An Islamic preacher who plans to run for president told a London-based newspaper on Monday that he's "very liberal."
Hazem Abu Ismail told Al-Sharq Al-Awsat he plans to achieve progress but added, "If liberalism means breaking religious rules, then [liberals] are a misguided group."
Abu Ismail belongs to the Muslim Brotherhood and was its Dokki candidate in the 2005 parliamentary elections.
The Brotherhood previously announced it will not field candidates for the presidential elections and will contest no more than half the parliamentary seats this year.
Abu Ismail, who currently ranks fourth in a Facebook presidential poll conducted by the ruling military council, said his chance of winning is guaranteed as long as elections are fair.
He said if he wins, he will consider hiring former members of the disbanded National Democratic Party to work as advisers so they can prove they are not traitors.
His electoral platform does not stipulate religious rule in Egypt, the paper quotes Abu Ismail as saying, but conforms to Egyptians' beliefs in general. During a speech at a mosque in May, however, he said he would apply Islamic law if he wins.
