Democratic Jihad Party

Democratic Jihad Party[1]
حزب الجهاد الديمقراطي
Leader Yasser Saad[1]
Founder Nabil Na'eem[2]
Founded 2012[3]
Ideology Centrism[1]
Islamism[2]
Politics of Egypt
Political parties
Elections

The Democratic Jihad Party was an Egyptian political party made up of former members of the group Egyptian Islamic Jihad;[1] it was also made up of members of other "former jihadist groups".[3] The party is also known as the Islamic Democratic Jihad Party,[3] as well as the Islamist Jihadi Party.[2] A member of the party has stated that the party has "failed".[4] The party has stated that it supported Ahmed Shafiq in the 2012 presidential election; Sabra Ibrahim, a deputy founder in the party, stated that the party gave its' support to Shafiq in order to prevent the establishment of a theocratic state ruled by the Muslim Brotherhood.[5] The party condemned the attack in August of 2012 that killed 16 soldiers, saying that it was committed by “sinful terrorist[s].”[3] Yasser Saad[5] is now a member of an umbrella coalition of former jihadis, ex-members of the Muslim Brotherhood and ex-al-Gama'a al-Islamiyya members called the Moderate Front.[6]

Policy

Sheikh Yasser Saad, the leader of the party, has stated that the party will be inclusive regarding minorities.[1] A young female party member named Hanan Nouredin appeared unveiled at the press conference announcing the plan to found the party.[1]

Criticism

The party was criticized by Muhammad al-Zawahiri for embracing democracy.[7]

See also

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 "Ex-Jihad members to found party, back Shafiq in Egypt presidency runoff". Ahram Online. 13 June 2012. Retrieved 8 February 2014.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 "New Shafiq-sponsored coalition". Daily News Egypt. 6 February 2013. Retrieved 8 February 2014.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 "Update: SCAF says 35 assailants involved in border killings". Egypt Independent. 6 August 2012. Retrieved 8 February 2014.
  4. "قيادي بحزب "الجهاد الديمقراطي": سعد الدين إبراهيم عرض علينا تمويلاً منساويرس.. لكننا رفضنا". El-Balad. 17 December 2013. Retrieved 31 March 2014.
  5. 5.0 5.1 "Islamic Jihad announces support for Shafiq in runoff". Egypt Independent. 12 June 2012. Retrieved 8 February 2014.
  6. "Moderate Front to hold public conference to nominate Sisi for president". Cairo Post. 20 January 2014. Retrieved 8 February 2014.
  7. "Mohammed al Zawahiri rejects 'filthy market of democracy'". Long War Journal. 12 June 2013. Retrieved 8 February 2014.