Egyptian Salafists fatwa against opposition causes uproar

Shaban has called for the murder of NSF leaders Egyptian political forces have widely condemned a fatwa issued by Salafist Mahmoud Shaban, after he called for the murder of National Salvation Front [NSF] leaders.Shaban issued a fatwa against opposition leaders Mohamed El Baradei and Hamdeen Sabahi, both members of the NSF, claiming that politicians aiming to destroy Egypt whilst aiming for power “deserve murder according to God’s law.”
Egypt’s Islamic Research Assembly stressed his rejection of “misuse” of religious texts.
The Assembly appealed to all Egyptians to ignore “abhorrent and disputed views” following a meeting on Thursday evening.
Egyptian Prime Minister Hisham Kandil also revealed his government was considering legal action against anyone promoting violence in response to the Salafist’s fatwa.
Kandil denounced the fatwa as "extreme."
"The Egyptian people achieved a great revolution in order to establish a democratic society in which change is achieved through elections and not through violence,” Kandil said in a statement on Thursday. “A society in which law is applied and where the majority listens to the demands of the minority.”
Mustafa Gendy, a Front member, told Arabstoday: “This fatwa must be deal with caution and severity. Not paying attention to this could lead to the proliferation of it as an idea, especially among more radical elements.”
Gendy warned about the threat of political assassinations in Egypt, stressing that he would hold the government and the Muslim Brotherhood accountable for killings.
Leader of Jemaah Islamiyah, Nageh Ibrahim, also warned of a recent spate of "takfiri" thought [targeting people accused of being “unbelievers”] in Salafist movements across Egypt.
Ibrahim said: “I have already warned about political assassinations, before the formation of the National Salvation Front. Now there are signs of crisis.”
Former presidential candidate Ahmed Shafik also condemned the fatwa, claiming in a Twitter post that he also “condemns all fatwas inciting murder.”
An Egyptian Liberal Party spokesman called on Egypt’s Attorney General to act in response to the developments.
Meanwhile, the Muslim Brotherhood has joined in condemnation of Shaban’s statements.
Mohamed Hassanein, a leading Brotherhood member, told Arabstoday: “Fatwas permitting murder must be issued by the Islamic Research Academy or the relevant religious bodies.”
Brotherhood mufti Abdul Akher Hammad claimed that Shaban’s fatwa was “misplaced,” based on an incorrect interpretation of religious text.
Al-Azhar mosque sources also reprimanded the Salafist for issuing a fatwa without consultation with the organisation, which recently held talks to broker peace between opposition and government forces inside Egypt.