Middle East
Salafi protestors take to the street in
Cairo: Salafis have previously seen political involvement as un-Islamic
but have found growing support post-Arab Spring
The
ultra-conservative Salafist movement has spearheaded many of the recent
violent protests over the controversial anti-Muslim film which appeared
on the internet. The most significant sign of support for Salafism has
been in Egypt where adherents made major gains in the recent election.
To feed her family of 15, Rabiah Rahim has to bake 120 loaves
every week - but with rising prices she cannot afford to pay the 20
Egyptian pounds ($3) she needs for a new bottle of gas.As her daughter tosses the rounds of dough in flour and puts them in the blazing stove, Rabiah says no-one in government listens to the needs of the poor.
Egyptian Salafi groups have helped struggling families to buy basic amenities such as gas
The narrow unpaved streets of Al Kom Al-Ahmar bear witness to years of neglect - this farming community, an hour's drive from the Egyptian capital, Cairo, lacks the most basic amenities.
The older generation are mostly illiterate and the main form of transport is donkey and cart. Egypt's economic crisis is leading to a wave of protest on the streets of Cairo but here people look to God to provide.
And for the Rahim family, help is at hand. A group of Salafis, in plain, ankle-length robes and sandals arrive at the front door with coupons that can be exchanged for gas at a subsidised price.
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Mohammed Gom'ah Salafi community organiserThe changes we seek are to apply the Islamic Sharia, the Islamic Law to achieve social justice”
They are popular members of the
community, known for their charitable deeds. During holidays they kill
camel, sheep and buffalo and distribute the meat to the poor.
They also pay for school books and medicines and contribute to the gift of household goods required for young brides.Mohammed Gom'ah, who is in charge of social activities, explains that Salafis are following the instructions of Islam.
"We must help our people," he says, speaking to Radio 4's File on 4 programme.
"We do it for Allah but the people don't forget this for us. They respect us."
Salafism's 'true faith' The aim of Salafism is to bring Muslims back to what they see as the true faith practised by the prophet Mohammed and his followers.
Their influence is being felt not
only in Egypt, but also in Libya and Tunisia where militant Salafists
have been blamed for the attacks on the US consulate in Benghazi and the
embassy in Tunis. In both countries there has also been tension between
Salafists and more moderate Muslims.
In Egypt, I visit the town of Awsim to find out more. I meet
Sheikh Hasan Ghidan, a scholar and preacher who graduated from Cairo's
influential Islamic university, Al-Alzhar. Speaking to me after Friday prayers, he explains that he believes in changing society by teaching people at grass roots level rather than through the violent jihad espoused by some other Salafists - but his long term aims are the same.
"The changes we seek are to apply the Islamic Sharia - the Islamic law to achieve social justice," he says.
"And to establish an Islamic Caliphate, to liberate the occupied lands - lands occupied by non-Muslims, the lands which were originally Muslim."
His list of lands that need to be re-taken includes Palestine, Iraq, Burma, Chechnya and Andalucia in Spain.
Asked about his vision of Sharia law for Egypt, he tells me that unmarried women involved in adultery would be sentenced to 100 lashes while a married woman would be stoned to death.
Anyone caught drinking alcohol would be sentenced to 80 lashes, he tells me.
Fears of a new theocracy Traditionally, Salafis have distanced themselves from politics on the grounds that it is impure, but since the revolution that toppled Hosni Mubarak's regime in February 2011, they have formed their own political parties.
Winning over 20% of votes at the
election, they are in a position to influence the current debate about
the constitution, pushing for Sharia to be the main source of
legislation rather than the guiding principle as it is now.
The interpretation of Sharia would be decided at the Islamic
Al-Alzhar University where, in the meantime, they are trying to oust its
moderate clerics and replace them with hard-liners. The prospect alarms Heba Morayaf, director of Human Rights Watch, who says it could lead to an Iranian-style theocracy.
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Heba Morayaf Director, Human Rights WatchTo have an unelected body run by religious conservatives interpreting what legislation is consistent or inconsistent with Sharia would be really disastrous for Egypt”
"To have an unelected body run
by religious conservatives interpreting what legislation is consistent
or inconsistent with Sharia would be really disastrous for Egypt," she
says.
"It would turn into a religious state controlled by an
unelected minority and it would be a direct threat to a lot of the basic
human rights that were articulated during the January 2011 uprising."The lower house of the People's Assembly is currently dissolved while Egypt's courts consider a legal challenge to the electoral process which could force a return to the polls.
Nobody expects the Salafis to gain power but secular and liberal Egyptians fear their influence over the majority Muslim Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party, envisaging a shift to a more conservative Islamicism.
If there is to be a new election it is likely to be the economy - not religion - that determines the outcome.
However, the villagers of Kom Al-Ahmar will vote for whichever party can provide their community with things like proper drainage and a gas supply.
As her daughter takes the piping-hot flatbread from the oven, Rabiah Rashim beams happily.
In her hand is a coupon stamped with the words "Salafi Youth". Tomorrow she will take it to the Salafist warehouse and bring back a full gas canister.
As I leave I ask her who she would vote for in the next election and she replies "the Salafist candidate" without any hesitation.
What is Salafism?
- A Salafi Muslim is one who emphasises the as-salaf as-saliheen - the first three generations of Muslims who are viewed as model examples of Islamic practice.
- Salafism is a Sunni Islamic movement and has become associated with a literal translation of the Quran and a puritanical approach to Islam.
- The majority of Salafi scholars are strongly against terrorist jihad and the killing of civilians and innocent victims.
- Salafism is recognised as one of the fastest growing Islamic movements in the world.
- Salafi involvement in political issues is relatively new as political involvement has been viewed as un-Islamic by many Salafis.
Listen to the full report on File on 4 on BBC Radio 4 on Tuesday, 16 October at 20:00 BST and Sunday 21 October at 17:00 BST.
Listen again via the Radio 4 website or download the File on 4 podcast.
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