The leaders of Egypt's various Sufi orders have yet to agree on whether to throw their support behind an anticipated presidential run by Gamal Mubarak, son of President Hosni Mubarak, in elections slated for next year. “He's the right person for the job. He has learned from his father,” said Mohamed al-Shahawi, head of the International Sufi Council. Al-Shahawi added, however, that he would not participate in a Gamal Mubarak electoral campaign until the presidential scion had officially announced his candidacy. “We cannot oblige our followers to vote for certain candidates,” al-Shahawi went on, referring to the estimated 15 million members of Egypt's various Sufi orders. For his part, Mohamed Madi Abul Azayem, leader of Egypt's influential Azayemiya Sufi order, said he would not vote for any candidate before reading their respective political programs. “The principle of appointing the son of a Sufi leader to succeed his father doesn't apply in national politics,” he said. “Leadership of an order is a spiritual post, while the presidency constitutes a public office.” Translated from the Arabic Edition.
