The Virtue Party is a Salafist political party.[3] The party stated in September 2012 that it and the Renaissance Party would merge.[5]

Virtue Party (Egypt)
الفضيلة Al-Fadyla[1]
LeaderAdel Abdel Maqsoud Afify[2]
FoundedMarch 2011[1]
HeadquartersNasr City[2]
IdeologySalafism[3]
National affiliationNational Legitimacy Support Coalition[4]
House of Representatives
0 / 568
Website
http://www.alfadyla.com/

Mahmoud Fathy, the founding deputy chairman, stated that the goals of the party are: to "achieve justice and equality for all citizens, equal distribution of wealth, and to guarantee legal prosecution of anyone who commits a crime against the people".[2] Other party principles include "reform, supporting state institutions in accordance with the constitution, and restoring Egypt’s leading role in the Arab and Islamic worlds".[2] Mostafa Mohamed, a member of the party, said that even Christians can join the party.[2]

The party supported Hazem Salah Abu Ismail in the May 2012 Egyptian presidential election.[6]

Lawsuit against Islamic parties

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The Virtue Party is one of the eleven Islamic parties targeted by a lawsuit in November 2014, when an organization named Popular Front for opposing the Brotherhoodization of Egypt sought to dissolve all political parties established "on a religious basis."[7] The Alexandria Urgent Matters Court however ruled on 26 November 2014 that it lacked jurisdiction.[8]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Virtue Party (Al-Fadyla) Party". Egypt Electionnaire. Retrieved 16 December 2013.
  2. ^ a b c d e "Salafis in Cairo aim to establish 'Virtue' political party". Egypt Independent. 19 May 2012. Retrieved 16 December 2013.
  3. ^ a b "The new Islamist scene in Egypt". Al Ahram Weekly. 23 June 2011. Retrieved 16 December 2013.
  4. ^ "Islamist forces join together for Rabaa Al-Adaweya protest", Daily News Egypt, 28 June 2013, retrieved 16 December 2013
  5. ^ "Two Egyptian Islamist parties announce merger". Egypt Independent. 6 September 2012. Retrieved 16 December 2013.
  6. ^ "Egypt: Salafist Al-Fadila Party Supports Abu Ismail for President". AllAfrica. 25 February 2012. Retrieved 16 December 2013.
  7. ^ Auf, Yussef (25 November 2014). "Political Islam's Fate in Egypt Lies in the Hands of the Courts". Atlantic Council. Retrieved 1 December 2014.
  8. ^ "Court claims no jurisdiction over religiously affiliated parties". Daily News Egypt. 26 November 2014. Retrieved 1 December 2014.