(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - El-Awa’s statement came in response to the widely held belief that he was a Shia due to his promotion of dialogue between the two main branches of Islam.
Ultra-conservative Islamists have strongly criticised El-Awa for defending the right of Shia Muslims to practice their version of Islam, accusing him of exaggerating similarities and toning down differences between Sunnis and Shias.
A well-known Islamic thinker and writer, El-Awa has been in the limelight for several years and is considered a “moderate Islamist.”
He declared his intention to run for president in June 2011.
Presidential elections will take place on 23 and 24 May, and the president will be named on 21 June after a runoff voting round on 16 and 17 June.
/106