The Political Dialogue of the Moslem Brotherhood

The Political Dialogue of the Moslem Brotherhood
Ikhwan online
By Ahmed el-Talawy
The new approach of the Moslem Brotherhood stimulated a series of possibilities to analyes the potential factors behind the movement’s revival.  This vivacity boosts its superiority over the opposition and placed it along with the National Democratic Party on the top of the political action.
The party of the annual Ramadan breakfast, which was arranged by the movement, and to which outstanding public figures were invented, demonstrated this growing power of the Moslem Brotherhood. Among guests was Dr. Aziz Sedqy, the leader of the National Assembly for Democratic Change, who stressed that the political reform, in Egypt, is unattainable without the participation of the MB. The participants also emphasized that all attempts of the ruling system to set the movement aside of the political game are in vain.

Thus, it can be said that the political activity of the MB, which started a year before, is fruitful despite of the great sacrifices done by the members of the movement. The attitude of the movement’s leadership, toped by the Supreme Guide, Muhammad Akef, is a leading driving force behind this outcome.

In order to yield these fruits, the movement has adopted numerous measures and policies. It has paid extensive attention to the propaganda of the political battle launched by the Egyptian political powers.

Regards the political dialogue and publicity, there are many aspects to be tackled. A two-sided factor will be on the spotlight, namely, the statements of the MB’s Supreme Guide. For it is linked to the political dialogue and is associated to the leading role of the MB regards the obtained political gains, as well.

The diversity of the Supreme Guide’s dialogue, as regards the Egyptian, Arab, Islamic, and international issues, is the most remarkable feature. The Supreme Guide does not focus only upon the movement’s activities or on the local events but also extents to relevant Arab, Islamic and world questions.  

As for Egypt, the Supreme Guide and his vice, Muhammad Habeeb, have commented on the national issues, such as the constitutional amendment, the presidential election and Nov. parliamentary election. Besides, the urgent Arab and Islamic issues in Palestine, Iraq, Syria, and Sudan have received great concern. In this respect, the MB has adopted stances that emerge out of its sense of responsibility toward the Islamic world. It also rejects all forms of American control over the world.

These positive stances attract masses, in Egypt and the world, to follow up the movement’s news. Consequently, it increases its popularity, not only among common people but also in the Egyptian civil society. This increasing support avails the movement in many prospects such as the detainees file, who were arrested after reform-demanded demonstrations.

The diversity in dialogue is not the sole characteristic, but the conclusive nature of the dialogue is an additional feature. The crucial statements of the MB enhance its credibility. 

As a result, the Moslem Brotherhood declared their rejection to the amendment of constitutional article 76 as long as it is not followed by other constitutional reforms. Accordingly, the movement boycotted the decorative plebiscite; hold on the last May, 25th.

In addition, the Supreme Guide’s statements and actions are categorically outspoken and definite. For example, his speech, delivered before the gather marking the annual Ramadan breakfast, in which he underscored the deteriorating conditions of the country, which is rife with corruption. Then, he shed light on the MB’s ideology of reform and change. Moreover, he demonstrated the movement’s demands in this connection; which go hand in hand with the national requests. The most important issues are the release of political freedom, the abolishment of emergency law, and the flat refusal to the rule inheritance.  

The Supreme Guide follows the same transparent approach toward some controversial questions that need clarification such as the movement’s relation with the ruling system. He always stresses that there is no ’deals’ concluded between the movement and the State.

Another significant point is the movement’s relation with the Egyptian political powers. The MB keeps illustrating the contacts with these powers, regardless their ideologies, including even Socialists and Left current, which have radically different doctrines with that of the MB.

Accordingly, the Supreme Guide approved the principle of cooperation with the other political powers to meet the requirements of reform. In other words, the Moslem Brotherhood gives priority to public interest, ignoring all political or intellectual differences. The movement, thus, gains wide support, on both mass and political levels.

If the upcoming parliamentary election witnesses a noticeable political achievement on the part of the Moslem Brotherhood, it will be an outcome of a mixture of drives; certainly on the top of them is the political dialogue of the Supreme Guide, which is characterized by flexibility, strong-wording and clarification.