Hazem Salah Abu-Ismail (Photo: Al-Ahram)
Egypt's foreign ministry confirmed on Saturday that Hazem Salah Abu-Ismail's late mother was granted the US citizenship in 2006, a fact that shall rule him out of the presidential race.
Claims that Abu Ismail's mother was a naturalized US citizen surfaced last week after he handed in his recommendations required to run for presidency to the Supreme Presidential Electoral Commission (SPEC).
The accusations have flooded social media networks in the last few days as the Salafist preacher strenuously denied what he and his supporters repeatedly described as a malicious rumour.
The Egyptian electoral rules exclude anyone if either of their parents (or the candidate themself) holds dual nationality.
On Friday, supporters of Abu-Ismail went in thousands to Tahrir Square and threatened to escalate their protests against what they describe as a fraudulent political and media campaign against the Salafist candidate.
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