Muslim Brotherhood of Egypt - Report Example

Running Head: MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD OF EGYPT Muslim Brotherhood of Egypt No: Muslim Brotherhood of Egypt Introduction Muslim brotherhood was founded as an Islamic organization by Hassan al Banna in March 1928. Branches of Muslim Brotherhood Organization were established in the country for enforcing Islam in the lives of people. The organization was successful ingathering huge support as it opposed the western and American societies. Soon the organization got politicized and could to fulfill the aim of spreading “sharia” in the world. Holy book Quran was chosen as mode of life but teachings were not implemented in the society. The organization conducted various terrorist attacks under the leadership of Hassan al Banna in 1948. Morsi was elected president of brotherhood but he proved to be power thirsty. This earned a bad name for organization1. Presently the organization is passing through a tough period and has lost glory. Main leadership of group is in jails. Now the organization should see its past for elimination of factors and policies that harmed organization. The only way of turning public opinion in favor of organization depends on factors like ending violence, ending mismanagement, creating tolerance and change in policies regarding public affairs2. The Genesis and History of the Movement Muslim brotherhood was founded as an Islamic organization in Egypt by Hassan al Banna in March 1928. It had only few members at the start but millions of people joined the organization within 10 years. It is the oldest and the largest organization of Egypt. In Arabic, it is known as “Ikhwanul Muslemeen”. This means Muslim brotherhood in English language. Ideology of the organization is based on the teachings of holy book “Quran. It had agenda to cover social, political and religious life of Muslim people and tried to shape Muslim life according to teachings of Islam. Leader of Al Qaida Ayman Zawahiri has been an important member of Muslim Brotherhood. Aim of brotherhood was to overcome century’s long westernization and enforcement of Islamic sharia3. Banna thought that Muslims know little about Islam and Islamic teachings must be inculcated in people. It took centuries to convince people to become member of brotherhood organization. People belonging to different walks of life joined organization. Muslim brotherhood used existing Islamic organization by politicizing them, Islamizing them and modernizing them. Later on, schools and other institutions also joined the organization. Organization worked a lot to gain loyalty and sympathies of people4. Branches of Muslim Brotherhood Organization rapidly spread throughout the country soon after creation. Branches were responsible for running schools, mosques and sports institution in the country. Organization suffered aloss when Hassan al Banna was killed by unknown gunmen in 1948. Organization got a lot of influence over the Arab world and about 5 lac individuals had become member of organization by 1940.“Special Apparatus” was a wing created by Banna for fighting against the British occupation. The wing was also busy in bombing and assassinations. Egyptian government took measure and dissolved group for targeting British interests in 1948. The group was also blamed for assassinating Prime Minister Mahmoud al-Nuqrashi. A group with name of free officers was created after end of colonial rule in 1952. The group initially cooperated with the government but soon the relationship deteriorated5. The Ikhwan played a supporting role - Anwar al-Sadat, who became president in 1970, was once the Free Officers liaison with them - and initially co-operated with the new government, but relations soon soured. These youth officers were part of Ikhwan group. This group attempted assassination of President Nasser in 1954. Thereafter, group was banned and members were sent to jail. The group kept working secretly6. Initially, organization emphasized on re-Islamizing the life of Egyptian people across the world. Matters like health, education and nationalism were articulated through Islamic agenda. Muslim brotherhood knew the importance of caliphate and unity of Muslim world which was being targeted by western societies. Organization focused on reviving sharia, which is considered as supreme guide for leading successful life7. Like other Muslim organizations, Muslim brotherhood had a very clear slogan. The slogan was that “Allah is our objective; the Quran is our law; the Prophet is our leader; Jihad is our way; and death for the sake of Allah is the highest of our aspirations.” All the members of organization used energies for implementation of this slogan in Muslim world8. Muslim brotherhood was initially legalized as religious organization but was banned in1954. The organization urged on enforcing sharia. Government officials were assassinated for not considering the agenda of sharia. Ultimately, government retaliated by capturing