[quote=“Washington Post”]CAIRO — The liberals and secularists who formed the core of the Egyptian revolution are now scrambling to stave off political gains by the Muslim Brotherhood, a once-outlawed organization that is widely expected to become the dominant force when a new parliament is elected.
Concern about the group’s political ambitions was heightened this week when a prominent member of the Brotherhood signaled that he would run for president as an independent, a move that cast doubt on the Brotherhood’s contention that it intended to sit out this year’s presidential race.[/quote]
Hmm. I’d rather the Brotherhood ran and backed a candidate straight up. Best chance to get a real sense of how much popular support they have. This election is going to be so interesting and important. I hope the polling stations are hip deep in international observers and press.
I guess I should have brought this up when I read it (I’m not sure exactly when I read this, but I think was two or three months ago, and probably closer to three than two).
In April and May of last year, Pew conducted a survey in various countries with large Muslim populations.* One of the questions the survey asked was whether it is good or bad that Islam plays a large/small role in politics.
Of those Egyptians polled who believed that Islam plays a large role in politics, 95% thought it was a good thing, and 2% thought it was a bad thing. Of those Egyptians polled who thought that Islam played a small role in politics, 2% thought it was a good thing, and 80% thought it was a bad thing. According to Pew, these questions were asked of Muslims only.
Of Egyptians polled, 82% favored stoning people who commit adultery, 77% favored whippings and/or cutting off hands for theft and robbery, and 84% favored the death penalty for people who leave the Muslim religion. According to Pew, these questions, too, were asked of Muslims only. pewresearch.org/databank/dailynu … berID=1184
[quote=“Thomas Barnett: How the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt cracks under pressure - naturally”]…the long-oppressed opposition party finally has its chance at the brass ring and - booyah! - it starts fracturing over how to do it. This is usually how the single party - realized or just self-actualizing - falls apart.
[…]
WSJ story on leader of one of the more moderate factions within the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood deciding to break from the party and declare his own presidential campaign. “More moderate” is defined as:
But here’s the real rub: Abdel Moneim Aboul Fotouh and his faction believe the MB must split into two groups -a political party and a religious organization with attendant charities.
Since Dr. Fotouh, 59 years old, is effectively breaking the MB’s promise not to field a candidate, many in the group are calling for him to resign because the group won’t support his candidacy.
Despite the fears triggered by his announcement, I think this is a good thing. If we want the Nelson Mandela-like figure, he will necessarily be of the group and simultaneously above the group. The MB is the most organized party, so it’s not odd that compelling figures will arise from it, but they need to do so as Fotouh seems to be doing, by forging a special, above-it-all path.
[…]
Yes, I know I will be immediately bombarded by THE quote or action from Fotouh’s past, but none of that will impress me. The only thing that will count is what he does now. Mandela was a figurehead for a Soviet-sponsored national liberation movement in my PhD diss - totally on the OTHER side. Then the ANC got its chance, and Mandela made the most of it, and South Africa is South Africa today and Mandela is a near saint.[/quote]Pretty high hopes, but I could see things playing out that way.