Egypt bans religious slogans in elections

[rug]

Latest Update: Monday10/10/2011October, 2011, 12:03 AM Doha Time
Reuters/Cairo

Egypt’s ruling military council has amended election rules to ban the use of religious slogans, a move the Muslim Brotherhood said yesterday may prompt it to reconsider using its traditional campaign phrase “Islam is the solution”.

The Brotherhood was banned under ousted president Hosni Mubarak but ran candidates as “independents”, who could be identified on posters by the Islamist group’s well-known slogan.

Many liberal politicians and Egyptians have been worried by the rising influence of the Brotherhood since the uprising. The group has sought to quell concerns by saying it wants a pluralist democracy and does not want to impose Islamic law.

“Electoral campaigns based on the use of religious slogans or on racial or gender segregation are banned,” a military council decree issued late on Saturday said, adding violators could face three months in jail and be fined.

http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=462952&version=1&template_id=37

[Silent3]

1. I don't like any restrictions on free speech

Then again, I wouldn't want to see someone take advantage of the upheaval in Egypt to push theocratic government. I guess I'd feel unnerved either way.