Liberal Egyptian Party Files Criminal Complaint Over Fatwa Issued Against It

Egypt's Constitution Party which was formed last August to provide a liberal alternative to Islamist parties last week filed a complaint with prosecutors over a religious fatwa issued against it.  Ahram Online reports that Mohamed El-Athry, an Islamist sheikh and member of Egypt's Constituent Assembly issued a widely-circulated fatwa prohibiting anyone from joining the Constitution Party.  Salafist preacher Wagdy Ghoneim posted a video online strongly supporting the fatwa and calling the Constitution Party an infidel organization.  Last Thursday the Constitution Party filed a complaint with the supreme state security prosecutors charging El-Athry and Ghoneim with slander and public insult.