The Muslim Brotherhood’s presidential hopeful said Egyptian woman are entitled to the same rights as men under the law, lauding women’s role in society as he headed into a presidential runoff race in less than two weeks.

Mohammed Mursi said in a televised news conference that women’s rights are guaranteed under the law and that they provide a key contribution to Egyptian society. The comments mark Mursi’s push to win over secularists and others who fear that a win by him in the presidential runoff, slated to begin June 16, would lead to the imposition of Islamic law.

“I’m not saying this because of the elections,” Mursi said.

To contact the reporter on this story: Tarek El-Tablawy in Cairo at teltablawy@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Andrew J. Barden at barden@bloomberg.net.