Islamic law requires an imam to choose the presidential hopeful who he thinks would implement Sharia and Islamic penalties, an Alexandria imam said Monday, adding that he has the right to call on people to vote for who he thinks is best.
Ahmed al-Mahallawy, the imam of Qaed Ibrahim Mosque, announced his support Monday for Muslim Brotherhood candidate Mohamed Morsy during a campaign rally organized by the group’s Freedom and Justice Party in Alexandria.
Abstaining from voting in the upcoming election would be akin to “withholding testimony,” the imam said.
He said Egypt’s next president should be Islamist, but that voters are free to pick from the candidates who pledge to establish the rule of Sharia and implement its punishments.
Mahallawy said he was among the first to support Morsy’s candidacy. He added that he rejects warnings issued by the Presidential Elections Commission not to use mosques for presidential campaigning.
“This is wrong. Egypt is an Islamic state. I hope meetings will be held inside mosques with all candidates after Friday prayers,” Mahallawy said.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
