The 83-year-old Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood is giving itself a 21st Century facelift just in time for the upcoming September parliamentary elections.
Last week, the Brotherhood's old guard Supreme Shura Council announced it had established an "independent" political party to serve as a political party front for the Brotherhood just in time for the upcoming September parliamentary elections. The new storefront sign replacing "Muslim Brotherhood" will innocuously be renamed the "Freedom and Justice Party" (FJP) headed by no less than a current senior member of the Muslim Brotherhood's Executive Bureau and principal media spokesman, Mohammed Morsy.
In unveiling the FJP, Morsy declared that "the party will be completely independent from the Muslim Brotherhood in every way."
I guess sort of like how the Tea Party is "independent" of the Republican Party.
The Brotherhood's makeover is based on expedient legal as well as political considerations since the Brotherhood can no longer claim it constitutes the only alternative opposition to the Mubarak regime.
Under Egypt's newly amended constitution the establishment of political parties based on religious platforms is prohibited, and so the pronouncement represents a legal fig leaf deployed by the Muslim Brotherhood to create the optical illusion that it and the FJP are indeed "separate."
More importantly, the Brotherhood's leadership calculated that it would be far more expedient (and probably increase its electoral popularity) to create the FJP in order to try to increase its appeal among more secular and currently Brotherhood-adverse Egyptians.
The FJP sounds soothingly similar in Arabic to Turkey's "Justice and Development Party (AKP)," but it would be an act of self-delusion to equate the FJP and the AKP even though the Brotherhood's English speaking media representatives and their western amen choir will do their best to hoodwink Egyptians and others that the "moderate" FJP is totally divorced from the Brotherhood. Tearing a page from any western political party playbook Morsy -- a polished media-savvy spinner -- will extol the virtues of the FJP's commitment to "democracy" and "civil liberties" as well as to "women's rights" and the need to "protect minorities."
However, until the Muslim Brotherhood undertakes radical surgery to its own intolerant, anti-democratic charter and constitution... caveat emptor. The propaganda will be little more than lipstick on livestock.
In reality, the Brotherhood's leadership made a very calculated decision that it preferred creating a new political front organization with a more vaguely modernistic sounding political platform and more appealing set of political slogans, rather than toss overboard its founding principles set forth in the Brotherhood's ultra-conservative Islamist 1928 founding charter and constitution.
Those founding principles are virulently intolerant in every respect to less observant Egyptians as well as to non-Muslims whether living in Egypt, or throughout the rest of the world (antisemitism, not just anti-Zionism, is a major principle of the Brotherhood's charter).
And while the Brotherhood renounced the use of violence domestically and has no armed wing like Hamas or other Brotherhood offshoots, it nevertheless condones violence by Hamas against Israel as well as violence by other chapters of the Muslim Brotherhood in other countries throughout the Middle East, including in Afghanistan.
Writing in Asharq Aawsat on May 4 Adel Al Toraifi -- a highly respected Egyptian journalist -- surmised that the Muslim Brotherhood was doing nothing more than "... replacing the sign on the party headquarters in order to conceal the ideology of the old party."
Naturally, many Egyptians wonder whether this is just old wine in new bottles designed to conveniently distance the Brotherhood before the campaign begins in earnest from its Salafist political allies who are stoking a tragic rash of sectarian violence against Egypt's Christian minority Copts.
It's not that the Brotherhood is irrevocably destined to remain a paleo-Islamist monolithic entity. It has a younger, relatively moderate, more reformist element. During the Tahrir uprising slight fissures began emerging between its old guard and younger members who championed the revolution more overtly. In recent years, several younger, more moderate leaders have indeed split away or been forced out by the dominant ruling elders of the movement. A former Brotherhood leader left in 1996 to form the Wasat (Center) Party.
But nothing that its leadership has done before or since the revolution so far suggests that the Muslim Brotherhood itself is prepared to undertake its own adjustment to a more pluralistic, more tolerant, democratic society other than undertake this Potemkin-like redo.
