The Salafist Front is an Egyptian Salafi Islamist organization that was founded after the 2011 Egyptian revolution[1] after breaking away from the Salafist Call.[2] It has been called "one of the largest Salafist associations in the Middle East".[3] The organization was part of the Anti-Coup Alliance,[3] though it announced on 4 December 2014 that it had withdrawn from the alliance.[4] It has also been described as one of the most revolutionary Islamist movements in Egypt.[2]
The spokesperson of the front, Khaled Saeed, was a member of the Virtue Party.[5][6] The Salafist Front backed Hazem Salah Abu Ismail in the 2012 presidential election in Egypt.[7] The organization launched the People Party in 2012.[8]
The front has called for protests on 28 November 2014.[9] Several Islamist parties (including the Building and Development Party, the Al-Wasat Party and the Homeland Party) have criticized the calls for revolution.[10] Other Islamist groups including the Virtue Party, Hizb ut-Tahrir, the Flag Party and the Muslim Brotherhood have expressed support for the protests.[10] The turnout for the protests was relatively small.[11] The organization stated that it was "let down" by other Islamic groups.[12]
- ^ "Salafis call for Islamic law in Egypt protest". CNN. 9 November 2012. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
- ^ a b "New Salafi party has curious policy mix". Egypt Independent. 23 October 2013. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
- ^ a b "Salafist Front to boycott constitutional referendum". Ahram Online. 21 December 2013. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
- ^ "More Islamist groups withdraw from Anti-Coup Alliance". Daily News Egypt. 6 December 2014. Retrieved 6 December 2014.
- ^ "Salafis in Cairo aim to establish 'Virtue' political party". Egypt Independent. 19 May 2011. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
- ^ "Salafi Front to leave Mohamed Mahmoud if violence occurs". Egypt Independent. 19 November 2013. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
- ^ "Influential Salafist Front to support Abu-Ismail's presidential bid". Ahram Online. 12 March 2012. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
- ^ "Salafi Front Launches "Al-Shaab" Party". Daily News Egypt. 20 October 2012. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
- ^ "Salafi Front vows to stage an 'Islamic revolution'". Daily News Egypt. 1 November 2014. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
- ^ a b "Egypt's Islamist movements divided over calls for 28 November uprising". Daily News Egypt. 24 November 2014. Retrieved 25 November 2014.
- ^ "Few Egyptians heed calls for 'Islamic revolution'; minor clashes". Ahram Online. 28 November 2014. Retrieved 4 December 2014.
- ^ "Salafist Front says Nov 28 'failure,' 'let down' by other Islamic currents". Cairo Post. 29 November 2014. Retrieved 7 December 2014.