Group+4.3+The+Muslim+Brotherhood+(Egypt)


 * Introduction: **

The Muslim Brotherhood (Al – Ikhwan Al – Muslimeen) was founded in 1928 in Egypt, by Hassan- Al-Banna. In Ismailiah, a town on the Suez Canal, Al-Banna’s influences caught up with him as he witnessed the exploitation of Egyptian workers by foreigners who ran the Suez Canal Company. In response, Al-Banna and his colleagues founded Al-Ikhwan Al-Muslimeen. He declared that Egyptian poverty, powerlessness, and lack of dignity resulted from failing to adhere to Islam and adopting Western values and culture. (1) The first 10 years of Al-Ikhwan activities focused on recruiting and establishing branches throughout Egypt. He wanted the abrogation of secular law and the introduction of Islamic law as the law of Egypt. Another aspect of Al-Banna’s message was the prohibition of vices such as gambling, prostitution, usury, monopolies, books, and songs, as well as ideas not conforming to Islamic law.
 * - Jimmy**


 * History: **

Al-Ikhwan al-Muslimeen (The Muslim Brotherhood) is the world’s oldest and most influential Islamic organization. [2(2) It was established in 1928 by Hassan-Al-Banna and colleagues he met while in school. In its early beginnings, the Brotherhood were recruiting and establishing branches in Egypt. In 1936, Al-Banna encouraged the government to promote an Islamic order. The Egyptian government, however, signed the Anglo-Egyptian Treaty which gave more power to local governments. This caused the Brotherhood to resort to armed struggle to bring change to Egypt. The Brotherhood included branches of political, educational, and social arms adding a militant arm during World War II. After the war, the Brotherhood’s ranks were in danger from the government. Many members were forced underground, jailed, or sent to neighboring countries. In the 50s and 60s, many student groups disappeared to join the Brotherhood to show their dissatisfaction with government policies and the economy. 1(3) The growth of the Brotherhood continued well into the 70s. During the 70s, the Brotherhood were able to peacefully exist under the rule of Sadat. The late 70s, however, were different as a peace treaty between Egypt and Israel came to fruition. The Brotherhood had many problems with the laws that Sadat was creating. For example, he started working on giving women more rights and included a law that said at least 30 seats on the National Assembly had to be given to women. The 70s also saw the rise of a much more violent Brotherhood. Many protests and riots took place during the late 70s. One such riot was the ransacking of Pyramids Road, which had many pleasure spots including casinos and night clubs. [3(4) Since this time, the Brotherhood has maintained an image of Islamic fundamentalism, particularly in the west.
 * - Thai**


 * Key Figures: **


 * ** Hassan-Al-Banna – **Founder of The Muslim Brotherhood
 * ** Sayyid Qutb – **was one of the most influential ideological figures of the Muslim Brotherhood. He became the Editor-in-chief of the weekly journal of the Brotherhood.
 * ** Muhammed Faraj – **he split from the brotherhood and formed the Gamaa al-Islamiyah. And he also wrote a book about Jihad, called Al-Farida Al-Ghaiba.


 * - Collaboration**

In the 1940’s an anti-colonial movement of Muslim men and women called the Al – Ikhwan Al – Muslimeen, also known as the Muslim Brotherhood, organized protests to denounce Egypt’s government and propagated their own social and political ideals. These protests were initially centered on a rising sense of nationalist identity, but they were caused by a public outcry during the late 1930’s in opposition to rising prices, population growth and a general dip in the economy. [4(5) In the early stages the main focus was on political issues such as the framing of the constitution and defining the proper functions of the government. They then proceeded to include issues of social justice and equal distribution of natural resources. The goal of these pursuits was to enhance the position of Islam in society. Over the past 25 years, a new and unique political // ideology // has emerged within the Egyptian // Muslim Brotherhood //. The // ideology // is reflected both // in // the // Brotherhood's // emerging political platform, and // in // public and personal statements from // Brotherhood // leadership in recent years//.// The current // Brotherhood ideology // integrated the group's goal of establishing a state ruled by Islamic law (Shari’ah) with a democratic system that claims to protect a wide range of civil liberties. [5(6) The // Brotherhood // has united around a democratic perspective that challenges the Egyptian regime on its democratic credentials at least as often as on its religious ones. Within some general Islamic constraints, the // Brotherhood's ideology // supports norms of democratic political contestation and comparatively more civil liberties than the current Egyptian regime upholds. According to the Ikhwanweb ([]), which is the Official English Website of the Muslim Brotherhood, there are 2 key principles of the Muslim Brotherhood: FIRST: As for the first pillar, about 97% of the Egyptian people are Muslims, the majority of the Egyptian people are Muslims, the majority of whom perform the rites of worship enjoined by Islam. They abide by the Islamic ethics and apply to themselves to most of the rules whose enforcement does not require any government intervention or license. But legislation, the judiciary and economic and social dealings are founded on non-Islamic bases, thus creating a state of alienation between the people’s creed, on the one side, and their forms of activity, which are governed by rules that contradicted their creed, on the other. The lack of a connection between the policies of the Government and Islamic Shari’ah law led to the contradiction of policies of the Shari’ah. It was incumbent on the Muslim Brotherhood in such a situation to adopt a system for sound Islamic education and the spreading of Islamic principles and ethics as well as the education of the Muslim individual, family, and society into commitment to Islamic ethics and principles. A state with its government that is committed to Islam cannot be established without a popular base that believes in the Islamic system and is aware of its main ideas. SECOND: for the liberation of Egypt, the Muslim Brotherhood has contributed in an effective strong manner to the struggle against the British imperialist armies occupying Egypt and to the achievement of their evacuation from many Arab and Islamic countries. Since the ruling powers are mostly totalitarian, tyrannical, and selfish, they do not rely on a popular will that elected them into the seats of government. Because these governments mostly rely on foreign influence and always fear it in view of their special formation and military nature, there have been repeated clashes between the Muslim Brotherhood and those governments that strongly reject the existence of any entity enjoying powerful popular support. ** - Jimmy **
 * Theories/Ideologies: **

