World

Muslim Brotherhood Announces Plans for Political Party in Egypt

CAIRO (AP) — Egypt’s long banned Muslim Brotherhood said Tuesday it intends to form a political party once democracy is established, as the country‘s new military rulers launched a panel of experts to amend the country’s constitution enough to allow democratic elections later this year.

The panel is to draw up changes at a breakneck pace – within 10 days – to end the monopoly that ousted President Hosni Mubarak’s ruling party once held, which it ensured through widespread election rigging.

The initial changes may not be enough for many in Egypt calling for the current constitution, now suspended by the military, to be thrown out completely and rewritten to ensure no one can once again establish autocratic rule. Two members on the panel said the next elected government could further change the document if it choses.

The military‘s choices for the panel’s makeup were a sign of the new political legitimacy of the Muslim Brotherhood, the fundamentalist group that was the most bitter rival of Mubarak’s regime. Among the panel’s members is Sobhi Saleh, a former lawmaker from the Brotherhood who is seen as part of its reformist wing.

The eight-member committee held its opening meeting with Defense Minister Hussein Tantawi on Tuesday. The panel includes three judges from the Supreme Constitutional Court – one of them a Christian – and legal experts, one of its members, scholar Mohammed Hassanein Abdel-Al, told The Associated Press.

The panel is headed by Tareq el-Bishri, considered one of Egypt’s top legal minds. A former judge, he was once a secular leftist but became a prominent thinker in the “moderate Islamic” political trend. He is respected on both sides as a bridge between the movements.

The panel’s convening indicated the military was trying to push ahead quickly with a transition after Mubarak resigned Friday in the face of 18 days of unprecedented popular protests that massed hundreds of thousands. The military is now also urging an end to labor strikes that spread wildly across the country Sunday and Monday, unleashed by the turmoil.

The dozens of strikes, many hitting state agencies and industries, are a further blow to Egypt’s economy, damaged by the three weeks of upheaval.

The strikes eased Tuesday, mainly because an Islamic holiday meant state offices and businesses were closed. Still, smaller protests by hundreds continued in at least seven provinces outside Cairo, including by government workers and police over pay. Fishermen in the Nile Delta demanded an end to restrictions on where they can fish in a lake north of the capital. Sugar cane growers in the southern city of Luxor demonstrated demanding higher prices for their crops.

Egypt‘s Foreign Minster Ahmed Aboul Gheit called on the international community to provide aid to boost Egypt’s economy.

Throughout Mubarak’s rule, his regime kept a stranglehold on Egyptian politics.

Any opposition parties had to be approved by a commission run by his ruling National Democratic Party. The constitution stiffly restricts who can run for president, preventing a real challenger. It also lifted almost all independent supervision of elections, opening the door to vote rigging that ensured the most recent parliament – now dissolved – was almost entirely made up of Mubarak’s ruling party.

As a result, the existing political parties are hollow shells, with little public following. The constitution also explicitly bans any parties formed on a religious basis.

The Muslim Brotherhood, banned since 1954, could not form a party but ran candidates for parliament as independents. In 2005, it made a surprisingly strong showing, winning 20 percent of parliament’s seats. But it was pushed out completely in the most recent election in November and December, plagued by fraud.

The Brotherhood announced Tuesday that it would form a party once promised freer laws are in place.

“The Muslim Brotherhood group believes in the freedom of the formation of political parties. They are eager to have a political party,” spokesman Mohammed Mursi said in a statement on the Brotherhood website.

Essam el-Arian, a senior leader in the Brotherhood, said the movement would not run any candidate for upcoming presidential elections, acknowledging that such a move would be too controversial.

“We are not going to have a candidate for the upcoming presidential elections. Its time for solidarity, its time for unity, in my opinion we need a national consensus,” he said. But he said the Brotherhood’s top leadership had decided on the creation of a party.

