A Salafi leader called on Wednesday for the application of Islamic law in Egypt and the cancellation of all secular and man-made laws.

Sayyed al-Affany, the secretary general of Nour Party in Beni Suef, Upper Egypt, said that the application of man-made laws in Egypt was aimed at accepting Western values and laws, which are contrary to Islamic law and Egyptian traditions, allowing for infidelity and apostasy.

Affany said that the participation of Salafis in political life was something new to them, since the former regime excluded Salafis, but the new reality requires that they engage in the political process.

He said that political activity is not forbidden in Islam, and that they have established political parties based on rulings by their sheikhs. He said they particularly relied on the fatwas of great sheikhs such as Abdel Aziz bin Baz, a former Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia.

Affany's statements came during a public meeting of the Nour Party on the occasion of the opening of the first headquarters of the party in Ahnasia in Beni Suef. About 500 citizens, mostly Salafis andparty members. No women attended the event.

He criticized Egypt's Grand Mufti, Ali Gomaa, claiming that before being appointed as mufti, he used to say that if any of his students asked him about the interest earned by banks, he would reply that it was forbidden, but that after the former regime appointed him he said it was permitted.

Translated from the Arabic Edition