Israel Matzav

This is rich: Salafist candidate for Egyptian President out because his mother was an American citizen

This is rich. The Salafist candidate for President of Egypt, Hazem Abu Ismail, is going to be barred from running because his mother held an American passport (Israel Radio is reporting that he has been barred).

Egypt's electoral commission has confirmed that the mother of a self described Islamist candidate holds a US passport, a status that will likely disqualify Hazem Abu Ismail from the country's presidential race.

A commission statement on Saturday said the foreign ministry had confirmed that Abu Ismail's mother, Nawal Abdel Aziz Nur, obtained US citizenship in October 2006.

Egypt's constitution prohibits candidates whose parents hold dual nationality from participating in the poll.

Abu Ismail, a leader of the Salafi party and one of the election frontrunners, has become a familiar sight in Cairo, with his posters adorning many cars and buses.

Thousands of people rallied in central Cairo in support of his candidacy on Friday.

"The people want Hazem Abu Ismail! No to manipulation!" the demonstrators shouted after making their way through central Cairo to Tahrir Square, epicentre of last year's revolt which toppled president Hosni Mubarak.

The protesters carried portraits of Abu Ismail and waved their fists, angrily condemning any attempt to disqualify their candidate.

This came after election commission chief Hatem Degato said on Thursday that the agency had received information according to which Abu Ismail's mother had "used an American passport for travel to and from Egypt" before her death.

Degato told the Reuters news agency that the commission would give a verdict on Abu Ismail's elegibility after this Sunday's deadline for all presidential candidates to submit their applications to run.

The 'good' news is that Omar Suleiman, who was briefly appointed Vice President by Hosni Mubarak, and who has negotiated with Israel in the past as intelligence chief, has announced that he will run for President.

Aren't you glad we got rid of Mubarak?

Labels: Egyptian elections, Omar Suleiman, Salafists

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 12:41 AM