The Brotherhood seeks an Islamic state in Egypt, and Mubarak’s regime depicted it as aiming to take over the country, launching fierce crackdowns on the group. Some Egyptians remain deeply suspicious of the secretive organization, fearing it will exploit the current turmoil to vault to power.

But others – including the secular, liberal youth activists who launched the anti-Mubarak uprising – say the Brotherhood has to be allowed freedom to compete in a democracy alongside everyone else. Support by young cadres in the Brotherhood was key to the protests’ success, providing manpower and organization, though they never came to form a majority in the wave of demonstrations.

The new constitutional panel is mandated to draw up amendments within 10 days to be put to a referendum, paving the way for elections. The military specified six articles to be amended or thrown out “along with changes to any connected articles that the committee deems necessary,” according to the military’s statement to the panel, read to The Associated Press by Abdel-Al.

“This is a critical moment and things have to be dealt with on a priority basis,” Abdel-Al said of the decision to focus on those select articles, which are the main ones imposing restrictions on elections and allowing the president to run as many times as he wants. “This is a preliminary requirement to hold free democratic elections … our task is to make it feasible for that to happen.”

“The future parliament and government can decide whether to make further amendments or rewrite the whole thing,” he said.

Saleh, the Brotherhood member on the panel, said the goal was to “cleanse” the constitution to ensure freedom of political parties and other rights ahead of the election. “After the transition to a democratic life and freedoms, parties and political forces can get together and work on a complete constitution,” he said.

The Armed Forces Supreme Council, grouping the defense minister and top generals, has vowed to hand over power to an elected civilian government. It has dissolved parliament and suspended the constitution – steps that encouraged protest leaders because both were pillars of the Mubarak regime. But it has kept in place the last government installed by Mubarak as a caretaker until a new one is named.

On Monday, the coalition of activists who organized the protest movement pushed the military for further steps. In a list of demands Monday, they called for the dissolving of Mubarak’s National Democratic Party and for the creation of a Cabinet of technocrats within 30 days. They want it to replace the current caretaker government.

“It is unacceptable that the same government which caused this revolution with its corrupt ways oversees the transitional period,” said Ziad al-Oleimi, a member of the coalition.

Protesters in Tahrir Square, the symbolic heart of the uprising, have emptied the area, with the military stepping in to pack up tents and blankets in the past two days and asking people to leave. The activists’ coalition called for an official end to its demonstrations, in a gesture to the interim leadership. But protest organizers are planning a new mass demonstration on Friday, seeking to bring 1 million to the square to call for the meeting of their demands – including the release of political detainees and the cancellation of emergency laws.

In a rare admission Sunday, the new interior minister in the caretaker government said there may be about 10,000 political prisoners in Egyptian prisons, and that he is reviewing their files. His comments were published in the daily Al-Masry Al-Youm on Monday. The number includes opponents jailed for years under Mubarak’s regime.

Comments (57)

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  • SensibleDiscourse
    Posted on February 15, 2011 at 1:14pm

    Fearing the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt is equivalent to fearing the Republican Party in the United States. And the MB only has 20% of the support of the Egyptian people. It’s also important to remember that in 2006 the Coptic Christians voted FOR the Muslim Brotherhood, as they saw their leadership to be more fair and aligned with their interests than that of Mubarak’s regime. I doubt they did this because they believed the MB would convert them or kill them once they got in power. Recently, the Coptics have demanded more political freedom where they can support their own candidates. Either way, claiming that the Muslim Brotherhood is completely evil is as idiotic as claiming the Republican Party is completely evil due to their crazy conservative Christians base and ~50% support in the United States. It would be further insulting if there existed a more powerful nation than ours that looked at the Republican party as a party of terrorists whose only aspirations were to go to war and invade Muslim countries – and therefore interfering with our political process (or through economic sanctions) was the only solution to ensuring their interests.

    As for the fear of Islam – We are a nation of ~310,000,000, yet we seem to accept an empire that stretches our military North, South, East and West across the globe – and into the homes of cultures and civilizations that have nothing to do with our own. Internally we refuse to acknowledge that our empire is a threat to the freedom of other nations.

