Salafist Al-Nour Party Denies Link to Morality Police Group Launched on Facebook

Salafist party denies any relation to the Facebook 'Committee for the promotion of virtue and prevention of vice in Egypt' similar to Saudi moral police; activists admonish idea of morality vigilantes.

On Monday, the Salafist Al-Nour Party’s official Facebook page denied any relation to an anonymous new group launched on Facebook, the “Committee for the promotion of virtue and prevention of vice in Egypt.” The party's denial followed controversy among social media users after the anonymous Salafist group used the party logo in their first Facebook statement on Sunday, despite insisting they are independent.

The anonymous group announced that the committee, similar to one in Saudi Arabia, intended to preserve the morals of Egyptians in accordance with sharia (Islamic jurisprudence). The success of Islamist parties in Egypt's ongoing parliamentary elections led the group to form the committee out of a belief that the majority of Egyptians allegedly chose Islam over “stinky liberalism.”

The unknown group promised to use advice and dialogue instead of violence to impose virtue and fight vice in the Egyptian street.

Many Egyptian Facebook and Twitter users have slammed the group and its statement, rejecting the idea of having a morality police that monitors personal conduct.

The Facebook page "We are the ones who said NO", which was initiated last spring by people who voted "NO" in the national referendum held on 19 March, which was marred by polarisation between Islamists and liberals, responded, in a humorous manner to the anonymous morality committee.

We "will F**k up" the people who want to create a Committee for the promotion of virtue and prevention of vice if they show up in the streets," the admin posted.

The morality group members said that they do not plan to reveal their identity until they reach a specific number of registered members.