• MB News
  • March 21, 2011
  • 13 minutes read

MB Chairman: A Leading MB Executive Bureau Member Will Resign to Head Freedom & Justice

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.

 
The military junta assured him concerning their performance by two important focal points: first, they will not remain in power after a six-month transitional period, and the Egyptian people have successfully removed dictatorship rule and changed it into self rule by the people.

 
 When the army acted slowly and cautiously with the state security service, they may have been excused. The MB was worried, Badie said, questioning:

 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.

 
 Al-Ahram: The Brotherhood’s participation in decision-making over Egypt’s
 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.

 
 Al-Ahram: Is the use of the MB as a bogeyman limited at home or abroad?

 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: If you have not or will not specify a candidate for president, who is the fittest, in your opinion, to take over the presidency?

 
 Mohammed Badi: Egypt is full of talent, and when the politicians lay the foundation for a new political organization through which the president becomes the people’s servant with safeguards to prevent the emergence of new tyrants, he must be held accountable by the people who have the right to choose their representatives as the president is elected from the people and must be committed to freedom and justice, preserve their rights and care for all citizens without discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender, language, or religion.

 
 Al-Ahram: Do you prefer holding the presidential election first, before the parliamentary elections?

 
 Mohammed Badi: Holding elections for Egypt’s lower and upper houses of parliament before the presidential elections would guarantee that the new president will not have unlimited powers and people must be assured of the new mechanisms taken by the Army. Therefore, we agree with the parliamentary elections first.

 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: Regarding the July Revolution, at the time there was no previous experience and the situation was different as people took to streets to support the officers. First of all, the army promised real reform and change and then the military junta reneged on its promises and tortured innocents, at the top of which was the Brotherhood. The evidence now, however, is that the junta is a group, rather than individuals, such as Abdel Nasser, who ruled more or less as a dictator and insulted Mohammed Naguib.
 
 
 
 Al Ahram: What about local elections?

 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.

 
 Al Ahram: What about the Freedom and justice party, will you preside over it as MBchairman?
 
 Mohammed Badi: The Freedom and Justice Party will be independent and its membership will be open to all Egyptians who accept the terms of its program after it has been founded.
 
Al-Ahram: Do you preside over it or will its responsibilities be assigned for others in the Executive Bureau?

 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.
 Al-Ahram: Will the party be similar to Iran’s Expediency Council?

 Badi: This question has no place here.

 
 
 Al-Ahram: Is party membership open for the Copts?
 
 Badi: Party membership will be open to all and they are welcome like Dr. Rafik Habib, who announced his willingness to join the party as both of us were talking about Egypt’s affairs on Tuesday.

 Al-Ahram: Does this mean that you agree to the Copts’ demands; most importantly permission to build churches?

 
 Badi: These issues were provoked by Mubarak’s regime to sow seeds of discord among people, even the Pope himself appealed to apply Islamic law in divorce. Christians have equal rights like Muslims and a law must be drafted to build places of worship for all.