    We claim to support democratic aspirations of all people, but if 1.3 Billion Muslims (or 90 million Muslims in Egypt) chose what is not aligned with our own interests, then we feel we have the right to interfere in their political processes until our goals are met. This has never worked out for us. What is happening in Egypt today could easily mirror what happened in Iran in the 50s.

    We could end up with a democratically elected leader in Egypt like Mohammad Mosaddegh, and then out of US and Israeli interference, end up with another [1] coup d’etat. The result of this could be another illegitimate regime that the people overthrow out of frustration (similar to the Shah) and actually have a radical Islamic regime take over.

    The protesters on the streets of Egypt are demanding their freedom. They want peace, prosperity, employment, food – all the same basic things that we would demand of our government. Whether the new Egyptian government has 20% or 50% representation by the Muslim Brotherhood is not the issue. If the above needs are met that is what they will focus on. If instead we interfere once again and try to manipulate their situation, we’ll end up with millions of Egyptians calling for retribution against Western Imperialism (what got them into this situation for the past 30 years already). At that point, all bets are off. The people can then be convinced that in order to gain true freedom, they must first fight against the West by bringing more radical leaders to govern their nation’s policies.

    The sickness of the West is their sense of self-entitlement to proactively interfere before a threat has materialized. The irony is that by doing so we cause threats to manifest themselves. We created the modern Iranian problem, and based on the way people keep trying to focus on the Muslim Brotherhood, we’re likely to create another long term problem in Egypt before allowing the Egyptian people to first decide their own destiny.

    Report Post »  
  • jinx83
    Posted on February 15, 2011 at 1:08pm

    I say get someone in that office that is going to open up an all out revolt leading our country!! Okay look bumnutz has finally done enough damage for the whole NATION to see. Who ever is against me sure as hell isn’t for me. It‘s about to hit 1800’s in oh say 4 years (or was that declared Spring when inflation hits??) We can’t allow 6 months of this idiot in charge to keep OUR country!!! They’re not playing by OUR RIGHTS… WHY are we STILL playing by theirs!!!?! TAKE BACK THE WHITE HOUSE TAKE BACK OUR RIGHTS !!!

    Report Post »  
  • Uni Nationi Sub Deo
    Posted on February 15, 2011 at 1:00pm

    I‘m sure that we’re all so very surprised! Who would have thought?

    Report Post »  
  • fixer
    Posted on February 15, 2011 at 12:46pm

    Get ready! The time is coming to make a stand! God will be with us!

    Report Post »  
  • KL
    Posted on February 15, 2011 at 12:11pm

    First time I ever read a post and laughed!! (SpankDaMonkey) HA!!!

    Report Post »  
  • xm-1774u
    Posted on February 15, 2011 at 11:39am

    well well glenn called it agean.im not worried we have abama to nip this in the bud ..sigh

    Report Post »  
  • Comeandtakeit
    Posted on February 15, 2011 at 11:36am

    Let’s all ask the “clueless” Mika B what she thinks of this revelation?

    Report Post » Comeandtakeit  
  • dcwu
    Posted on February 15, 2011 at 11:29am

    “Suspended constitution” means the Egyption people have absolute freedom today!

    Why piss it away and pick another tyrant?

    That worked out real ugly in 1917 Russia and 1989 Iran.

    Egyptians should just let it ride a while. When needs clarify a few years from now they can pick their wisest men/women to represent them “in congress assembled” to thoughtfully frame a constitution using cold argument and consensus, subject to ratification by the Egyptian people, that will best satisfy their needs with the least loss of freedom.

    It took four years (1783-1787) for the People of the United States to identify their needs and do this. And it took a year more for the people to ratify it. And their affirmation had strings – the Bill of Rights.

    Haste makes waste. Freedom is the most terrible thing to waste.

