Parliament should be allowed to institute Islamic Sharia law, Grand Mufti Ali Gomaa said at a meeting with youth groups on Sunday.

“This is up to the members of Parliament to evaluate,” he said.

In recent parliamentary elections, Islamists won the majority of parliament. The Muslim Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party won 47 percent of parliament and the ulta-conservative Salafi-oriented Nour Party won 23 percent. Both have issued statements that they intend to push for Sharia law.

Gomaa said that Islamic Sharia law is compatible with a civil state, and that Islamist victories in parliamentary elections reflect the people’s wishes. He called for putting differences aside in order to work for the good of religion and country.

“In my capacity as a judge between people, I do not belong to any specific trend,” he explained.

Gomaa said peaceful demonstrations are permissible as long as they do not interrupt work or disrupt traffic. He denounced the blockage of roads and railways.

“Demanding your rights should not affect those of others,” he said.

He urged the youth to read about other revolutions in history and learn from them.

“You should also concentrate on work in order to improve our economy,” he told them.

Translated from Al-Masry Al-Youm