Chief of Egyptian Salafi Al-Nour Party resigns, forms new party

CAIRO, Egypt:

Chief of Egyptian Salafi Al-Nour party, Emad Abdel Ghafour, announced the establishment of a new party dubbed "Al-Watan"(motherland), after he submitted his resignation to the old one Tuesday, Ahram newspaper reported Wednesday.

Al-Nour party was one of the biggest Islamic parties which were established following the Egyptian upheaval, and the party along with the Muslim Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice party had won the majority of the dissolved parliament. The Salafist party included the ultra-conservative Muslims who asked for applying the Sharia (Islamic Law) strictly, while the Satanists hadnt' involved in the political field before the Jan. 25 uprising.The new party was participated by Hazem Abou Ismael, former presidential nominee and head of the Free Watan Alliance party ( FWA), and several prominent Islamic figures.

Abdel Ghafour said at a press conference that the new party seeks to build a new political entity that could reach all Egyptian citizens, achieve social justice and apply the Islamic laws. He reiterated the new party will tackle national projects that could make an economic leap and absorb energies and capabilities of the youth.

He also said the party will enter in alliance with FWA party in the upcoming parliamentary elections. According to Aly Abdel Aal, expert in Islamic movements, Al- Nour party is based on the "salafist call" which is adhered by the majority of the salafists. "Abdel Ghafour, to lead a new party, will just rely on a small number of salafists," Abdel Aal said, adding that the new party without its alliance with the FAW will not allocate votes in the upcoming parliamentary elections.