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Parliamentary Candidate Shot Dead in North Sinai

Parliamentary Candidate  Shot Dead in North Sinai
Parliamentary Candidate  Shot Dead in North Sinai

A parliamentary candidate of the Salafist Nour Party, the only Islamist group running for parliament, was shot dead Saturday while leaving his house in the North Sinai city of Al-Arish, security sources said.

Mostafa Abdel-Rahman, a pharmacist, was the only candidate running for Nour Party in North Sinai. He was also the general secretary of the party in the governorate, Al-Ahram reported.

Eyewitnesses told security sources that two unknown assailants riding a motorcycle opened fire at Abdel-Rahman.

No group has yet claimed responsibility for Abdel-Rahman’s assassination.

The Salafist Nour Party is the only Islamist-based party that supported the ouster of Islamist president Mohamed Morsi in July 2013.

They were also supporters of the “roadmap” that was implemented following Morsi’s ouster and entails three stages: a constitutional referendum, presidential polls and parliamentary elections.

The Nour Party, the political arm of the Salafist Call, are supporters of Egypt’s current president, Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi, and are the only Islamist grouping participating in the parliamentary elections.

Egypt’s parliamentary elections started in their first phase on 18-19 October in 14 governorates. Elections in the rest of Egypt’s governorates (13 in total, including North Sinai) will take place on 22-23 November.

Last Thursday, the Egyptian armed forces spokesperson announced that Egypt’s army had gained full control over the North Sinai areas of Al-Arish, Rafah and Sheikh Zuwaid after successful raids on terrorist strongholds and weapons caches.

 

Financialtribune.com