Monthly Archives: April 2012

The Salafi star at the Pyramids

 Initially published at  Egypt Independent The popularity of the Salafi Sheikh Adel was surprising, particularly in the top tourist destination in Egypt, the pyramids. A planned two-hour visit ended up as a mission to uncover the legacy of this man. … Continue reading

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Islamic Law and Justice for All?

Also published as a guest blog on  CFR’s Steven Cook blog I once asked a Salafi acquaintance, what he thought of Bouazizi. He paused for a moment then said: “he committed a major sin; he deserves the punishment of hell.” Then he … Continue reading

Posted in Egypt, Islam | Tagged | 4 Comments

Dear Future President, what does Sharia mean to you?

When Egyptians went to the poll and voted for various Islamist parties in the recent parliamentary election, they were not after a fast-track ticket to heaven, but a genuine desire to fight corruption, decadence and nepotism that had been plaguing … Continue reading

Posted in Egypt, Islam | Tagged , , | 7 Comments