activists and sending them to jail9. The Muslim brotherhood organization was initially legalized as religious organization but soon it became the political organization. Moreover, the organization spread across the world and was involved in assassination of political leaders. The organization conducted various terrorist attacks under the leadership of Hassan al Banna in 1948. Terrorism has always remained part of the organization and they followed motto, “Jihad is our way”. Military, churches and attacks on Christians remained a regular feature of organization10. The organization has secretly supported the terrorism but on public media, it has always denied involvement in such acts. If they are caught in such activities, even then they blame that their activities are misquoted. Alain Chouet, the former head of the French Security Intelligence Service said that “like every fascist movement on the trail to power, the Brotherhood has achieved perfect fluency in double-speak.” Muslim brotherhood has been considered moderate by the people in Egypt11. Former president Morsi was an active member of the organization and various doubtful activities were conducted during his leadership. Morsi had very clear intensions since he was elected as president of Egypt. He demanded release of terrorist Sheikh Omer from American imprisonment12. The sheikh was involved in planning terrorist attack on “World Trade Centre” in 1993. He was also involved in panning “Day of Terror” as follow up of attack in the same year. Morsi also released various terrorists from Egyptian jails after assuming presidency of Egypt13. Muslim brotherhood worked on establishing SunniIslamic groups in the world. Morsi was candidate of Brotherhood who won elections after removal of Mubarak in 2011. Morsi could not follow the agenda of early brotherhood leaders. His tenure was worst and mismanagement was increasing day by day. Finally, he was removed by army in 2013. Many brotherhood leaders were either killed or arrested during crackdown against organization. Military again supported the government and Muslim Brotherhood Organization was excluded from politics of Egypt14. Qutb was a loyal member of brotherhood. He developed the basic concept of armed struggle in Egypt and beyond. Various extremist leaders quote Qutb that he had clear mind that if sharia is not the basic element in governments than Jihad is the only solution. Qutb was hanged in 1966. Morsi arranged peaceful move back of army from the government, which had spent one and half year in running government15. Then Morsi faced a hard conflict with judiciary in 2013. Protests and public agitation was rising which resulted in removing Morsi in 2013. Major Intellectual Figures Associated with the Movement and Their Ideas Al-Banna was the founder of Muslim Brotherhood. Organization was founded in 1928 when Al-Banna his brother and five more persons decided to spread real teachings of Islam. Al-Banna remained active in spreading the brotherhood groups in complete Egypt16. Al-Banna convinced people to listen to him and adopt his Islam centered ideas. Al-Banna was capable of influencing people by his clear speeches. Al-Banna was assassinated in Cairo in 1949. After his death, certain militant groups left brotherhood considering it a too moderate organization17. Ayyad Qutb was a dynamic Muslim brotherhood leader from 1950 to 1960. Qutb disliked western culture being barbarian and he wrote it in his book" The America I Have Seen". Qutb could not bear the pro-western position of Egyptian government when he returned in 1951. He joined brotherhood and became leader of propaganda department in 195218. He wanted to confront the danger that American and western societies posed to humanity. He made his intensions clear in the book “milestone” which he wrote in jail after assassination attempt on Nasser. He planned for political Jihad and wanted Islam to emerge as a global power. He wanted to eliminate the ignorance from the world19. Qutb always targeted western American and western cultures due to absence of Islamic principles. His ideas resulted in making radical groups in the organization. Jihad was motto of such radical groups. He was hanged in 1966 on the charge of assassination attempt on Nasser20. Another main leader of brotherhood was Muhammad Badi. He assumed leadership of brotherhood in 2010. He remained in jail on various issues including his political activities. He stated that brotherhood wants America to fall. He calmed his groups that America is already heading towards destruction and members should remain patient. He had opinion that America is unable to protect humanity and cannot guide it in right direction. He also passed remarks on overthrowing Morsi government. According to his judgment, "overthrowing Morsi was more criminal than carrying an axe and demolishing the Kaaba in Mecca"21. Mahmoud Ezzat is a leading member of Muslim Brotherhood since 1960s. He is always known as gatekeeper in managing financial and secret affairs