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Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood Planning Non-Religious Islam-Based Party, But No Presidential Candidate

By Howard M. Friedman

London's Financial Times today reports that in Egypt, the Muslim Brotherhood has announced that if legal restrictions against it are lifted it will set up a political party, but will not run a candidate for president. A leader of the Brotherhood says that the proposed party will have Islam as a frame of reference, but will not be a religious party. Deputy Leader Rashad Bayoumi says:

We do not have the concept of a religious party, or of a government of religious scholars [like in Iran].  All this is very far from Islam. We say that when we differ over anything we should refer to the Koran. But if matters stray away from the principles of mercy, freedom and social justice, then this would be against religion.

The Egyptian constitution was amended in 2007 to ban political parties based on religion. (See prior posting.) The Supreme Military Council which is temporarily governing in Egypt promises to propose amendments to the constitution before elections are held. It has appointed a former member of Parliament with ties to the Muslim Brotherhood as one of the members of the committee that is drafting the proposed constitutional changes.

UPDATE: Today's Wall Street Journal carries an analysis titled 'Brothers' In Egypt Present Two Faces, reporting that while the younger, more tolerant wing of the Brotherhood were those involved in the recent protests, the conservative "old guard" that is anti-Western and more radically Islamic continues to make up the bulk of the Brotherhood leadership.  Here is an excerpt:

A different face of the Brotherhood is that of Mohamed Badi, 66-year-old veterinarian from the Brotherhood's conservative wing who has been the group's Supreme Guide since last January. He recently pledged the Brotherhood would "continue to raise the banner of jihad" against the Jews, which he called the group's "first and foremost enemies." He has railed against American imperialism, and calls for the establishment of an Islamic state.

Full post as published by Religion Clause on February 15, 2011 (boomark / email).