Egyptian Catholics adopt wait and see policy with Mohammed Morsi
Fr. Rafiq Greiche, spokesman for the Catholic Church, fears the Islamization of society and the sharia. Even if the new president said “nice words” to reassure Christians, lay and women. The clash between the Muslim Brotherhood and the army threatens to block the development of society.
6/25/2012
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Cairo (AsiaNews) – The election of the Muslim Brotherhood’s Mohammed Morsi to President, makes Christians “insecure”. Beyond the “beautiful words,” Christians want to “see the facts”, says Fr. Greiche Rafiq, spokesman for the Catholic Church in Egypt, speaking to AsiaNews.
“The Muslim Brotherhood – said Fr. Greiche – have a poor track record in the history of their relations with Christians. They have always been supporters of a policy that wants to implement Sharia law and Islamization of Egyptian society in dress, in the workplace and traditions of everyday life. ” For this, he adds, Christians are “insecure” and not really sure that this victory should be celebrated.
Yesterday, after the official declaration of his victory, Mohammed Morsi promised that his leadership will also include secular and Christian representatives, and has reassured women about their rights. But Fr. Greiche is sceptical: “From experience, we know what the policy of the Muslim Brotherhood is. Beautiful words are good, but we need facts.”
Christian minorities have long been asking for equal rights in building places of worship and freedom of expression, in addition to the elimination of discrimination in the workplace and in society. The Jasmine Revolution, which led to the downfall of Mubarak, had embraced these ideas and promoted common citizenship for Muslims and Christians, with equal rights and duties. But the elections were concluded with a stand-off between, the Muslim Brotherhood’s Morsi and Ahmed Shafic, candidate of the establishment and the army. Fr. Greiche confirms that there are many young people from the revolution among Morsi’s current supporters: “Not wanting the military – he says – they have endorsed Morsi”.
Yesterday Mohammed Morsi praised the revolution and martyrs and asked the “great people of Egypt” to “strengthen our national unity.”
Fr. Greiche expected that there will be an increasingly close competition between the military – who do not want to lose their power in Egyptian society – and the Muslim Brotherhood, whom the establishment fought against for years.
“There are already signs of an impasse – he says. By the beginning of his term, July 1 Morsi should swear before the Constitutional Court, which currently consists of the Military Council. Instead Morsi want to vote before parliament, which was dissolved over a week ago, eliminating the Islamists victory. The future of society and the economy is likely to be blocked by this standoff between these two great powers. “
Muslim scholar: Mohammed Morsi is the most unfortunate politician in Egypt
For professor Wael Farouq, among the leading intellectuals of the Jasmine revolution, 50% of Egyptians expect concrete answers from the leader of the Muslim Brotherhood. This could be his undoing. Morsi’s victory is a defeat for the ideals of the revolution. Suspicions about a compromise between Islamists and the military to share power.
6/25/2012
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Cairo (AsiaNews) – “Morsi is the most unfortunate politician of Egypt, because he now has to respond in a concrete manner to the demands of the population, especially from an economic standpoint. 50% of Egyptians want to put him to the test. The Islamists will realize that freedom is their worst enemy.” So said Wael Farouq to AsiaNews; Farouq is a Muslim professor at the Institute of Arabic Language at the American University of Cairo, a spoke about the recent presidential election victory of Mohammed Mursi, leader of the Justice and Freedom Party, the political arm of the Muslim Brotherhood. The Islamist leader defeated Ahmed Shafiq, a former Prime Minister of the Mubarak government, with 52% of the vote.
Wael Farouq was one of the leading intellectuals of the jasmine revolution and since February 2011 has been following groups of contact and dialogue between the different students, Christians and Muslims, of his University. He stresses that the outcome of the elections won by the Islamists is a positive sign for Egypt, but it represents a defeat of the ideals of the youth of Tahrir Square. ” Morsi’s victory over Shafiq”, he said, “shows that the change begun with the fall of Mubarak is continuing. Yet at the same time it is a defeat. The Islamists do not reflect at all the ideals and demands expressed by the Egyptian youth in over a year of protests.”
In the first round of the presidential elections, Morsi collected about 5.5 million votes, which is the number of members of the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood and Salafis living in Egypt. According to Wael, the data shows that no moderate Muslim voted for him. But at the polls, the population was forced to choose between two extreme realities of society: the military expression of the old regime and the Islamists. This divided the liberal parties. The fear of a return to the past prompted some 8 million people to vote for Islamic radicals. These include many members of the April 6 Movement, one of the main groups that emerged from the demonstrations in Tahrir Square.
“In Egypt”, explains Wael Farouq, “we says that when a person wants to eat something inedible he dips it in lemon, to mask the taste. The majority of Egyptians who chose Morsi said they had to ‘use lemon’ to be able to vote. In the days surrounding the elections, people in the streets joked that the stores had run out of lemons because the people had chosen to vote for the Muslim Brotherhood.” For the teacher, the brotherhood has lost a lot of votes since the parliamentary elections, won with over 60% of the vote.
“In recent months”, he continued, “the population has repeatedly criticized the Islamists and their ambiguous behavior. In proportion to their previous votes they have fallen by about 20%. This confirms that freedom of speech and thought is the greatest enemy of Islamic radicals.” “To this day”, he added, “the biggest victory of the Egyptians has been the democratic election. For the first time the vote of 26 million people has been heard. At the time of the regime, Mubarak always won with 90% of the votes.”
