. I told him the only way to prevent one faction of paving the road the country is to take is to win the trust of the people and to have the right approach to their expectations.
Q.: - In your statements on Copts you acknowledged the rights of Copts to engage in political work and to be appointed in leading positions; does it mean that you do not object a Christian to be president of Egypt?
A: Every person is measured by his qualification of doing a job. So if a Christian is seen as more qualified than others, so why not.
Q: There has been a number of fatwas issued by Salafī Shaykhs, some of them legitimize the destruction of the Pyramids, and some others overtly insult the opposition and other Egyptian public figures. Don't you think that these are harmful for the Islamic movement?
A:- Those do not represent the entire Islamic movement or the Salafī one. We have denounced on several occasions such ideas and actions. Nevertheless, the elections result has proven our popularity.
Q: Some believe that the Islamic movements are losing their popularity and that their chance of winning in the upcoming parliamentary elections is weak, especially that the hastily drafted constitution was criticized by many?
A:- Ever party will have its election campaign; and it is the Egyptian street who will finally decide who will win or lose the majority of votes. As for the hastily drafted Constitution, the referendum results of March 19 required the Constitutional plebiscites to be held within fifteen days. We had to act accordingly (Nāhid Sa'd,
Rose al-Yūsuf, Jan. 17, p. 6).
Read original text in Arabic.
