The fraudulent claim that Egypt has been "Ikhwanified"

Several strange terms have maliciously crept into the media lexicon after the March 2011 pol. Since then, everyone realised how strong the Islamic trend was and how rooted it is, especially the Ikhwan-ul-Muslimin (Muslim Brotherhood). So, the private media, owned by businessmen linked to the former regime launched a fierce media campaign against this trend.

Words of a controlling nature were spread; ending in the claim that the country has been “Ikhwanified”. The purpose is no longer hidden, which is to make a scarecrow out of the Muslim Brotherhood. This, of course, started long ago under the corrupt tyrannical regime. Given their loyalty to the former regime, these media barons have followed in its footsteps and propagated a message of horror and fear in the society. They claim the image, culture, and identity of the country would change and become “Ikhwanified.” As if the Brotherhood were not Egyptian Muslims from an Arab and Islamic country but rather aliens from another world who are trying to conquer and occupy the Egypt.

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Such media absurdity increased with the change of top newspaper executives, and peaked after President Mohammad Morsi dismissed the military council and cancelled the blocked constitutional amendment that was originally demanded by all the revolution forces. Ironically, once that was done, all the TV channels began to mourn and the elites, who claimed to be liberal and left-wing irritated us with their concern for the “civilization” of the country. They flocked to the TV studios and cried over the demise of the military rule.

Such elites, who have no presence or popularity amongst the people, and address the public from their ivory towers, shielded themselves with the military council and incited them against their fellow brothers. We watched the famous presenter, who was part of the team supporting the deposed president in 2005, lose her temper and denounce the decisions that gave the Brotherhood control of the state; alleging the “Ikhwanification” of the country. Moreover, her guests on the show joined in with her wailing and lamentation. In fact, everyone raced to moan on this program and other television programs, as if they had entered a whingeing contest.

Since the election of President Morsi, other expressions gained currency.  They are oft repeated; that the Muslim Brotherhood’s Guidance Office is ruling Egypt; and that Khairat Al-Shater is the real force behind the Brotherhood and hence the de facto ruler of the country. Then there is the chatter about a marriage of money and power with faith, and other absurdities, which they fabricate and promote to the public. Thankfully, people have become bored and disgusted by their tedium and the fact that they offer no other alternative than hate and envy, which have surpassed their love for the country and even themselves.

We do not deny that some have fallen for their lies and have been affected by the media misinformation. There is nothing strange about this. After all, such television channels were created specifically for the fabrication and falsification of facts. They spend millions of pounds to pay the salaries of TV personalities for this unethical purpose.

Interestingly enough, they know that there is no such thing as the “Ikhwanification” of the country because the Brotherhood are not allowed to join the armed forces. No Minister of Defence, Chief of Staff, or any head of the armed forces are members of the Brotherhood. The same can be said about the police force, national newspapers, and television. None of the new editors-in-chief are members of the Brotherhood. In fact, some of them are enemies of the group.

Recently, articles in certain national newspapers have attacked the Brotherhood. Likewise, the state television programs criticized the President after the appointment of the Minister of Information, Salah Abdel Maqsood. Furthermore, they Brotherhood have been denied from joining the diplomatic corps for decades; not to mention, other important civic positions, such as governors, mayors and university chancellors. Members of the Muslim Brotherhood have been banned from such positions regardless of how highly educated they are, or the proficiency of their management skills.

We have seen how President Morsi kept his promise to appoint a young individual unrelated to the Brotherhood as Prime Minister. In fact, the number of ministers from his party does not exceed five out of a total of 35. So, to all the respectable gentlemen, lovers of incitement and experts of fraud, I say, how has the country been “Ikhwanified”?

The views expressed in this article belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Middle East Monitor.