Salafist presidential hopeful Hazem Saleh Abu-Ismail has denied rumours that he is ineligible to run as a candidate because his mother holds US citizenship.
Media reports circulating since Wednesday evening claimed that Abu-Ismail's mother is an American citizen are completely false, Abu-Ismail said. Other reports claimed that his wife holds US citizenship as well.
"I would like to inform people that all my family are from Mansoura," said Abu-Ismail. "This is just the season of rumours. Let them use this stuff to sell papers if they want."
According to Egyptian law, candidates for the presidency must be solely Egyptian with both parents holding only Egyptian citizenship.
Abu-Ismail is a prominent Salafist preacher who is considered one of the frontrunners for the presidential race.