    Report Post »  
  • dirtypolitics
    Posted on February 15, 2011 at 10:55am

    Do you think the ruler of the Caliphate will come from USA?

    Report Post »  
  • dirtypolitics
    Posted on February 15, 2011 at 10:55am

    Yes, that is the big question. With regard to the revolutions in the middle east, how come only those that are allies with the USA succeed and the others fail?

    Because there are dark powerful forces behind all of this.

    Report Post »  
  • hologram5
    Posted on February 15, 2011 at 10:51am

    When this first happened I told my oldest daughter that this had nothing to do with Democracy and everything to do with bringing Islamic rule to Egypt. She argued with me telling me I was only being paranoid. I hate to be the cat to say I told her so but….
    I TOLD HER!! These cats are really, really bad news. There will be beheadings daily in the public square, popcorn and warm Dr. Pepper will be sold in the square.

    Report Post » hologram5  
  • Its Gonna Getcha
    Posted on February 15, 2011 at 10:44am

    Let’s hope that there are some smart people watching every move POTUS makes towards encouraging radicalism.

    Report Post » Its Gonna Getcha  
  • Toodumtu
    Posted on February 15, 2011 at 10:40am

    It’s just a matter of time untill these pukes will be killin anyone who disagrees with them. If they ride a camel, ya can’t trust em. The Wise Old Cowboy.

    Report Post »  
  • luvtheright
    Posted on February 15, 2011 at 10:36am

    At least the progressive/commie democrats in the U.S. will be happy! They will be one step closer to their “socialist utopia”!

    Report Post »  
  • Marylou7
    Posted on February 15, 2011 at 10:13am

    Surprise, surprise, surprise…NOT…This whole thing is breaking a lot faster than I thought it would. Once that old commie, one world order ball gets rolling….watch out!!

    Report Post » Marylou7  
  • Jim in Houston
    Posted on February 15, 2011 at 10:07am

    This is a surprise – WHY?

    Report Post »  
  • david3755
    Posted on February 15, 2011 at 10:00am

    Gosh!!! Who could have seen this coming???? Certainly not the brilliant Mr. Clapper or obama.

    Report Post »  
  • Abby Normal
    Posted on February 15, 2011 at 10:00am

    Dem Brothers are sneaky slick! If we don’t watch out, there will be a MB party right here in Amerika! God bless our islamo-fascist state, or bastion of communism, that we are about to become. Now they have banned fragrances in Oregon, perfume and after shave, because it may harm those that have allergies?! We already live in a totalitarian state…these people in our gov’ts, are making new laws by the second, and NONE of them is good for Liberty and Freedom, they all need to be kicked out. I saw all of this crap coming a long time ago, and now it is here. F the muslims and progressives and their agenda, to hell with all of them. I, for one, will never be a slave to the likes of these people, I’d rather be dead! When do we march on DC and camp in Lafayette Park, to take our country back? When do we stand up and be counted? When do we get a backbone? America, the choice is yours, freedom or slavery? Which is it?

    Report Post »  
  • William113
    Posted on February 15, 2011 at 9:56am

    I’m asking everyone to send an email to Beck and ask him why nobody is talking or adding the story to the Blaze about MAKISM GELMAN if he was a Muslim they would have had it splashed on the top banner. I wonder if being jewish gives you a free ride when it comes to murder and terror.
    Hypocrite Beck the American people are starting to see the jewish propaganda you can only hide it for so long.

    Report Post »  
    • Abby Normal
      Posted on February 15, 2011 at 10:03am

      You are a fool, and you will be paying for that stupidity for a long time – just wait until they march you off the the gulag, or stuff you in a ditch somewhere – useful idiot!

      Report Post »  
    • Gonzo
      Posted on February 15, 2011 at 10:08am

      Hey William, You going to the Nuremberg Rally this year? Should be loads of fun.

      Report Post » Gonzo  
    • SpankDaMonkey
      Posted on February 15, 2011 at 10:10am

      .
      I think Chris rolls you around too………..