The Muslim Brotherhood has operated under 4 rulers since its existence; King Farouk, Gamal Abdel Nasser, Anwar Sadat, and Hosni Mubarak
 * The Muslim Brotherhood In Egypt **:
 * - Thai**

**The Muslim Brotherhood under** **Hasan Al-Banna: 1928-1948** Hasan al-Banna was a schoolteacher and the founder of The Muslim Brotherhood in March 1928 in the city of Isma'iliya, Egypt. [7(7) He realized after 4 years that the group could no longer grow unless it was moved to Cairo, Egypt. In 1932 Al-Banna moved the brotherhood to Cairo and began to recruit and establish branches within the city. Under Al-Banna in 1932, the Brotherhood began publishing its first weekly newsletter and held the first actual conference with its members. [8(8) By 1938, the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt had 300 branches under Al-Banna. In 1941, Al-Banna had the brotherhood announce its own candidates for the parliamentary elections. Also, Al-Banna began to hold public rallies demanding social reform and the withdrawal of the British troops in Egypt. [9(9) In return, Al-Banna was ordered by the British to leave Cairo on May 1941. In October 1941, Al-Banna was imprisoned with many other Muslim Brotherhood members. In 1947, Egyptian police confiscated a jeep belonging to the brotherhood containing large amounts of explosives near the capital. [10(10) In 1948 the Muslim Brotherhood was broken up and thousands of its members were imprisoned. In retaliation, the Brotherhood assassinated the Egyptian Prime Minister Mahmud Fahmi al-Nuqrashi, the one that was in charge of the breaking up of the Brotherhood. [11(11) Soon after, the Egyptian police killed Hasan Al-Banna while he was in prison. **- Shannan**

**The Muslim Brotherhood under** **Nasser – (1954-1970)**

Gamal 'Abd al Nasser was the Egyptian President from 1954 to 1970. Before he became president, he was also the leader of the Free Officers Movement. The Free Officers objective was to overthrow the existing government in Egypt, and replace it with a new regime that would center its focus on introducing Islam into the new constitution. [12(12) Nasser and the Free Officers had close relations with The Muslim Brotherhood and their new leader, Hasan al-Banna’s successor, Hasan al-Hudaybi. During their time of cooperation, Nasser had many of the members of the Muslim Brotherhood that were previously imprisoned, released and able to continue the growth of the Brotherhood. Nasser allowed the Brotherhood to continue their recruiting and propaganda activities. [13(13) As Nasser and the new government began to take complete control over Egypt, the tensions between them and the Brotherhood grew. On October 27, 1954, one of the Muslim Brotherhood members attempted to assassinate Nasser, who was at the time the Egyptian President, at a public speech. [14(14) The member emptied a pistol at Nasser and missed. In turn, Nasser gained more popularity as a hero like figure and seized even more control over the country. He ordered the re-discontinuation of the Muslim Brotherhood and arrested once again thousands of the Brotherhood members. [15(15) Trials against some of the high-ranking members led to six executions, and hundreds were tortured in prison for the next decade. [16(16) - **Shannan**

**The Muslim Brotherhood under Sadat** **– (1970 - 1981)** Nasser’s successor Anwar Sadat brought about many changes to Egypt’s economic and political stance during the 70’s and 80’s until his assassination in 1981. Despite the fact that Sadat released many of the brothers who were previously imprisoned under Nasser and even allowed the publication of the Muslim Brotherhoods newspaper Al’Dawa, many of the changes that Sadat introduced were generally unpopular with the members of the Muslim brotherhood. [17(17) One of these changes was the liberalization of the markets and large-scale opening of the private sector market for investment by both domestic and foreign companies. This policy was called infitah (“the opening”) by Sadat and in the end was deemed generally unpopular. [18(18) This can be evidenced in the 1977 Egyptian bread riots where Sadat was pressured into reversing the ban on subsidies for basic foodstuffs that were a new part of his infitah policies. Members of the Muslim brotherhood are said to have been an important part of these riots. One of the major goals of the Muslim Brotherhood under Sadat was the institution of Shari’ah (traditional Islamic) law. This goal was fulfilled when the constitution of Egypt was amended in 1980 to “state that Shari’ah law is the main source of all legislation”. [19(19) One of Anwar Sadat’s most unpopular political moves in the eyes of the Muslim brotherhood was the Camp David Accords and resulting Egyptian Israeli Peace treaty. In addition to calling for all Israeli forces to withdraw from the Sinai Peninsula, this treaty made Egypt the first Arab nation to recognize Israel as a country as well as allowing Israeli ships to go through the Suez Canal. Though officially illegal, the Muslim brotherhood was active the in the final years before Sadat’s Assassination.7 The Muslim brotherhood had an active role in riots and demonstrations during these years.
 * - Phalgun**

