For the fourth time the banned Moslem Brother are trying to arrange their circumstances and prepare their candidates for the coming People’s Assembly elections. This time the candidates will be standing as individuals and not as part of a list in coalition with other parties, as in previous elections. On previous occasions the Muslim Brothers candidates were nominated in coalition with Al-Wafd opposition Party in 1984, the Labor Party and Al-Ahrar Party in 1987 and again with the, now suspended, Labor Party in 1995. This time the Muslim Brothers will join the election battle as individuals without leaning on any party.
It’s well-known that the Egyptian constitution banned the establishment of political parties on a religious basis, which didn’t displease the old leaders of the group, who forbade the elections and political parties in general. The middle-aged and young generation of the group, however, are seeking legislative political work through political parties, a matter that has put them in conflict with the old leaders as well as the security men chasing the group. Such conflict could lead to the destruction of the group from inside.
Islamic writer Kamal Al-Habib said that the Muslim Brothers as a political group does actually exist and the absence of official recognition for such a group doesn’t belittle it’s role. The people have acknowledged the ability of such a group to have an influence on people through a fixed political system, a matter that raises questions about the government’s insistence on keeping such a group banned and not allowing them to practice political work through an official party.
One of the famous symbols of the Group; Abu Al-Elaa Mady and the deputy founder of Al-Wasat Party, a party that was rejected by the government, thinks that the conflict between the government and the group will increase as long as the group challenges and provokes the government on purpose. Mady added, "I don’t care now about the Group’s stance regarding the regime, I have a project through which I am trying to practice in political work. This is the establishment of the Al-Wasat Party and I think that it will represent a breakthrough in political life in Egypt".
However; Major General Foaad Allam; ex- Deputy Manager of the State Security administration rejected this interpretation as he said that the Muslim Brothers had revived the idea of using violence in order to establish a political regime in Egypt and the Arab World. He added " the security confrontation with extremist groups lead to legal confrontation with the Muslim Brothers’ Group, as they both are parties involved in political speech against the society. As well as this there is agreement between the Muslim Brothers Group and the extremist groups on some points ". Allam pointed out the history of the Muslim Brothers Group regarding the elections and he referred to the coalition between the group and other political parties and the disagreements and troubles that occurred between them at that time.
Kamal Habib confirmed that " everything is now stable in the Brothers Group and they will join the coming elections as independent candidates. They will perform their role in political life even if they are not representing the group".
Ali Fat-h Al-Bab said " time is changing and may be the time will come when the government will allow the Moslem Brothers to establish their own political party and to be represented in Parliament and syndicates naturally. He thinks that giving the green light for everyone to participate in the elections as individuals is evidence that the change will come soon and is not so far off as others imagine. Abu Al-Elaa Mady said " Nobody had prevented the Moslem Brothers from participating in the election, but the candidate has to participate as an individual " he confirmed that it is a good opportunity for all the banned groups, such as the Moslem Brothers Group.
Fat-h Al-Bab said that the Moslem Brothers Group has to undergo a change, to adapt itself to the changes that have occurred in Egyptian society and it is very important that the change should be a positive one. He added that his own experience in parliament had given him a lot and that involvement with real people is completely different from theoretical speeches.
Fat-h Al-Bab confirmed that he will participate in the coming elections as an independent and he thinks that the Moslem Brothers have become part of the political equation in Egypt and cannot be ignored.
Mamoun Al-Hodaibi, the general guide of the Muslim Brothers Group, recalled the President’s speech, about the election, saying that it will be fair and the people of the Muslim Brothers Group can nominate themselves as independents. Al-Hodaibi confirmed that they had nothing to do with the problems inside the Labor Party and that they opposed the decision to suspend the party, as it narrows the field available in political work. Al-Hodaibi confirmed that he will nominate himself for Dokki Constituency as usual and that he was representative for this constituency in the 1987 elections and was also nominated to represent them at the last elections in 1995.
Al-Hodaibi thinks that the fuss that occurred over the novel "Banquet for sea weed" was intended to scare the Government and to show them that the Muslim Brothers are behind all troubles. He thinks that the Government is fully aware of this plot. Al-Hodaibi thinks that the revival of the Islamic nation will start from the Arab world. He confirmed that they respect nationalism controlled by Shari’a, "we believe in democracy if its under the Islamic Shari’a". He said " we are keen to abide by the constitution and the law and we don’t want any clashes with other forces, either official or secular opposition. We have our well-known targets and we want to achieve them like any other political power through constitutional means, away from secret work or violence, however there are some others who want to erase us from the map of this country" he said.
