CAIRO, April 5 (Aswat Masriya) Egypt's Dar al-Ifta said on Saturday that buying votes is religiously prohibited because it counts as bribery which is forbidden in Islam.   

It urged voters to choose their candidates carefully regardless of their party or affiliation and to maintain an atmosphere of fair and transparent competition. 

Dar al-Ifta also stressed on the importance of fair accurate reporting and refraining from defaming others and asked for fair campaigning.