of the brotherhood. He followed the agenda of Al-Banna and was appointed as temporary leader of brotherhood after imprisonment of Badie. Ezzat is known as the most dangerous man available with brotherhood. He is very actively running movements in Sinai and Cairo. Hamas is fully cooperating with him in the region. Ezzat is considered as blue deputy and a real guide for brotherhood. Egyptian Dostorasly website said that Ezzat is mastermind in launching attacks on security agencies in Egypt22. Mahmoud Hussain is another top leader of brotherhood. Being General Secretary of the organization, he targeted Egyptian media for blaming his groups for unrest in Egypt. He denied involvement of brotherhood in crisis that Egypt faced. He also negated that brotherhood is involved in any sorts of violence against Christians. He several times said that Muslim brotherhood has never adopted the violence as a way23. He stated that brotherhood is against violence. Hussain rejected the blame of Interior minister in which, brotherhood was accused of sabotage acts in Egypt. Hussain never rejected request of any group for joining brotherhood. He said that brotherhood has no objection on any party joining us but we are not responsible if such groups carry arms. Hussain always wanted voicing “an element of the peaceful opposition which could accept the roadmap if it were put to a public referendum”24. Morsi is always considered as very important intellectual of Muslim brotherhood. Unluckily he remained president of Egypt for only one year and then was ousted by military in 2013. Morsi was responsible for worst political crisis because his policies. He was called in the court for indiscriminate murder and killings in the court. He wasalleged for clashes between brotherhood and protesters in which seven people were killed in Cairo in 201225. Another alarming charge was regarding revealing state secrets to another country. He was also made responsible for sponsoring terrorism and conducting acts, which put the stability of country in danger. He supported brotherhood during his presidency and evidences were produced for his involvement in Palestinian militant groups Hamas and Lebanon’s Hezbollah. He formed alliance with these two organizations. Morsi was also involved in secret funding of brotherhood26. Brotherhood was blamed to be involved in fraud charges related to economic and social programs for recovery of Egypt27. Khairat al-Shater joined the Muslim brotherhood in 1974. He actively participated in General Islamic Action in Alexandria in 1967 and then he was sent to jail for participating in student demonstrations. He was business minded and helped brotherhood to manage finances. Salsabil investigation resulted in his imprisonment in 1990s. He was again sent to jail in 2000 for his support in reviving the brotherhood in Egypt. He was very active in dealing with regime about participation of brotherhood in elections of 2005. In 2007, he was found involved in providing arms and training to student protestors. He was charged with spreading terrorism and involvement in money laundering in 200728. After release from imprisonment in 2011, Shater he has been the important strategist of brotherhood. He was very influential in drafting “Nahda project”. He was also part of the group that decided single political party in the country. Due his vision he was nominated for presidential election by brotherhood in 2012 but finally could not participate in elections. He is a vibrant political strategist and policy maker for the brotherhood. He is also a main link between Brotherhood’s political strategizing and Supreme Council of the Armed Forces for settling major issues between both institutions29. The Movement as it Exists at Present, and the Particular Challenges it is facing Muslim brotherhood is facing numerous challenges in Egypt after Morsi regime. In September 2013, Cairo court ordered banning Muslim Brotherhood. It is also believed that legally baaning of organization will not affect too much. Brotherhood has huge support and leaders. It has also survived in the past while facing bann during different regimes. Brotherhood has to decide the difficult future course in politics of the country30. After the regime of Morsi, more than 1000 members of brotherhood have been killed on different occasions. Role of brotherhood in political future is very vital due to present uncertain political situation in Egypt. Brotherhood has protested and claimed restoration of Morsi administration but could not succeed. Arrest of top leadership has left the group inactive at the moment and future plan cannot be visualized in their absence31. Brotherhood played complete role in toppling Mubarak regime during Egyptian revolution of 2011. This has been considered very dangerous for political future of country. They pose a great danger to democracy and security of nation. Organizational and ideological changes in the group are need of the time for its political survival32. The brotherhood