      Report Post » SpankDaMonkey  
    • mike_trivisonno
      Posted on February 15, 2011 at 10:12am

      Jews don’t engage in Jihad to spread Islam.

      Are you dense?

      Report Post » mike_trivisonno  
  • mike_trivisonno
    Posted on February 15, 2011 at 9:47am

    I don’t know why the muslim world hates America so much. We have done more to spread Islam and Sharia law than any other nation in history. Mostly through our foolish and misguided military doctrine.

    The US Military is guilty of spreading Islam and they need to cease this immediately. The US Military unwittingly engages in Jihad and it must stop.

    Report Post » mike_trivisonno  
    • Abby Normal
      Posted on February 15, 2011 at 10:16am

      LOL, another useless idiot here, move along, nothing read or see here, but a traitor to his own country! You sir are a moron, with limited intelligence, to think that way! So I guess you‘ll be one of the ’revolutionaries‘ on the streets crying for your gov’t to come take care of you? You think our policies have spread muslim theocracy? You have it backwards, when Iraq is the only arab democracy in the middle east, what will you say then – hypocrit?

      Report Post »  
    • mike_trivisonno
      Posted on February 15, 2011 at 10:30am

      I cannot help it if the US Military, guided by a large number of muslim “experts” and “consultants”, has unerringly delivered into the hands of the Islamic Empire nation after nation after nation. From Yugoslavia to Lebanon, From Iran to Egypt, The US Military has done the bidding not of the Constitution, but that of the muslims from whom they seek advice.

      The US Military behaves against the Constitution and it must stop.

      Report Post » mike_trivisonno  
  • BoilitDown
    Posted on February 15, 2011 at 9:35am

    You don’t say…A political/shari’ah party huh? Well…somebody had better notify MSNBC.

    Report Post »  
    • Cobra Blue
      Posted on February 15, 2011 at 9:39am

      Ahhh…its just more conspiracy theories don’t ya know.

      Report Post »  
  • Gonzo
    Posted on February 15, 2011 at 9:18am

    Big surprise. This is just like Hamas in Gaza “Oh, the people of Gaza will never give power to Hamas in a free election.” How’s that working out?

    Report Post » Gonzo  
    • Cobra Blue
      Posted on February 15, 2011 at 9:37am

      Gonzo

      Correcto Mundo Sir….Egypt will be the next Iran.. 1979 all over again. News flash…there will be more middle eastern countries that will follow this same path. Correction: Only those that are allies with the USA. The others are already controlled by the terrorists. I guess that’s what the liberal progressives call progress.

      Report Post »  
    • Gonzo
      Posted on February 15, 2011 at 10:05am

      Naw Cobra, we‘re just paranoid conspiracy theorists because we watch the same events over and over and DON’T expect a different result.

      Report Post » Gonzo  
  • SpankDaMonkey
    Posted on February 15, 2011 at 9:17am

    .
    Ever wonder why Muslim terrorists are so quick to commit suicide.
    Lets have a look at the evidence: ??- No Christmas?- No television?- No nude women?-
    No football?- No pork chops?- No hot dogs?- No burgers?- No beer?- No bacon?-
    Rags for clothes?- Towels for hats?- Constant wailing from some idiot in a tower?-
    More than one wife?- More than one mother in law?- You can’t shave?- Your wife can’t shave?-
    You can’t wash off the smell of donkey?- You wipe your rear-end with your bare hand?- You cook over burning camel manure?- Your wife is picked by someone else?- Your wife smells worse than your donkey ??

    Then they tell you that “when you die, it all gets better”??
    …. It’s not like it could get much worse!!

    Wow that is one hell of a plan………

    Report Post » SpankDaMonkey  
    • hud
      Posted on February 15, 2011 at 9:30am

      That’s funny too

      Report Post »  
    • Beckofile
      Posted on February 15, 2011 at 10:44am

      Don’t forget you are not allowed to spankdamonkey either.

