The Salafi party in Egypt, the party that most tries to follow the literal example of Muhammad and his first companions, wants the Egyptian government to uphold Islam’s apostasy law and penalties—punishing any born Muslim from abandoning Islam or even criticizing it (which is tantamount to breaking from Islam in Salafi eyes).
Sheikh Reda Thabit, who is on the shura council of the Salafi party, articulated this position soon after Islam Bahiri, a popular talk show host, made some “liberal” remarks about Islam, including criticizing the penalties for apostasy, which include death.
Al Nour (“the Light”)—the political wing of the Salafi Party in Egypt—is again showing well in parliamentary elections.