Indeed, not to be outdone by the Brotherhood's public relations foray, the radical Islamist Salafist movement is creating its own political party called "Peace and Development Party (PDP)" (sound soothingly famiiar?) headed by "former" Salafi terrorist Kamal Habib, who was once a member in the outlawed terrorist organization, Jamaa Al Islamiya.
Even when it was a Mubarak-era illegal political party, the Muslim Brotherhood was able to win close to 25% of Egypt's parliamentary seats. And after years underground the Brotherhoodhas demonstrated its emerging voter appeal across Egypt by joining forces with the Egyptian military to resoundingly defeat the unorganized secular democrats and force through constitutional amendments they opposed in last month's referendum.
That defeat was a wake-up call to Egypt's young secular revolutionaries.
Setting aside (at least temporarily) differences thousands of activists from more secular groups formed what is known as the "National Council" which met in Cairo last weekend in a "First Conference for Egypt: Towards Protecting the Revolution."
The purpose of the gathering was to establish guiding principles for a new political party to compete in the upcoming parliamentary and presidential elections, as well as to agree upon provisions for a newly redrafted constitution.
It dawned on these young democratic revolutionaries that they were no match for the more politically organized Brotherhood and its allies unless they united and created an effective national political apparatus to prevent their hard won Tahrir Square victory from being hijacked by the military and its odd political alliance with the Brotherhood-Salfist Islamist coalition. In a telling sign, the Muslim Brotherhood rejected an invitation to participate in the National Council's conference.
I am prepared to venture a prediction that the day after Egypt's tentatively scheduled September parliamentary elections, FJP and its more shady extremist Salfist-oriented political allies will likely emerge victorious with a plurality of seats in the new parliament unless the secular democrats can avoid squabbling and split their votes a hundred ways to Sunday.
If I am correct (and I certainly hope I am not), this potential outcome represents an ominous development for the future of Egypt's secular democratic activists as well as for the region and the United States.
All the more reason why it behooves anyone who justifiably fears an Islamist hijacking of Egypt's secular-oriented revolution to quickly redouble efforts to provide the National Council with the financial and organizational assistance it needs to compete in the upcoming elections, as well as to provide its leaders with well-reasoned and financially viable economic programs to offer the Egyptian people as a viable alternative to the FJP Islamist economic social welfare programs that have undergirded the vitality of the Muslim Brotherhood throughout the Arab world.
Kudos to the Obama Administration for a timely and bold new initiative to provide $1 billion in debt relief in addition to a new infusion of trade and investment incentives to offset Egypt's huge financial losses due to the disappearance of vital tourism revenue. This, more than any other act by the U.S., will help Egypt's democracy forces prove they can transform their hard won gains into a national program of transparent, economic recovery.
Kurt J. Werthmuller: Getting Away With It: Egypt's Religious Minorities Need the Rule of Law
against the set of rules provided by nature,as it did for all the other living things. It is said that Humans are the only Living things,blessed with 'intellect'. Then is it possible that the Blessings are misused? When will humans be awakened? As Humans are digging the planet they are living on. What will be the
end-result of the digging of one's dwelling place?
Last year, its leader, Muhammad Badi’, spoke enthusiastically of jihad and called for a state based on Islamic law. He also spoke optimistically about the U.S. heading for a collapse.
The Muslim Brotherhood’s second-in-command, Rashad Al-Bayoumi, recently emphasized the priority the Brotherhood accords to abrogating the Egyptian-Israeli peace treaty and even cited this objective as a prime purpose of its future participation in government.
The Muslim Brotherhood platform, leaked in August 2007, states that, under the Muslim Brotherhood, the president and legislative branch will be advised by clerics, who must approve decisions; non-Muslims will be barred from the presidency and that the presidency is unsuitable for women.
U.S. legitimizing the Muslim Brotherhood enhances its prospects of carrying out its aims and would turn Egypt from being a U.S. ally in to a U.S. enemy. The Egyptian public has no experience of democracy and supports many illiberal, anti-democratic views and attitudes that might enable the Muslim Brotherhood to come to power: A 2010 Pew poll indicates 74% of Egyptians favoring the imposition of strict sharia (Islamic) law and 84% supporting the death penalty for those who convert out of Islam. So a Muslim Brotherhoo¬d takeover is possible.
