Political party of youth splits from Egypt's Brotherhood

YOUNG EGYPTIAN Muslim Brotherhood dissidents have formed their own political party to contest parliamentary elections set for September.

The manifesto of the Egyptian Current party (Hizb al-Tayyar al-Masry) makes it clear the party is not rooted in religion, as is the Brotherhood’s Freedom and Justice Party, the political vehicle of the 83-year-old movement.

The Current party is “civil” (secular) and democratic. Its manifesto does not mention Muslim canon law (Sharia) but refers to Arab and Islamic civilisation.

Muhammad Shams, a co-founder of the party, said it is neither an “Islamist party” nor a “party for the Muslim Brotherhood youth. Not all founders belong to the Muslim Brotherhood.” Some 150 are Brothers, with the rest from diverse backgrounds.

Another co-founder, Muhammad Affan, stated: “We want the party to express the spirit of the revolution, which means we want the leaders to be young.”

Since the uprising toppled President Hosni Mubarak in mid-February, he has been an outspoken critic of the aging Brotherhood leadership for hesitating to support the democracy movement and ignoring younger members.

Mr Affan has also slammed the Brotherhood for failing to separate the charitable and proselytising activities of the parent movement and the political role of the Freedom and Justice Party.

Brotherhood secretary general Mahmoud Hussein warned that movement members could not join a political party other than Freedom and Justice and risk expulsion. He argued the dissidents amount to a small minority of Brotherhood members. Expulsion could exact a high price. The Brotherhood is not simply a political organisation but an all-embracing familial organisation.

Youngsters grow up in its ranks among friends and colleagues, marry and find jobs within the movement. Consequently, the dissidents do not want to sever relations with the Brotherhood.

Mr Affan stated, “We respect the group and its leaders. Our disagreement does not undermine this respect. We hope [the Brotherhood] will show understanding of this initiative.”

The Current party is the second independent entity to emerge from the Brotherhood since the uprising. In March, Ibrahim Zaafarani, a former senior figure, proclaimed the establishment of the Renaissance party. The Current party’s creation coincided with the expulsion from the Brotherhood of prominent reformist Moneim Abouel Fattouh, who has declared himself an independent presidential candidate in spite of stiff opposition from the Brotherhood’s Shura (consultative) Council.

During the uprising , the Brotherhood vowed it would not field a candidate in the presidential election due to be held by year’s end. But Mr Abouel Fattouh’s candidacy gives the impression the Brotherhood is trying to secure the post and suggests it cannot be trusted. Rejection of his candidacy riled many of the young Brothers who established the Current party.

The split in the Brotherhood could encourage disillusioned younger members of the secular Wafd, Egypt’s oldest party, founded in 1919, to break away and form a new party.