Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood rejects ‘struggle for power’, exiled leader says

By Dominic Evans

LONDON (Reuters) – Egypt’s outlawed Muslim Brotherhood is not going to launch a brand new battle for energy with authorities which toppled it from authorities 9 years in the past, despite the fact that the motion nonetheless claims extensive help, its appearing chief stated.

The as soon as formidable Islamist motion received Egypt’s first free presidential election in 2012, however was overthrown by the army a 12 months later after mass protests in opposition to its rule and has endured a fierce crackdown by authorities since then.

Lots of its leaders and 1000’s of its supporters are in jail or have fled Egypt, and the group has been excluded from a political dialogue to be launched quickly by President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, who as the military chief deposed the Brotherhood in 2013.

Cairo has designated the Brotherhood a terrorist organisation, however appearing chief Ibrahim Munir reiterated the group’s long-standing rejection of violence.

He additionally appeared to rule out difficult for energy via the poll field – one thing the group is unable to do instantly whereas it stays banned in Egypt, though it did area unbiased candidates in parliamentary elections prior to now.

“We fully reject (violence) and we contemplate it exterior the ideology of the Muslim Brotherhood – not solely using violence and arms, however to have a battle for energy in Egypt in any kind,” Munir informed Reuters in an interview.

“We reject the battle for energy even when between political events via elections organised by the state. That is completely rejected by us.”

Munir, 85, who was twice jailed in Egypt within the Nineteen Fifties and Sixties and has lived in exile for a lot of the final 40 years, stated the Brotherhood had survived troublesome occasions earlier than however was now experiencing the hardest interval because it was based greater than 90 years in the past.

He stated it was not clear what number of Brotherhood supporters had been in jail in Egypt, although he cited some estimates that put the numbers round 5,000 and 6,000. Many, he stated, had additionally had their cash confiscated.

Egypt’s state press centre didn’t reply to a request for remark. Officers deny holding political prisoners and say that safety measures taken in opposition to the Brotherhood had been essential to stabilise the nation.

“Undoubtedly this time is harder than earlier occasions and former ordeals,” Munir stated.

Munir himself took the mantle of appearing chief two years in the past as a result of the Brotherhood’s normal information, or chief, has been in jail for the reason that group misplaced energy in 2013 and his preliminary successor was then detained in 2020.

Munir acknowledged that the Brotherhood had skilled inside division over how to reply to the disaster, and {that a} new chief could be chosen “when the scenario stabilises”.

REGIONAL SHIFTS

Compounding the Brotherhood’s challenges, shifting Center East diplomacy has seen two nations which supplied refuge to Brotherhood supporters within the final decade – Turkey and Qatar – mending relations with an axis of states dedicated to crushing the group – Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.

Turkey final 12 months requested Egyptian opposition tv channels working on its territory to reasonable criticism of the Cairo authorities because it tries to rebuild relations with Egypt.

Munir stated the Brotherhood had not but come underneath stress in Turkey. “To date we don’t see or really feel it however it’s the proper of the Turkish state to do something that ensures its peace and the safety of its folks,” he stated.

Inside Egypt the motion, which over many years developed a community of charitable organisations, nonetheless enjoys the sympathy of lots of the nation’s 102 million folks, Munir stated.

He stated the political dialogue anticipated to begin inside weeks between Sisi’s authorities and chosen opposition teams will not be a critical initiative and can’t obtain outcomes if it excludes the Muslim Brotherhood or different figures.

“Dialogue is absolutely wanted however it has to incorporate everybody,” stated Munir.

The chair of the dialogue has stated that the Brotherhood couldn’t participate as a result of they’d “blood on their palms”.

(Reporting by Dominic Evans; Modifying by Mark Heinrich)