Female Candidate for Egyptian Parliament: 'Women are Deficient in Intelligence' and it is 'Not Permissible for Them to Be in Authority

In what seems a rather counterproductive statement for a woman seeking political office -- a position of "authority" -- to make, one female Egyptian parliamentary candidate made the damning affirmation that women are "deficient" in both "intelligence and religion" and thus it is "impermissible" for them to hold positions of authority.

One wonders how Muna Salah reconciles her own candidacy for higher office then. Well, according to Translating Jihad, Salah justifies her parliamentary bid by asserting the role would grant her "partial" rather than full authority. If elected, Salah seeks to implement Shariah law.

A female salafi candidate for Egyptian Parliament, Muna Salah, said to al-Sharq al-Awsat that women are deficient in intelligence and religion, and it is not permissible for them to be in authority or to occupy the office of the presidency. She defended her candidacy for the People's Council, saying that acting as a representative in the Council is only partial authority and not complete authority, such as the presidency of the republic. She added that she seeks to apply the Islamic shari'a, including cutting off the hands of thieves, preventing the mingling of men and women, and specifying black clothes for women and white clothes for men.

Translating Jihad also points out that Salah's belief in a woman's lack of intelligence and religion comes from somewhere -- and that she is in fact quoting directly from Muhammad, as recorded in Sahih al-Bukhari:

Narrated Abu Said Al-Khudri: Once Allah's Apostle went out to the Musalla (to offer the prayer) o 'Id-al-Adha or Al-Fitr prayer. Then he passed by the women and said, "O women! Give alms, as I have seen that the majority of the dwellers of Hell-fire were you (women)." They asked, "Why is it so, O Allah's Apostle ?" He replied, "You curse frequently and are ungrateful to your husbands. I have not seen anyone more deficient in intelligence and religion than you. A cautious sensible man could be led astray by some of you." The women asked, "O Allah's Apostle! What is deficient in our intelligence and religion?" He said, "Is not the evidence of two women equal to the witness of one man?" They replied in the affirmative. He said, "This is the deficiency in her intelligence. Isn't it true that a woman can neither pray nor fast during her menses?" The women replied in the affirmative. He said, "This is the deficiency in her religion."

With candidates like Salah running for office, one is forced to ask: Where is the "moderate" Egypt of the post-Arab Spring?

(h/t: TheReligionOfPeace)