MB’s comprehensive proposal for Shura Council elections

MB’s comprehensive proposal for Shura Council elections

The Muslim Brotherhood has officially announced that it will contest the 2010 Shura Council mid-term elections using its motto Al-Islam hua Al-Hal (Islam is the solution to everything).”

 

The Muslim Brotherhood group will contest the Shura Council mid-term elections as they believe they are following their religious duty to achieve comprehensive, political, economic and social reform. This can be done by removing the apparent contradiction between the principles of Shariah and fundamentals of modern civil state, the entrenchment of a right to freedom of every single human being and the demand for good governance which establishes the principles of justice and equality among all members of society.

 

The MB will participate in the elections with the purpose of defending rights and principles and promoting respect for the nation’s will. The MB believe in the awareness of the principle of separation of powers, the peaceful rotation of power, respect for the judiciary’s  independence, the freedom to form political parties, the right to publish newspapers, magazines, and other printed matter without governmental restriction. The MB vow to combat any forms of corruption, tyranny and flagrant violations of human rights and openly declares to reject the current state of emergency. They also intend to take significant steps in providing practical solutions for the country’s real problems, easing burdens on the citizens, and establishing the people’s right to benefit equally from the distribution of the country’s wealth and resources.

 

The Movement has maintained  that the Muslim Brotherhood’s theme, “Islam is the solution” is consistent with several articles of the Egyptian Constitution, as stipulated in Article II, which has in fact  been confirmed by the Supreme Administrative Court

This comes at a time when the group’s platform consisting of 7 chapters has been published to cover ways in achieving Egypt ‘s social, economic, political, and development reform, at home and abroad.

 

Elements of political reform


“The most significant principle of the desired reform is to create great value for man basically because he is an effective means for the desired change. The importance of ensuring freedom and human rights for all people, regardless of color, sex, and religion because it is an inherent right of the people prompted by the MB. 

Politically, the group’s approach states the necessity for the reform of courts and the electoral system to be democratic within the framework of Islamic law. This will ultimately establish the basic right of the individual to actively participate politically as a basis to rationalize the political decision-making, both internally and externally.

The Brotherhood calls for the   limiting of the president’s term with a maximum of only two successive terms. The country’s leader should not preside over any political party and should be separate from executive power. The group calls for the elimination of the state of emergency, and the emergency law and all freedom-restricting legislations. They advocate the amendment of Articles 76, 77 and 88 of the Egyptian Constitution. 

The movement requests an independent and impartial judicial body to be responsible in overseeing the electoral management process and constitutional referendums. Its key task would be to supervise the elections, during nomination and throughout the entire process of voting and counting as well as the declaring of its results. The executive bodies and security services related to election which must be fully subjected to the Independent Judicial Commission must be taken into account.

Regarding Palestine , the Brotherhood petitions the reconsidering of the treaties and international agreements, particularly the Camp David  Accords its terms and provisions which have been presented in a referendum with the necessity of activating the role played by the Arab league. Its charter, mechanisms of joint Arab, African and Egyptian role must be reviewed

The Brotherhood emphasizes the necessity of the evacuation of the occupying forces from Iraq and the enabling of Iraqis to handle their own affairs since Iraqi’s occupation is an Arab national security issue. They also called for further Arab intervention to resolve Sudan ‘s problems.

 They urged to pay attention to the public security to maintain stability in the society, support means of combating organized crimes and protect morality by exerting efforts to reform the various security services and maintain its objectives towards defending the society without prejudice or bias.
 
Regarding the economy the movement declares that any reform must be primarily based on self-reliant development through the mobilization of domestic savings, making full use of local financial, human and natural resources. The group stresses the need for transparency and accurate database to create a stable investment marked by clarity.

 With regard to privatization, the MB maintains they have absolute confidence in the existing capabilities of the Egyptian economy and believes that its productive sectors can create opportunities for growth and development through local financial sources if they are properly utilized.

The movement urges to provide continuous health care to all citizens. Regardless of their financial status, health services and insurance should be available for all. In addition to better services which contribute to improving the quality of health service with much attention to public health institutes.

 As for scientific research, the movement prompts the developing of a national plan which identifies the priorities of scientific, research linking it to production centers in order to attract scientists and researchers working abroad.

 The Brotherhood addressed in its program the urban development which stipulates that construction is one of the most significant duties of Islam. They urge the exerting of efforts towards wider urban development including urban planning, housing, facilities, transport, communications and tourism development which have been integrated into the concept of urban development. The MB aim at maximizing the use of development constituents, enhancing national security, and providing adequate housing facilities and services for a comfortable and dignified life.

Transportation is one of the most  critical service sectors in the continued development of other sectors of the economy as the finished products is delivered to domestic and  international markets, hence the importance of advanced transportation system. The development in supplying advanced transportation and communication services for citizens will result in the redistribution of population and housing on the economic map of the state.

 The development of the Egyptian economy regarding tourism demands taking pride in the country. It specifies the drawing up of suitable plans for the protection of tourist areas in ancient Egyptian cities, on the coasts of the Mediterranean and Red Sea primarily based on modern touristic means. The unplanned growth of buildings around these areas must be prevented to promote the tourism.

Concerning the agricultural development, the Muslim Brotherhood calls for the increase of agricultural areas through the revival of mega-projects, adopting an agricultural policy which ensures a change in crop structure in order to achieve self-sufficiency, producing high value crops appropriate also for export. Seeking to provide irrigation water for all reclaimed agricultural lands and revitalize Egypt- Arab and Egypt- European agreements will also contribute to the agricultural development.

 The Muslim Brotherhood adopts a different perspective for the industry. It states that “industry in the modern era is the backbone of the economy and development inspired by the need for concerted efforts by the State and the private sectors, whether local, Arab or international, to build a solid manufacturing base

The Brotherhood’s vision on the reform of religious institutions states that they call to activate the role of the Islamic Research Academy, restructuring its institutions and the integration of a council of Senior Religious Scholars into it working hard to elect its members and the Grand Imam Sheikh of Al-Azhar mosque.

 

The MB’s program regarding the Coptic Church is primarily based on “the necessity of supporting the leading role of the Egyptian Church in defending society’s ethics and values, as well as confronting ever-growing cultural invasion aimed at the Egyptian society and Arab and Muslim world.