However, many Egyptians are skeptical and fear that the election’s outcome is the result of a secret power-sharing deal between the army and the Muslim Brotherhood. “A compromise between the two parties is not to be excluded”, Wael Farouq noted, “and this hypothesis is our biggest concern.” According to the Muslim intellectual, an agreement between the two factions would hold hostage the entire Egyptian people. In fact, the new president would not only be representing the Islamists and fundamentalists, but would also be the symbol of the legitimacy of a President supported by the Military Supreme Council and religious fundamentalists.” The Egyptian professor is convinced, however, that the jasmine revolution against Mubarak represents a point of no return for Egypt. “In recent months”, he said, ” the last word has always been that of the square. It will be difficult for those in power to deprive the Egyptians of the few rights gained in over a year of demonstrations and protests.”(SC)
Hopes and fears of the international community concerning the new Egyptian president Morsi
The Head of State has initiated consultations to form the government. Washington “will continue” the process of “transition”. Israel asks that the peace agreements be respected. From Palestine, requests for support under the banner of their “blood ties”. The congratulations of the Arab and Gulf countries; the silence of Saudi Arabia.
6/25/2012
www.asianews.it/news-en/Hopes-and-fears-of-the-international-community-concerning-the-new-Egyptian-president-Morsi-25117.html
Cairo (AsiaNews/Agencies) – The new Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi, leader of the Freedom and Justice party (Muslim Brotherhood), today began consultations to form the new government, after months of political instability. The first head of state elected by the people – he beat the challenger Ahmed Shafiq, who was close to the military and former prime minister under Mubarak’s regime, with 51.3% of the vote – he has promised to be the “president of all Egyptians.” The oath of office should take place June 30. In his first speech to the nation, issued yesterday shortly after the official announcement of the vote, he said that “without the blood of the martyrs” he would never have been elected and confirmed that “the revolution continues.” Morsi directly addressed “the great people of Egypt” called to “reinforce national unity” and he repeatedly stated his intention to represent “all” citizens, including religious minorities, the first of which are Coptic Christians. “As Egyptians, Muslims and Christians, we are preachers and founders of civilization,” he added, “and, God willing, we will continue to be so in the future.”
Meanwhile, the international community welcomes the new Egyptian president, sending him the customary greetings for the position he prepares to fill. However, beyond the facade formalities and the practice of diplomacy, there emerge differences, fears, hopes and renewed calls for the maintenance of “stability” and peace in the region. From Washington to the Gulf countries, many are waiting to see the first moves of Cairo, the decisions by the head of state as an of expression of the Islamist movement and the power struggle that is playing out behind the scenes between the army and the Muslim Brotherhood.
The U.S. President Barack Obama telephoned to congratulate Morsi, also stressing that Washington “will continue to support Egypt’s transition to democracy” and “will be alongside the people” so that the promise is fulfilled that was contained in the revolution begun last year. Obama added his intention to collaborate under the banner of mutual respect, to promote “the many common interests” that bind America and Egypt. The UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon congratulated the new president for the election, saying he was confident that the country will work to “realize the aspirations of its people,” who request “democracy, human rights, prosperity and stability.”
Egypt was the first Arab nation to sign a peace treaty with Israel; the election of a member of the Muslim Brotherhood, which has always opposed the move, casts a shadow over the future of the region even if the leadership has wished to reassure the West on the compliance with the agreements taken. In a note Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he respects the “results” and confirmed his intention to “continue cooperation with the Egyptian government on the basis of the peace agreements.” The Prime Minister of Hamas, Ismail Haniyeh, based in the Gaza Strip, expects Egypt to take up the role of “guide” in the “Palestinian cause” so that the people can “gain their freedom.” Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas hopes for Morsi’s “success” in his work at the “service” of the Egyptian people and expects full cooperation between Cairo and Ramallah for the welfare of the two peoples united by “blood ties”.
The election of Morsi is being watched carefully in the Muslim world, between the Gulf countries and in all areas of the Middle East. Iran welcomes the vote and said that “his victory is part of an ‘Islamic Awakening’ in the Middle East.” Tehran paid tribute to the “martyrs” of the Egyptian revolution and hopes for the “continued success” of its people, stressing its “vibrant presence in the political and social world.” Iraq spoke of “a major step forward in the right direction,” in regard to “strengthening democracy in Egypt.” For Turkey, Morsi’s election “reflects the will of the people”, but now he will face “major challenges”.
The vast majority of reactions emerging from the Gulf countries were marked by caution. The government of the United Arab Emirates respects “the choice of the Egyptian people, in a context of a democratic path.” Bahrain hopes to create “an atmosphere of freedom and democracy”, while the government of Jordan hopes that the new Egyptian president can bring “stability”. From Qatar, along with the customary congratulations, came praise “for the role of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces and of the judges” who were able to maintain a “democratic approach” and make the recent elections “a success”.
In a whirlwind of congratulations – sincere or merely formal, more or less self-interested – the silence of the government of the main oil producer in the world stood out. So far, no official position has arrived from Saudi Arabia, whose relations with the Muslim Brothers have always been reduced to a minimum. According to experts, Riyadh will be forced to maintain relations with the new Egyptian president, even though the Islamist movement that supports him is unpopular with the Saudi kingdom, accused of betraying the purity of Islam.
Mohammed Morsi, 60, studied engineering in the United States. Because of his membership in the Islamist movement, he spent several years in prison during the early years of the Mubarak government. After the fall of the regime, Morsi collaborated in founding the Justice and Freedom Party, the political expression of the Islamic movement that won the parliamentary elections, recently annulled, with more than 50% of the vote. He replaced in the Egyptian presidential race Kairat al-Shater, the architect of the electoral campaign of the Muslim Brotherhood who was prevented from running because he is an ex-con.