The Muslim Brotherhood’s official newly established Freedom and Justice Party has commenced procedures in obtaining applications from the Parties Affairs Committee.
http://www.ikhwanweb.com/article.php?id=28554
Legitimizing the Muslim Brotherhood and a U.S. failure to make it clear that it will not tolerate an Islamist take-over in Egypt could do immense harm to American interests, Israel and the region. It could produce a new, powerful American and Israeli enemy, result in the destruction of the Egyptian-Israeli peace and the plunging of the region into enormous instability. The U.S. must oppose it clearly and declare it will cease aid to Egypt if this occurs.
What are you going to do, invade? :))
Muhammad Ghannem reportedly told Al- Alam that the Suez Canal should be closed immediately, and that the flow of gas from Egypt to Israel should cease “in order to bring about the downfall of the Mubarak regime.” He added that “the people should be prepared for war against Israel,” saying the world should understand that “the Egyptian people are prepared for anything to get rid of this regime.”
..."For many reasons, the near term looks problematic (in Egypt).
Liberal activists were responsible for the takeoff of the revolution but Islamists and the military have been defining the landing. From the moment the Islamists committed themselves to the fight, their goal has been to capture, exploit and inherit the revolution.
Deep concern about the Muslim Brotherhood's potential emergence as a major player and even power-broker is warranted. The Brotherhood is not, as some suggest, simply an Egyptian version of the March of Dimes - that is, a social welfare organization whose goals are fundamentally humanitarian. On the contrary, the Brotherhood is a profoundly political organization that seeks to reorder Egyptian (and broader Muslim) society in an Islamist fashion.
The organization will exploit whatever opportunities it is offered; it has renounced its most ambitious goals and the violent means to achieve them only as a result of regime compulsion, not by free choice. Should the Brotherhood achieve political power, it will almost certainly use that power to transform Egypt into a very different place.
However, it would be a mistake for the U.S. to operate under the assumption that the Brotherhood's ascension to power is inevitable.
Moreover, recent actions by the Supreme Military Council suggest that the Egyptian military does not intend to change an electoral system that effectively prevents the Brotherhood from achieving political power through the ballot box."
Let's hope.
Peace with Israel is not what they consider the end all be all of progress.
Projecting onto Egypt your own priorities is nice, for you.
-The prohibition of Free Mixing between male and female students; and to consider privacy between a non-Mahram (marriageable) male and female a punishable crime. [i.e.: if a non-related man & woman are caught together "in privacy" (in the same room), that would constitute "a punishable crime"];
- The closure of morally undesirable ballrooms and dance halls, and the prohibition of dancing and other such pastimes. [dancing -- also a crime];
- The inspection of theatres and cinemas, and a rigorous selection of playscripts and film rolls. [censorship of artistic expression];
- The censorship of songs, and a rigorous selection and inspection of them.
- The careful selection of lectures, songs, and subjects to be broadcast to the nation; the use of radio broadcasting for the education of the nation in a virtuous and moral way. [media turned into propaganda tool];
- The confiscation of provocative stories and books that implant the seeds of scepticism in an insidious manner, and newspapers which strive to disseminate immorality and capitalise indecently on lustful desires. [no freedom of press];
- [...] moral censorship, and punishment of all who are proved to have infringed any Islamic doctrine or attacked it, such as breaking the fast of Ramadan, wilful neglect of prayers, Insulting the faith, and similar such matters. [policing faith];
- Merging the elementary village schools with the mosque [...];
- A consideration into the means of gradually forming a national uniform [wiping out individual identity].
- An end to party rivalry, and directing the political forces of the nation into a unified front [i.e. one-party rule];
- Amending the law, such that it conforms to all branches of Islamic legislation [imposition of Shariah law];
- Reinforcing the armed forces, and increasing the number of youth groups; igniting in them the spirit of Islamic jihad [radicalizing the army and youth];
- Strengthening the ties between all the Islamic countries […] to pave the way for a practical and serious consideration concerning the departed Caliphate [imperialistic foreign policy, aimed at recreating the Caliphate -- "a Muslim Empire"].
