The Independent Sentinel
Salafi, now a minority party in Egypt, is gaining in popularity. They will likely bring Egypt back into the 7th century if they have enough power because it is part of their belief system.
Back in November, reports out of Alexandria indicated that Salafists were in control. Allegedly, the extremists among the Salafists want The Royal Library of Alexandria, one of the most valuable libraries in the ancient world, shut down and replaced with a Mosque. The arts program offered by the library, with its dancing and music, spreads depravity according to their beliefs.
Now there are reports that some members of the Nour (The Light) Salafist party, which won more than 20 per cent of the vote in recent elections, are talking about putting an end to the ‘idolatry’ represented by the pyramids in Giza. Ideas of how to end the idolatry would be to destroy the Pyramids or cover them with wax.
The idea of covering the Pyramids with wax was made by Abdel Moneim Al-Shahat, a Nour candidate for parliament. He also wants to ban the novels of Naguib Mahfouz, one of many great Egyptian writers.
If you don’t think this can happen, think back to the Afghan Taliban who blew up the Banyam Buddhas.
More from The Daily Mail reports: Salafism means reverting to the mores of the founding generation of Islam, for the close companions of the Prophet were called Salafi meaning ‘pious founders’. Since the last adherent of ancient Egyptian religion allegedly converted (to Christianity) in the fourth century AD, the original Salafists had little to worry about the pyramids and left them alone.
But not their 21st century successors, who also want what they call ‘halal’ tourism, with women told to dress decorously and no alcohol, something pretty general already in conservative Egypt. The Salafists want segregated beaches, which will not go down well with visitors to Sharm el Sheikh.
Tourism accounts for 11 per cent of Egypt’s $218billion GDP. Right now, hotels and resorts report falls in occupancy from 90 to 15 per cent.
This is bad news for the 3million Egyptians who depend on the 14million tourists who visit Egypt each year...
The Salafis we see taking control in Egypt are predominantly Saudi Wahhabis not the moderate Salafis they pretend they are.
More information on Salafis from Hudson NY: …The term “Salafi” refers to a Muslim who emulates the first three generations of Muhammad’s companions and successors. Traditional Muslims and conscientious historians recognize the falsity of the Wahhabis masquerading as “Salafis.” For moderate Muslims, comparing oneself to the pioneering figures in Islamic history is offensively arrogant. In addition, a “Salafi” reform movement existed in the 19th century, but unlike the Wahhabi “Salafis,” the 19th century “Salafis,” such as Muhammad Abduh (1849-1905), an Egyptian scholar and writer, were not violent and did not preach against the West.
The 19th century “Salafis” sought to modernize Islam and adapt it to Western modes of thought. They also condemned spiritual Sufism, as do today’s Wahhabi “Salafis.” But unlike the recent Wahhabi “Salafis,” the 19thcentury group did not demand the right to expel Muslims from the global Islamic community over doctrinal differences, and then kill them as “apostates” – as the Wahhabi “Salafis” have been doing in Saudi Arabia, Algeria, Egypt, and Iraq, among other countries. The 19th century “Salafi” reformers appealed to Muslims to imitate the personal integrity and dedication of the early Muslims, but did not seek to reinforce abuse of women, hatred of non-Muslims, or limitations on free thought. They, in fact, prized freedom of inquiry as an Islamic value.
Wahhabis know that Muslims hate and fear them for their terrorist acts and repressive practices in Saudi Arabia. Few Egyptians admire or to desire to live under a Saudi-Wahhabi system. That is why, with the complicity of Western media, the Egyptian Wahhabis have adopted the term “Salafi”. But they should not be allowed to pretend that they are conservative imitators of the early Muslim generations when instead their views are radical…