Egypt

Organizations (7)

The intersection of religion and politics in Egypt has been characterized by both gradual change and revolutionary rupture. Islam arrived in the 7th century CE, and Egypt emerged as a center of politics and culture in the Muslim world. British control during the late 19th and early 20th centuries allowed local and European intellectual traditions to mingle, contributing to the establishment of a nationalist, secular regime in the 1952 Revolution. Though Islam became the official state religion in 1971, Egyptian presidents largely continued to rule as they saw fit. In 2011, a popular revolution involving secular and religious actors ended 30 years of rule by Hosni Mubarak (1981-2011). The Muslim Brotherhood, which had previously been banned as a political party, won a majority of seats in the post-Revolution parliamentary elections, and the group’s political leader, Mohamed Morsi, was elected president. The Constitution grants freedom of religion, but authorities often restrict it in practice. Among those most directly affected are Coptic Christians, approximately 10% of the population.

Freedom and Justice Party

The Freedom and Justice Party (FJP) is the political arm of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt. Founded several days after the resignation of Hosni Mubarak, the FJP won a plurality of 235 seats (47.2%) in the 2011-2012 Egyptian Parliamentary elections. The current Egyptian president, Mohamed Morsi, is also a member and former head of the FJP. The FJP calls for an Egyptian State in which legislation is grounded in the principles of Sharia but upholds religious rights for Egypt’s minorities. The...

The New Al-Wafd Party

The New Al-Wafd Party is a liberal Egyptian political party. In the 2011-2012 Parliamentary elections, the New Al-Wafd Party won 38 seats (7.6%) in the People’s Assembly- the most of any liberal party. Founded by wealthy media and pharmaceutical CEO Al-Sayed Al-Badawi, the New Al-Wafd Party supports legislation based on Sharia principles but calls for equality between men and women and between religious groups. In the 2011-2012 Parliamentary elections, the New Al-Wafd Party fielded 37 Coptic...

Al-Nour Party

The Al-Nour Party is a prominent Salafist political party in Egypt. In the 2011-2012 Parliamentary elections, The Al-Nour Party won 121 seats, (24.3%). Considered more conservative than the Freedom and Justice Party, Al-Nour Party’s platform advocates strict adherence to Sharia principles in both public and private life. Additionally, Al-Nour supports the implementation of a strict Islamic punishment, known as Hudud, and limiting labor rights for women. Although Al-Nour’s party platform...

Al-Azhar University

Al-Azhar University is one of Egypt's leading universities and a highly influential source of Sunni Islamic jurisprudence. Founded in 970 CE, it is considered as one of the world's oldest degree-granting universities. The university grew out of, and remains associated with, the Al-Azhar Mosque in Cairo, Egypt. While Islamic law, theology, and the Arabic language remain the primary educational focus, since 1961 the curriculum has also included modern subjects such as medicine and engineering....

Egyptian Food Bank

The Egyptian Food Bank (EFB) is a charitable organization that delivers food to orphans, the elderly, widows, families in need, and those unable to work. With a mission of defeating hunger, EFB collects food and donations from companies, organizations, and individuals to redistribute among the poor. It seeks to increase awareness about proper food recycling procedures and to invest in community projects to employ teenagers. EFB is committed to reassessing poverty levels on a regular basis so...

Anna Lindh Euro-Mediterranean Foundation for the Dialogue Between Cultures

The Anna Lindh Euro-Mediterranean Foundation for the Dialogue between Cultures sponsors activities that promote intellectual, cultural, and civil society exchanges among European Union member states and their "Partners of the Southern Mediterranean." Based in Alexandria, Egypt, the Foundation was established in 2004 as part of the process set in motion by the 1995 Barcelona Declaration of the Euro-Mediterranean Conference of Ministers of Foreign Affairs. Currently, this partnership has 43...

Muslim Brotherhood (Egypt)

Founded in 1928 by Hassan al-Banna, the Muslim Brotherhood (MB) in Egypt is the inaugural branch of the influential Islamist organization that now stretches across the Muslim world. The organization has been illegal in Egypt since a MB member attempted to assassinate President Gamal Abdel Nasser in 1954. The MB evolved to reject political violence, voices public support for democracy, and advocates enacting Shari'a in Egypt. The MB supports the Palestinian cause and Hamas (a MB offshoot), but...