CAIRO — The Salafi Call has been known to modify and review several fatwas in the past, in light of prevailing political circumstances. Between 2011 and 2014, the movement had issued a fatwa prohibiting Coptic candidates from running in the parliamentary elections, but then in 2015 it changed its mind to include a number of Copts on its electoral lists, as per the election law at the time.

This time, the Salafi Call seems to be having a change of heart in regard to women in leadership positions.

The shift in position came under the spotlight March 30 when one of the users of the Salafi internet platform Anasalafy (I am Salafi) raised the subject. The user asked, “Has the Salafi Call changed its opinion on women in [public] leadership positions? Women were not allowed to assume positions such as governor, but now no objections are being raised in this respect! A fatwa by the Salafi Call’s deputy chief Yasser Borhami stated that the position of governor varies from one country to another and from one era to another, according to the law and the constitution as well as according to the current situation. Therefore, a decision in this respect requires further study of all of these circumstances. A hasty judgment without a legal, factual and Sharia examination is unacceptable.”

On April 3, Borhami answered the question, writing, “When we say a matter requires further examination, this does not mean that we have changed our mind. If this was the case, what is wrong in reconsidering [a fatwa] that appears to need further study, especially in light of the changing reality. The law confers to the governor powers that may be contradictory with the current circumstances in light of influential factors of each place and time. I think there is no constitutional, legal, Sharia and factual examination [of this matter], but we are exerting efforts in this direction.”