need to review the incidents of violence and terrorism. For a political future, brotherhood must eliminate terrorism from wings. Terror acts by the organization has damaged repute very badly. Terrorism and political future cannot go side by side. Therefore, this is the time for brotherhood leadership to decide the future course of organization33. Khristina advices sustained integration of Muslim Brotherhood in future politics of country. Still there is immense anger about brotherhood government. They got power due lack of leadership unity in revolutionaries. Brotherhood’s experience of power was a bitter failure in history of country. Brotherhood government had long lasting damaging impact on the country34. This decreased the fame of brotherhood in Muslim world. President Morsi had no courage to resign despite mass anger in the masses. Military was called to suppress the protests, which resulted in death of innocent people35. The brotherhood claimed to be the cleanest and most religious for thirst of power. They actually need to incorporate these characteristics for finding place in future of the country. They reacted to opinion of world that it is there chance to grab the power which brought anxiety in every institution of society. Presently, the brotherhood is badly shaken in Egypt. They were the most powerful organization in the country. They need radical changes from top to bottom for helping Egyptians to come out of crisis36. They got the image, which Europe and America wanted for them. Despite following the religion, top leadership had sympathies with west. Brotherhood should now give chance to revolutionary forces for participating in government affairs after their failure. This is the only way available with Egypt to end brotherhood’s supremacy. Brotherhood should allow symbolic forces that are without any platforms to react disturbances in country37. The group’s history is a burden, which hinders in finding solution for a respectable place in political future of the country. Leaders of the movement still have choice for future. They need to introduce reforms for better place in politics of Egypt. Reforms should focus on violence free politics and current ideas and practices be modified according to requirements of the nation. Young activists have offered brotherhood to abandon old ideas and join young members for respectable place in Egypt’s future38. Brotherhood should soon realize that old ideas have no place in present fast moving world. All minorities must be taken along as per law for success of any Islamic project. Deception and mismanagement should be finished at once. Intolerance is another problem with leadership of brotherhood. They have showed impatience in past activities. They need to be more patient and flexible on all the issues of country39. Muslim brotherhood must withdraw from confronting the nation while planning future. Civil rights and human rights are very important pillars of the society. Past of brotherhood is full of indecent activities against these fields. They need to be serious in these fields and revolutionary steps will only change the public opinion about conduct of brotherhood. All these reforms are very difficult to be implemented as most of the brotherhood leaders are still in jails. Brotherhood leaders still call people for protests. They paid huge price for this mobilization despite knowing that Morsi government has no chances or restoration, they need to be more practical for using energies in right direction40. Conclusion In the end it is clear that the biggest organization in the country could not achieve what people expected. There were millions of followers of Muslim Brotherhood. All the glory vanished after some foolish decision-making and mismanagement. The only way to come out of deep crises is reforms in all walks of life. Despite all the problems, the organization is still united but lacks availability of top leadership. Thus, if brotherhood succeeds in changing the past practice in public affairs only than they have a chance of changing mindset of people for respectable place in future politics of country.   Bibliography Abed-Kotob, Sana. "The accommodationists speak: goals and strategies of the Muslim Brotherhood of Egypt." International Journal of Middle East Studies 27, no. 03 (1995): 321-339. Aly, Abd al-Monein Said, and Wenner, Manfred W. "Modern Islamic reform movements: the Muslim Brotherhood in contemporary Egypt." The Middle East Journal (1982): 336-361. Davis, Nancy J., and Robert V. Robinson. "Overcoming Movement Obstacles by the Religiously Orthodox: The Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, Shas in Israel, Comunione e Liberazione in Italy, and the Salvation Army in the United States1." American Journal of Sociology 114, no. 5 (2009): 1302-1349. Hamzawy, Amr, and Nathan J. Brown. The Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood: Islamist Participation in a Closing Political Environment. 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