- Spreading the Islamic spirit throughout all departments of the government, so that all its employees will feel responsible for adhering to Islamic teachings [only Muslims in government];
- […] the imposition of sever penalties for moral offences. [floggings, stonings, hangings, beheadings for "crimes against morality];
- To deal with the ‘woman issue’ - In a way which will both elevate her position and provide her protection, in accordance with the Islamic teachings.
- [...] the instruction of women in what is proper, with particular strictness as regards female teachers, pupils, physicians, and students, and all those in similar categories.
- A review of the curricula offered to girls and the necessity of making them distinct from the boys' curricula in many of the stages of education.
A much better article on Egypt's transformation of the regional power base is here on Jonathan Cook's website.
http://www.jkcook.net/Articles3/0559.htm#Top
Another one who's dreaming of Israel's demise.
"A poll published last week by the Pew Research Centre showed that 54 per cent of Egyptians backed the annulment of the 1979 peace treaty with Israel, with only 36 per cent wanting it maintained."
I can't imagine that even you think that is a good idea, but I may be wrong.
Also I don't understand your crack about "The RW's angst". Ginsberg is generally considered a liberal or at most a centrist.
"I can't imagine that even you think that is a good idea, but I may be wrong."
It likely contains provisions for assisting Israel with it's blockade and repression of the Palestinians and needs to be revised to be accurate. If the Israelis say that's cassus belli, that's a direct threat. Anything done under Mubarek needs revising, obviously.
"Ginsberg is generally considered a liberal or at most a centrist."
Obviously, not in my opinion. And his fears about an 'islamicist hijacking' of Egypt is most definitely a Right Wing concern. Promoting the Islamicist boogieman's still exclusively a RW prerogative, unless I'm mistaken.
Pew Research has absconded with the Barnes Art collection. You can learn about it by viewing "The Art of the Steal" which is available on DVD.
From the Muslim Brotherhood Testimony:
http://www.ikhwanweb.com/article.php?id=4185
http://gatesofvienna.blogspot.com/2010/09/islamism-and-stratagem-part-iii.html
As separate as ersatz democracy and actual democracy?
“Morsy -- a polished media-savvy spinner -- will extol the virtues of the FJP's commitment to "democracy"
Then Morsy, and you at the back there; Barack is it? Do you swear to uphold and support the principle of government by the will of the majority of the people, on pain of banishment or imprisonment? Then nothing you may do, can protect you from being held accountable by the nation's armed forces. Acting on behalf and in the interests of, a free electorate.
“caveat emptor”.
We came. We voted. We were disillusioned. Nay duped/defrauded even.
“anti-Zionism, is a major principle of the Brotherhood's charter”
But isn’t anti-semantics far more prevalent and unwholesome a manifestation than anti-Semitism?
Since it seems to permeate all systems of government. Including that of Israel itself.
“nothing that its leadership has done before or since the revolution so far suggests that the Muslim Brotherhood itself is prepared to undertake its own adjustment to a more pluralistic, more tolerant, democratic society”
Now who do we know that could and would show by example, that democracy is a living breathing evolving entity? Rather than a plaything of the corrupt.
“I am prepared to venture a prediction that the day after Egypt's tentatively scheduled September parliamentary elections”
party political politics will have polluted the poll. But anyway, to hell with voters. Why not just step in and buy the politicians wholesale?
Thousands attend joint Brotherhood-Salafi rally
May 8, 2011
Cairo: More than 50,000 people on Saturday attended a joint rally held by the M*slim Brotherhood group and Salafis in Haram district, Giza.
The organizers chanted slogans stating that the Brotherhood and the Salafis are one, and that both seek to apply the Islamic Sharia.
“The United Arab States and the United Islamic States are inevitably coming,” said prominent Salafi preacher Safwat Hegazy at the rally. “And soon we will have one caliph to rule us all.”
http://www.almasryalyoum.com/en/node/428732
"Hegazy condemned those who burnt the church in Imbaba on Saturday. “They are not Salafis or Brothers, nor are they Egyptians,” he said. “They are the enemy that incites sectarian strife.”"