Can the Muslim Brotherhood enjoy a resurrection?

The term resurrection entails first a death and then a revival. The Brotherhood is indeed dead today; the question is whether it can be revived once more. The occurrences in Egypt negate this possibility. Defeat has come in all shapes and forms: at the unions and grassroots levels, and at the political and governing level.

For over two decades, Muslim Brotherhood members dominated the Egyptian Doctors Syndicate, its presidents from within the Brotherhood. For the first time in history, a Coptic woman snatches victory from the lion’s den. Dr. Mona Mina, founder of the activist group Doctors Without Rights, is the first non-Muslim Brotherhood member to win the prestigious position of Secretary General in decades.

The significance is huge: a true shift in power. “While Brotherhood members always participate in elections, independent members are usually less motivated," an independent runner for the Doctors Syndicate said. "However, we were surprised to see the turnout higher than expected. Members stood in long queues in the rain. There was a lot of persistence to break the monopoly the Brotherhood had had over the syndicate for the past 21 years." http://bit.ly/JnnwT0 

Both the Egyptian Pharmaceutical Syndicate and the Egyptian Engineers Syndicate are on their way to do the same. On January 17, 2014, the Engineer Syndicate Independent Group plans to withdraw confidence from the syndicate’s executive.  The pharmaceutical syndicate has called for a general meeting to do the same. Clearly Egyptians are going out of their way to defeat the Muslim Brotherhood.

This revoke is seen not only amongst labour movements but at the grassroots level, too. The Muslim Brotherhood’s benevolent hand had always stood with the poor, providing medical support, food, and shelter to those in need. And yet Egyptians have shunned away, sickened by the vindictive acts against the police, the army, and Christians. Talk to tradespeople, cabdrivers, and the man on the street, those who chose Morsi in the previous round, and they are adamant not to make the same mistake.

From the political perspectives, the Ikhwan have lost the round, too. Today, their leaders will remain imprisoned. And though some members of the Egyptian community are calling for reconciliation, most Egyptians are against it.

In addition, a court in Cairo has banned “all activities by the Muslim Brotherhood. The ruling ... applies to the group, its NGO and 'any organization derived from it;,"   As the organization goes underground, its members will remain impaired unable to operate in the open or participate in the political scene.

Still, in an effort to raise awareness of their plight and gain international empathy, of the 2000 Brotherhood leaders imprisoned, 450 have gone on a hunger strike including Khairat El Shater, one-time presidential hopeful; Mohammed El Beltagy; and Essam El Haddad. Their lawyers claim they were “banned from family visits, legal counselling, medical care and [live in] overcrowded and unhygienic cells."

I don’t doubt that prison officials are scrutinizing El Shater’s and other prisoners’ visitors. It is no secret that El-Shater is a very powerful Brotherhood member. He devised ways to reach the free world while in prison. “El-Shater’s business empire continued to flourish even while he was in jail.”  I don’t doubt that if allowed extensive visitor access, the imprisoned Brotherhood members, and El Shater in particular, would utilize these opportunities to their benefit causing more harm.

Some say that the MB has fallen many a time before, and this time round is no different. I beg to differ. This time round the MB burned its bridges; the strife is not with the security apparatus anymore, it is with Egyptians. The more atrocities the MB and its affiliates conduct, the more Egyptians realize how devious and manipulative MB members are.

Egyptians who voted for Morsi in the previous presidential elections chose him because they believed in the Brotherhood’s ability and strength. After all, hasn’t the Brotherhood functioned for over eight decades in spite of hardships and efforts to abolish it? These same Egyptians now realize that the Brotherhood is not a very bright group. They connived to lead, led horribly, misled their own into standoffs, reacted unwisely to people’s animosity, and, more importantly, opted for terror.  The Muslim Brotherhood has been exposed at all levels and will not return to power.

Though flailing, the Brotherhood persists in its destruction unable to fathom it's digging deeper into its own grave. Today, the Brotherhood, or its affiliates, blasted a government building in Mansoura, Dakahlia, killing 12 and injuring 130. Though the Brotherhood denied its involvement, Egyptians don't believe these announcements.  Egyptians foresee all terror as caused by the MB and affiliates such as Ansar Bayt El Maqdis.These ongoing terror acts burn the Brotherhood’s bridges further.

The Brotherhood won’t go out without a fight, but its followers will scatter, maybe travelling to other more inviting lands such as Turkey or Qatar. Allah be with them wherever they go as long as they as far as possible from Egypt.

Update: December 25, 2013, Egypt designated the Muslim Brotherhood Group as a terrorist group

Comments

[caroline smith]

Finally clarity cutting through the fog of Western Political theory, self congratulating Bloggers sitting in positions from afar pushing their bookish ideology or donning a thin veil of respectability bestowed on them from recognized institutions, whilst being paid to disseminate propaganda on behalf of the MB.

The twittershpere neglects to mention one important element in Egypt's transition, and that is the will of the overwhelming majority of Egpytian people.
Lable's used by these individuals however give the game away and reveal their brief..
anti-coup = anti morsy anti muslim brotherhood
military rule/junta = ignores the fact that there is a caretaker government in place and moves are being made to conduct elections this year
peaceful Muslim Brotherhood protests _clearly an oxymoron and followers will state this in the face of overwhelming evidence to the contrary
Creating the false impression that the Military is oppressing all Egyptians... funny as I walk through the streets of Cairo there is nothing but admiration n for the Military and Sisi

Then there are comments about using children to promote Sisi, get a grip look around the world all political leaders do this. Just Google "politicians kissing babies".

The carping from the chosen few commentators who are not kicked off twitter is becoming mindbogglingly predictable.

[azza radwan sedky]

Appreciate your anger, but you misunderstood me. What I clearly said in the article is that the MB CANNOT enjoy a resurrection.
Besides, I'm in Cairo as I always am from early December to early April. I'm not posting from far away, and even if I am far away, I'm living and breathing the Egyptian scene.
I do agree with you that Egyptians are all for Sissi and the army. Maybe you should view "El Sissi: to run or not to run" http://azzasedky.typepad.com/egypt/2014/01/el-sissito-run-or-not-to-run.html