Al-Nour Party
Al-Nour Party حزب النور | |
|---|---|
| File:Nour party.png | |
| Chairman | Emad Abdel Ghaffour |
| Founded | 12 May 2011 |
| Headquarters | 601 Horrya way ,Zezenia -Alexandria |
| Newspaper | Al-Nour |
| Ideology | Religious conservatism Islamism Salafism |
| Political position | Right-wing |
| Colors | Azure, Red and White |
| Slogan | Identity and Modern state (Arabic: هوية و دولة عصرية) |
| People's Assembly | 71 / 508
|
| Website | |
| http://http://www.alnourparty.org/ | |
The Al-Nour Party (Arabic: حزب النور, ḥizb al-nūr) ("The Light") is one of the new political parties created in Egypt after the 2011 Egyptian Revolution. It has been described as "by far the most prominent" of the several new Salafi parties in Egypt.[1] It is an ultra-conservative Islamist ideology which believes in implementing strict Sharia law. It is affiliated with the strict Islamic group called the Salafis.
In the first phase of the 2011–2012 Egypt parliamentary elections, it has gained 33 of the 156 parliamentary seats contested[1], second-place after the Muslim Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party. (Poll surveys predicted it win less than 10 percent of the vote, but it gained over 20%.)
History
Al-Nour was set-up after the 2011 Egyptian revolution where the interim military government allowed the formation of new parties. It was established by one of the largest Salafist groups in Egypt, The Salafi Call (Al-Da‘wa Al-Salafiyya) also known as the Al-Dawaa movement. The Salafi Call group started during the 1970s, and was established in the 1980s in Alexandria University after students refused to join the Muslim Brotherhood, leading to clashes,leading the Salafis to institutionalize their activities within the city.[2]
The Salafis in the past refused to take part in politics because they believed the democratic system was forbidden, though they were concerned with politics from an Islamic point of view relating to daily Egyptian life. During the revolution, they opposed the uprising, stating it was forbidden to rebel against any Muslim ruler no matter how sinful, a spokesman of the party stated it was a positive approach because, “the Americans would have ordered Mubarak to massacre them all.”[2] After the revolution, the Salafis decided to take part in politics in order to protect the Islamic identity of Egypt, based on the fundamentals of Islam, the Quran and Sunnah. Although most believe working in state institutions are forbidden, it has been a matter of debate between scholars: Sheikh Mohamed Hasan is one who supports political participation, and Sheikh Muhammad Hussein Yacoub described the people who said 'No' to the 2011 constitutional referendum as those who “don’t want to live in an Islamic country”.[3] Leading Salafi preacher Yasser Borhami switched to the political participation side after Mubarak's ouster, saying “Islam must become involved of all aspects of life, even the political, and the Islamic movement must unite.”[4]
Al-Nour was recognised as a official party after it had obtained its license in June 2011, led by Emad Abdel Ghaffour.[5]
Political orientation
Al Nour Party is an ultra-conservative Islamist party maintaining a strict version of Islam, known as the Salafi methodology. Salafis believe in practising Islam as it was practised by the Prophet Muhammad, his companions and the later generations. Their main source of governance is strictly based on the Quran and the Sunnah.[6]
Religion
Salafi interpretation of Islam is the same as the one official interpretation in Saudi Arabia.[7]
Al-Nour believes, the principles of Islamic Sharia should be the main source of legislation. However the party promises that they will allow Christians to have their own separate laws for their internal matters.[8]
Social
The Al-Nour party has the following social policies:
- Free education from earliest stages.[9]
- Free medical treatment.[9]
- Increased availability of housing.[9]
- Tackling drug addiction through increased awareness and education. Expansion and development of drug addiction centers.[10]
Agricultural
The part has adopted the following agricultural policies:
- Achieving food self-sufficiency by encouraging production of wheat, rice and maize.[11]
- Government subsidizing water, fertilizer and improved seeds.[11]
- Integrating Egypt's agriculture with that of Sudan to provide food security for both.[11]
- Preserving Egypt's arable land, and reclaiming previously inarable land.
- Development of livestock and fish.[11]
Economic
The party wants to implement the following economic policies:
- enact Antitrust Laws to fight against business monopolies (particularly in areas such as food). The party wishes to base these laws based on the existing antitrust laws of the United States and competition laws of Western Europe.[12]
Second Uprising
Yousri Hamad, the official spokesman of the Al Noor Salafi Muslim political party, said he thinks that the violence could affect election plans.[13]
Election results
The Salafi Al Nour reportedly did well in the election in part because of loyalty they won from voters with the many Salafi-sponsored charitable activities: help for the sick and the poor; financial assistance to widows, divorcées, and young women in need of marriage trousseaus; and abundant religious instruction.[14]
See also
References
- ^ a b Salafis and Sufis in Egypt Jonathan Brown| Carnegie Paper| December 2011
- ^ a b Al-Nour Party Jadaliyya. Retrieved on 2011-12-07.
- ^ Salafi groups in Egypt Islamopediaonline. Retrieved on 2011-12-07.
- ^ Jadaliyya.com
- ^ Al-Nour Party Islamopediaonline.
- ^ "Party FAQ".
- ^ "The rise of intolerant Salafists in Egypt". CNN. Retrieved 17 November 2011.
- ^ "Party Program". Retrieved 17 November 2011.
- ^ a b c Achievement of public freedoms
- ^ How the party will address the problem of drug addiction light?
- ^ a b c d Agrarian reform policies
- ^ The age of antitrust laws
- ^ "Egypt protesters flee security in Tahrir Square; elections to go on". CNN. Retrieved 20 November 2011.
- ^ Ultraconservative Islamist Party Reshapes Egypt's Politics Daily Beast, 8 Dec 2011
External links
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