After Sadat’s assassination in 1981, Hosni Mubarak ascended to power in Egypt. His attitude toward the Brotherhood remained very similar to the attitudes of previous governments in Egypt. Though officially illegal, the brotherhood was tolerated. Under Mubarak’s early years, the Muslim brotherhood was tolerated to the point of having a political party and Brotherhood endorsed politicians.9 However, as some of these candidates and their parties gained power and started to publicly criticize the emergency law that was still in place, torture in prisons, and rigged elections, they were quickly imprisoned by Mubarak and many brotherhood members were imprisoned or forced to hide. [20(20) In many of the elections under Mubarak, such as the 2000 or 2005 elections, the brotherhood candidates won a significant amount of seats even with the fact that many of them were imprisoned. [21(21) Some of these members alleged that Mubarak practiced many forms of electoral malfeasance.
 * Muslim Brotherhood under Mubarak – (1981 – present)**
 * - Phalgun**


 * References:**

1) Aboul-Enein, Y. H (2003). Al – Ikhwan Al – Muslimeen: The Muslim Brotherhood. Military Review, p. 26-31

2 ) Leiken, R. S., Brooke, S. (2007). The Moderate Muslim Brotherhood. Foreign Affairs. pp 107-121

3) Aly, A. M. S., Wenner, M. W. (1982). Modern Islamic Reform Movements: The Muslim Brotherhood In Contemporary Egypt. Middle East Journal, pp 336-361

4) Edelen, A. A. (1999). The Muslim Brotherhood: The Muslim Brotherhood and Their Quiet Revolution, p. 38 - 53

5 ) Harnisch, C., & Mecham, Q.. (2009). Democratic Ideology in Islamist Opposition? The Muslim Brotherhood's 'Civil State'. Middle Eastern Studies, 45 (2), p. 189.

6 ) Ikhwanweb: the Official English Website of The Muslim Brotherhood http://www.ikhwanweb.com/article.php?id=813

7 ) Munson, Z. (2001). Islamic Mobilization: Social Movement Theory and the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood. The Sociological Quarterly, vol 42 (4), pp 487-510

8 ) Munson, Z. (2001). Islamic Mobilization: Social Movement Theory and the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood. The Sociological Quarterly, vol 42 (4), pp 487-510

9 ) Munson, Z. (2001). Islamic Mobilization: Social Movement Theory and the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood. The Sociological Quarterly, vol 42 (4), pp 487-510

10) Munson, Z. (2001). Islamic Mobilization: Social Movement Theory and the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood. The Sociological Quarterly, vol 42 (4), pp 487-510

11 ) Leiken, R./ Brooke, S. (2007). The Moderate Muslim Brotherhood. Foreign Affairs, vol 86 (2), pp 107-121

12 ) Leiken, R./ Brooke, S. (2007). The Moderate Muslim Brotherhood. Foreign Affairs, vol 86 (2), pp 107-121

13 ) Munson, Z. (2001). Islamic Mobilization: Social Movement Theory and the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood. The Sociological Quarterly, vol 42 (4), pp 487-510

14 ) Munson, Z. (2001). Islamic Mobilization: Social Movement Theory and the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood. The Sociological Quarterly, vol 42 (4), pp 487-510

15 ) Munson, Z. (2001). Islamic Mobilization: Social Movement Theory and the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood. The Sociological Quarterly, vol 42 (4), pp 487-510

16 ) Munson, Z. (2001). Islamic Mobilization: Social Movement Theory and the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood. The Sociological Quarterly, vol 42 (4), pp 487-510

17 ) Fahmy, N. S. (1998). The Performance of the Muslim Brotherhood in the Egyptian Syndicates: An Alternative Formula for Reform, pp 551-562

18 ) Becker, Susan “Politics of Economic Strategy”<[]

19 ) Munson, Z. (2001). Islamic Mobilization: Social Movement Theory and the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood. The Sociological Quarterly, vol 42(4), pp 487-510

20 ) Trofimov, Y. (2009). Muslim Brotherhood Falters as Egypt Outflanks Islamists. //The Wall Street Journal (May 15, 2009).//

21 ) International Crisis Group (ICG). 20 April 2004. [|"Islamism in North Africa II: Egypt's Opportunity"] . Cairo/Brussels: International Crisis Group.