Egypt Islamists' wait for power

Egypt Islamists' wait for power

It is not easy to find the headquarters of Egypt's largest opposition movement. The unremarkable building overlooking the Nile in Manial in central Cairo has no sign.


Only a nod from the security guard when you ask "al-Ikhwan al-Muslimun?" reassures you that you have arrived at the office of the Muslim Brotherhood.

Nowadays the Islamist organisation - which is officially banned - has more reason than usual to keep a low profile.

In recent weeks the Egyptian government has stepped up its crackdown on members ahead of local elections on 8 April. More than 800 have been arrested.

"It looks like the ruling National Democratic Party is not able to compete fairly with the Muslim Brotherhood," the Brotherhood's Deputy Chairman, Mohammed Habib, tells me. "Therefore it is resorting to odd and exceptional measures."

In 2005, Brotherhood candidates - running as independents - clinched more than a fifth of seats in Egypt's parliamentary elections. Mr Habib says the government wants to prevent a repetition of that success.

"They felt scared and panicked when they saw the result. Afterwards they changed their strategy and tried to marginalise and undermine the Muslim Brotherhood."

Comment:

The Muslim Ummah has witnessed political nepotism and corruption for over fifty years in some countries and now wants to adopt Sharia as the solution to improve the lives of ordinary people, remove corruption and please Allah swt by implementing his laws in his earth.