As the constituent assembly writes Egypt's new constitution, a leader from the Salafi (ultraconservative) Nour Party insists that there is no need to include an article to grant non-Muslims the right to resort to their own religious rituals in their personal affairs.

Younes Makhyoun, member of Nour's high board and of the constituent assembly, told Aswat Masriya that Sharia (Islamic) law allows for believers in monotheistic religions to resort to their own religious practices in their daily lives.

Meanwhile, Bishop Paul of Tanta, who is also a member of the constituent assembly, said that he will call on Christians to depart the country if their right to practice their own religious rituals was not granted by the new constitution.

Makhyoun however warned, what he described as "the minority who is delaying the (constitution writing) process", of dragging society into unnecessary struggles.

He insisted that Salafis in the assembly are the most keen to produce a constitution that truly represents all the different factions of society.