MB Parliamentarians Warn Against Security-Controlled Shura Elections

MB Parliamentarians Warn Against Security-Controlled Shura Elections

 The Muslim Brotherhood parliamentary bloc attacked the Egyptian regime”s repression against opposition and giving the security services the green light to settle political battles. The MB bloc cited incidents of violence carried out against Muslim Brotherhood candidates in the current Shura Council elections, the first practical implementation of the notorious constitutional amendments, and ensuing laws that legalize oppressing political opponents .


The bloc detailed in a statement issued on Tuesday June, 5, 2007, the violations committed against MB candidates for the Shura Council elections and supporters, in addition to the exercises committed by Interior Ministry since the first day of opening nomination for those elections. Candidates were prevented from reaching committees that receive nomination papers, bailiffs were beaten, lawyers were threatened and candidates were beaten. Many MB candidate missed the three day period of nomination due to these oppressive exercises. The Interior ministry maintained its oppressive campaigns against those who managed to lodge their nomination papers through hunting them down, arresting them in police stations and fabricating charges against their supporters !


The bloc lamented such a big retreat in political reform which is aspired by all people, and those deep relapses that dashed hopes for democracy, warning that this may pose a threat to the political scene as a whole.


The MB bloc”s statement called for abiding by the rule of law, showing respect to court rulings and protecting human rights and dignity.




The Text of the Statement



Statement from Muslim Brotherhood parliamentary bloc


Regarding


Violations against MB candidates, supporters in Shura Council elections



Since the constitutional amendments were first unveiled last December 2006, it was clear that the ruling National Party and its government planned to monopolize power forever, whatever the cost, through a full exclusion of all political groups in Egypt.



However, the ruling party and government were always denying these charges and accuse any one repeating them of worst accusations. The Shura Council midterm elections were the first practical application of these notorious constitutional amendments. The Shura elections were set immediately after passing notorious laws in parliament after the ruling party tailored them without consulting any power. These laws practically legalize oppressing the opposition and rigging the elections.



When the election measures started, the Interior Ministry started to run these elections in its familiar and well-known methods; Candidates were prevented from reaching committees that receive nomination papers, bailiffs were beaten, lawyers were threatened and candidates were beaten. Many MB candidate missed the three day period of nomination due to these oppressive exercises.



Then, the Interior ministry launched its oppressive campaigns against those who managed to lodge their nomination papers through harassing them hunting them down, arresting them in police stations and fabricating charges against their supporters. The Interior Ministry does all these injustices to clear the way for the National Party candidates to win uncontested and unopposed!



Due to the abovementioned oppressions, the Muslim Brotherhood parliamentary bloc voices its concern over such a big retreat in political reform which is aspired by all people, and those deep relapses that dashed hopes for democracy. This may pose a threat to the overall political scene that reached its worst ever in Egypt.


The Muslim Brotherhood MPs see that the government oppressive practices of monopolizing all state services in a sharp, aggressive and violent confrontation with 19 Muslim Brotherhood candidates who represent the Egyptians aspirations twards democracy an reform, they see this as unreasonable and unacceptable, warning that this may lead to the spread of the culture of violence and risking the future of this homeland.


 


The parliamentary bloc calls for abiding by the rule of law, fully respecting court rulings and protecting human rights and dignity, and to stop risking every thing in this homeland.



The Muslim Brotherhood”s parliamentary bloc confirms also that helping Egypt to improve and overcome problems and crises can”t be done by one political group even if this group is a party that thinks of itself as a majority and that it assumes all powers. Thus, the Other must be accepted and political participation must be embraced because Egypt belongs to and is and will be built by all


Dr Mohamed Saad Al-Katatny


Secretary General of the Muslim Brotherhood parliamentary bloc