- MB News
- March 21, 2011
- 13 minutes read
MB Chairman: A Leading MB Executive Bureau Member Will Resign to Head Freedom & Justice
In the first interview with the state-run Al-Ahram newspaper, MB Chairman Mohammed Badi has noted that the Brothers were committed to apply shura principle in all walks of life.
Do you think the army will repeat its stay in power as he did after the 1952 revolution? Some political forces urged the military to agree that the military has taken the reigns of power in Egypt for two or three years, asking why were they in a hurry? Despite the fact that its leaders say we do not want it because our main task is to protect the borders. Israel pressed Burundi to sign the Convention on the sharing of the Nile waters amid military concern for the conduct of governmental affairs. However, I am confident that the army will return to its barracks.
future has raised many concerns, why?
Badi: This fear is justified and I called the political powers to a meeting yesterday and it was attended by 50 people representing nearly all the political spectrum, including those representing the Copt in the sight of the Supreme Council of the Arms Forces. The goal is that people will be well aware that we are all one hand as we were in Cairo’s Tahrir Square to challenge attempts to counter the revolution’s gains and to affirm freedom of belief and worship.
Al-Ahram: "Does this, in turn, negate the people’s concern?
Mohammed Badi: We will respect the results of the referendum and those voting no, but we will vote "yes" and we assure all that the MB will not contest every parliamentary seat in the upcoming election and will not nominate anyone for the presidency.
Al-Ahram: Do you think that you can acquire a majority?
Badi: Yes, we are able to do so as we won a fifth of the seats in the 2005 election. The MB at that time said: We do not aspire for a majority in the upcoming parliament, and this is a message to all political parties although we have the ability to compete for 448 seats. If we are able to do this at a time of distress, it is not difficult for us to do it now.
Al-Ahram: Is it intelligent if you really have a majority to make unjustified concessions?
Badie: We do not seek it because the threat of aMuslim Brotherhood takeover is still used as a scarecrow for foreign powers to keep meddling in Egypt’s internal affairs.
Mohammed Badi: Everyone closely monitors the Brothers, whether at home or abroad? Internally, some claimed that when the MB achieve a majority we will exclude other opposition parties while US and Israeli’s news outlets, from across the political spectrum, are still wrongly echoing this fear originally concocted by Mubarak to keep his grip on power. Therefore, we declared we will not dominate, but only participate.
Al-Ahram: Does the claim that you will have the full majority actually mean the exclusion of other political powers, such as the Salafis and Sufis?
Mohammed Badi: The Brotherhood has always stressed that they do not seek a majority and are keen on the participation of others in order to ensure real reform. Spreading rumors about Brothers are illegitimate means of politics and have no basis and trade union elections clearly prove it.
Al-Ahram: I see that tyou agree with the army in everything. Do you feel assured about the army and are you not afraid that they will seize power like the officers of the July Revolution?
Mohammed Badi: Municipal polls are the most dangerous and must be resolved, because it is a basis by which service is given to people in an easier way and MPs dedicate themselves to the legislation. We call upon people to dissolve, but not now.
Badi: ‘Freedom and Justice’ will be completely independent, not binding on the MB’s Executive Bureau and will be subject to the laws regulating the licensing of opposition parties.
Badi: This question has no place here.
Al-Ahram: Does this mean that you agree to the Copts’ demands; most importantly permission to build churches?
