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| Sabah al-Sakkaristressed that women in the Freedom and Justice Party do play a major role. (Al Arabiya) |
Sabah
al-Sakkari, a female member of the Muslim Brotherhood’s political wing Freedom
and Justice Party (FJP), is running for the first time in the chairmanship
elections to replace outgoing chairman of the party Mohammed Mursi, the current
Egyptian president.
Sakkari
denied allegations that her candidacy aims at embellishing the image of the
Brotherhood, frequently accused of discriminating against women.
“I will
never accept that the party or the group uses me like a decoration so that
people can say the Freedom and Justice was the first party to nominate a woman
for chairmanship because this is against my principles,” she told Al Arabiya.
Sakkari
stressed that women in the Freedom and Justice Party do play a major role and
are not like many claim used as a tool to convey an image of tolerance and
modernity.
“We have a
political role and we are serving the country through the party exactly like
men do. Women in the party are strong and will never allow anyone to strip them
of their rights.”
Sakkari
said she is taking her nomination seriously and that she will do her best to
win through the platform she will offer.
“In my
platform, I pay special attention to women and youths, whom I believe should
get the chance to occupy the highest positions in the party. Women in
particular are very important since the progress of any society is closely
related to them. ”
Sakkari
said that if she becomes the FJP chairwoman, she will not make unilateral
decisions and will always consult other members of the party.
When asked
whether in case she wins the chairmanship of the party, she can later run for
presidency like what happened with the party’s President Mursi, Sakkari said
that Muslim scholars have differed about the presidency of women.
“However,
what they all agreed on is that a woman cannot be a Caliph, but there is
nothing to prove that she cannot rule over one state within the Muslim nation.”
Sakkari
said she didn’t mind running for presidency if members of the Freedom and
Justice party agree to her nomination.
“It is also
important that the culture of the society changes so that people can accept a
female president.”
In response
to reports that a woman from the Muslim Brotherhood has to seek her husband’s
approval before assuming any political position, Sakkari pointed out the
difference between approval and consultation.
“I would
never run for or assume any position without telling my husband, but in this case
I consult him rather than seek his permission as long as he initially approved
my work in politics.”
Sakkari is
a graduate of the Faculty of Pharmacy. She is married to a professor at the
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and is mother to four children. She was chairing
of the Women’s Committee in the party’s Central Cairo branch.
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