The Islamic Party (formerly known as the ''Peace and Development Party'' ()
or ''Safety and Development Party'') is an
Islamist political party in Egypt.
[ The name of the party was changed in approximately December 2012. The main leaders of the group are Mohamed Abu Samra][ and Kamal Habib. The party is backed by the Egyptian Islamic Jihad group. Most of the founders of the party are former members of the organization. Many members of the party have court rulings that bar them from running for elected office.
The party and Egyptian Islamic Jihad withdrew from the Anti-Coup Alliance in January 2014. One of the reasons for the withdrawal was the rejection by the pro-Morsi coalition of the initiative put forth by the Islamic Party that sought to end the crisis by appointing a presidential council composed of a civilian, an Islamist and a member of the army. The party called for a "negotiated" solution on 8 February 2014. The party rejoined the alliance around March 2014, though there are indications that it has withdrawn again.
]
Basic tenets
The party is in favour of putting the Camp David Accords to a public referendum, expanding Islamic banking, abolishing mixed-sex education
Mixed-sex education, also known as mixed-gender education, co-education, or coeducation (abbreviated to co-ed or coed), is a system of education where males and females are educated together. Whereas single-sex education was more common up to t ...
in secondary schools, forming a cultural media council to monitor the Egyptian media, respecting private property
Private property is a legal designation for the ownership of property by non-governmental Capacity (law), legal entities. Private property is distinguishable from public property, which is owned by a state entity, and from Collective ownership ...
, progressive taxation, and is in favour of setting a minimum and maximum wage in line with inflation
In economics, inflation is an increase in the average price of goods and services in terms of money. This increase is measured using a price index, typically a consumer price index (CPI). When the general price level rises, each unit of curre ...
.[
]
Ideology
The secretary general of the party, Mohamed Abu Samra, stated that it would vigorously oppose returning Egyptian Jews of Israeli descent to Egypt in response to a comment made by Essam el-Erian, a member of the Freedom and Justice Party and an adviser to President Morsi; he also stated that according to Sharia law, Jews deserve to be killed.
See also
* List of Islamic political parties
* Building and Development Party
References
{{Egyptian political parties
2011 establishments in Egypt
Egyptian Islamic Jihad
Islamic political parties in Egypt
Political parties established in 2011