      Report Post » Beckofile  
    • Beckofile
      Posted on February 15, 2011 at 10:46am

      Thanks for one of the biggest chuckles of the week. Humor always has to contain truth to be really funny and you hit this one out of the park.

      Report Post » Beckofile  
    • dirtypolitics
      Posted on February 15, 2011 at 10:50am

      lol

      Report Post »  
    • Debra
      Posted on February 15, 2011 at 2:05pm

      I just tried to post this over at HuffPo and they censored it. typical

      Report Post » Debra  
  • SpankDaMonkey
    Posted on February 15, 2011 at 9:15am

    .
    This morning the Muslim Brotherhood warned the United States that if
    United States meddling in Egypt continued they intend to cut off America’s supply of 7-11 and Motel 6 managers.

    If this action does not yield sufficient results, cab drivers will be next, followed by Dell, AT&T, and AOL customer service reps .

    Finally, if all else fails, they have threatened not to send us any more presidents either.

    It could get ugly, people.

    Report Post » SpankDaMonkey  
    • Gonzo
      Posted on February 15, 2011 at 9:21am

      Is Dunkin’ Donuts safe?

      Report Post » Gonzo  
    • hud
      Posted on February 15, 2011 at 9:28am

      Now that’s funny. Muslim’s in the area are confused, because their “religion” is a political party.

      Report Post »  
    • MOVETERAN
      Posted on February 15, 2011 at 10:05am

      @SpankDaMonkey
      Thank God for India, we have plenty to fill the void immediately.

      Report Post » MOVETERAN  
    • kryptonite
      Posted on February 15, 2011 at 11:51am

      @SpankDaMonkey
      Finally, if all else fails, they have threatened not to send us any more presidents either.
      —-
      Breaking News: They’re so p-o they‘ve said we get to keep O’bum for the next thirty years.

      What’s it like having sex with a circumcised woman, anybody know???

      Report Post »  
  • Cobra Blue
    Posted on February 15, 2011 at 9:12am

    You know what they say….TOLD YOU SO

    Report Post »  
    • plunderpower
      Posted on February 15, 2011 at 10:14am

      Duh

      Report Post » plunderpower  
    • absolutely
      Posted on February 15, 2011 at 10:38am

      You’re right I heard this might happen. Where was that, oh yeh, it’s coming to me, Glenn. Absolutely

      Report Post »  
    • kryptonite
      Posted on February 15, 2011 at 11:37am

      The panel is headed by Tareq el-Bishri, considered one of Egypt’s top legal minds. A former judge, he was once a secular leftist but became a prominent thinker in the “moderate Islamic” political trend.
      ————–
      I was beginning to worry our Hussein would not be represented.

      Love the Tareq choice, O’bum: a commie judge turned Islamic advocate — but moderate, of course. Geez, that could almost be you!

      Report Post »  
    • grandmaof5
      Posted on February 15, 2011 at 11:46am

      Yes, who would have seen this one coming. I wonder if Code Pink, SEIU and the other socialist volunteers from the US are dancing in the streets too? I bet they have already helped rewrite the Egyptian Constitution and will be moving on the healthcare next.

      Report Post »  
    • Muslim in Chief
      Posted on February 15, 2011 at 11:50am

      Ok…who didn’t see this coming?

      Report Post » Obama Bin Lying  
    • solaveritas
      Posted on February 15, 2011 at 12:36pm

      Will the “Christian Brotherhood” organize and get one-third of parliament as the MB has announced it intends to do?

      It is not “free Democracy” unless the Coptic Christians are free to practice their faith, and to be protected.

      ONE-THIRD of Parliament in the MB’s hands by September. Even BECK probably didn’t think it would happen this much this fast.

      As Will Smith said in the movie, I Robot, “Somehow, ‘I told you so’ just doesn’t quite get it”.

      Report Post » solaveritas  
    • getalong
      Posted on February 15, 2011 at 10:41pm

      Surprise, Surprise!

      Report Post »  
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