World Bulletin/News Desk

The Salafist Call, one of Egypt's leading Salafist movements and the Nour Party's ideological parent, has reiterated its rejection of perceived attempts to remove references to Islamic Sharia in the Egyptian constitution.

Several members of the 50-member panel tasked with amending the national charter had earlier voiced interest in removing an "explanatory" constitutional article on Islamic Sharia and modifying another on Egypt's "Islamic" identity.

Debate over the two articles "remains ongoing between those who want to adopt wording that would void Article 2 of any substance and others who want to consolidate [the role of] Sharia," Yasser Borhami, deputy head of the Salafist Call, said in a Monday statement.

Article 2 of Egypt's suspended constitution – approved last year via popular referendum – states: "Islam is the religion of the state, Arabic is its official language and the principles of Sharia are the main source of legislation."

Article 219, meanwhile, describes the "principles of Sharia" as "all proofs, jurisprudential bases and sources agreed upon by the Sunni schools."

"Some parties want ambiguous wording in order to empty the articles [on Sharia] of any substance," Borhami said without naming the "parties" in question.

The Nour Party argues that Article 219 in its current form aims to preserve Egypt's "Islamic identity" and preempt the establishment of a secular state.

Amending the constitution, which was suspended by the military following the July 3 ouster of elected president Mohamed Morsi, is a major component of an army-imposed "roadmap" for Egypt's political transition.

The roadmap also calls for holding parliamentary and presidential elections within nine months.

Most of Egypt's Islamist-leaning political parties, meanwhile, including the Muslim Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party and Gamaa Islamiya's Building and Construction Party, have boycotted the 50-member constitutional panel.

The Salafist Nour Party remains the only Islamist party to back the army-imposed roadmap or have a representative on the constitutional committee.