Says Jeremy Bowen on the BBC:
The country’s only properly organised mass political movement outside the ruling party is the Muslim Brotherhood, and it would do very well in any free election.
Unlike the jihadis, it does not believe it is at war with the West. It is conservative, moderate and non-violent. But it is highly critical of Western policy in the Middle East.
The past General Guide of the Muslim Brotherhood, Mahdi Akef:
بمناسبة المقاومة والجهاد.. هل تعتبر أسامة بن لادن إرهابيًا أم مجاهدًا إسلاميًا؟
بكل تأكيد مجاهد، وأنا لا اشك في صدقه في مقاومة الاحتلال، تقربًا إلى الله عز وجل.Question: Regarding resistance and jihad…do you consider Osama Bin Laden a terrorist or an Islamic Mujahid?
Akef: Certainly, a mujahid, and I have no doubt in his sincerity in resisting the occupation, drawing closer to God Almighty.
I also suspect that those living within firing range of Hamas’s missiles would disagree that this branch of the Muslim Brotherhood was “non-violent”.
But, hey, Bowen knows best.
