Sufi Orders have not decided who to back in presidential race

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Sufi Orders have not decided who to back in presidential race

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Fri, 08/06/2012 - 17:14

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Al-Masry Al-Youm

Head of the Sufi Orders Supreme Council Abdel Hady al-Qasaby denied on Friday issuing instructions to Sufis to vote for a certain candidate in the presidential runoff.

Qasaby told Al-Masry Al-Youm that the council is a religious institution that should not be partial to one candidate over another.

Head of the Azmeya Sufi Order Mohamed Alaa Abul Azayem said that the Sufi Orders haven't yet reached a decision on the issue. He said Wednesday evening in a press conference that the council is unlikely to endorse a candidate.

He added that the majority of orders’ heads support backing former Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq, while others prefer Muslim Brotherhood candidate Mohamed Morsy and still others believe it is best to leave the decision to individuals.

Abul Azayem said that the Azmeya Order is inclined to back Shafiq due to his Sufi origins.

Official reports indicate that the Sufi Orders’ followers number around 10 million people belonging to different 70 orders.

Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm