MB Statement on the Events at the Wafd Party Premises

Statement by Muslim Brothers on the Unfortunate Events
at the Premises of the Wafd Party:
 
 
In the Name of God, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate
 
Muslim Brothers deeply regret the events that took place yesterday at the headquarters of the ‘Wafd’ Party, which resulted in the injury of dozens of people, including journalists, caused a great damage to the political and party life in Egypt, and distorted the picture of an old party with a long history and impact on the struggle of the free Egyptian people.
 
We are confident that the ‘Wafd’ Party and its sincere people will overcome that crisis and take the party forward toward contributing to the achievement of the interests of the country.
 
Muslim Brothers believe that despotic mentalities do not want any reform or progress for our country and that corruption that has permeated the political and economic life in Egypt can be overcome only through a determined willingness to bring about reform and general national consensus that would take the country out of its serious current impasse.
 
We call on the President of the Republic to announce a clear timetable to carry out the demands of the Egyptian people for a free decent life, starting with political reform which represents the key to all-out reform.
 
Muslim Brothers consider the intellectual, political and party pluralism a guarantee for safeguarding the society and protecting it from despotism and authoritarianism. The Egyptian regime’s insistence on maintaining only a nominal, restricted and oppressed form of pluralism is the reason for the awful deterioration that has suffocated public life and engendered a widespread state of despair and frustration that would lead to unbearable catastrophes for the country. Corrupt and despotic autocrats will then be the cause for the succeeding catastrophes that befall our country.
 
We shall continue to call for reform, sparing no effort and leaving no stone untouched in this regard so as to achieve the nation’s hopes for a free and decent life and for a sound democratic life.
 
Mohamed Mahdi Akef, General Guide of the Muslim Brotherhood
 
Cairo, 4 Rabi’a I, 1427 H- 2 April 2006
 
Editorial Comment: The ‘Wafd’ Party is an old liberal and secular party that was founded in 1919 following the Egyptian people’s uprising against the British occupation at the time. Although its policies are different from those of the Muslim Brotherhood (MB) in many respects, the MB, out of its firm belief in the political and party freedom for all, has always extended a hand of cooperation to it and to all other parties with a view to achieving political reform, public freedoms and the general national interests of the country.