Brotherhood head says that Islamists are subject to systematic plots

The leader of the Muslim Brotherhood in Jordan, Dr. Hammam Said, has asserted that the coup against Egypt’s President Mohamed Morsi was the result of a plot by regional and international players. Speaking to Al-Resalah, Said claimed, “These factions were surprised to see the Muslim Brotherhood gain power so they worked towards seeing them fail. They did this by promoting disagreements and rumours that were backed up by money and a politicised media.”

He explained that the disagreements between secularists, liberals and the Muslim Brotherhood are old disputes. Different secular factions were deeply disturbed to see what appeared to be a religious phenomenon taking over the country and as a result decided to imprison people who identified with Islamists, he alleged. Said added that the majority of people were convinced of the Brotherhood’s ideology and elected them in order to confront liberalism and secularism.

Said stressed that the movement has a peaceful presence in the Egyptian political arena and that it interacted with the masses, relying on public and popular support. He rejected the accusation by the pro-coup tendency that the organisation has a monopoly on political power or that there is no room for religion in politics. Said reiterated the Brotherhood’s approach which calls for constant dialogue even though the movement itself is subject to marginalisation.

When asked about the impact of current events in Egypt on the Palestinian cause, Said pointed out that the battle between the Brotherhood and its opponents is based on many issues, including Palestine. “The Palestinian Cause is one of the main issues that unites the Islamic and Arab world. The opponents of the Muslim Brotherhood want to see it fail in order to protect Israel and ensure its security.”

The value of the Muslim Brotherhood’s role in the Palestinian cause is evident by its attempts to thwart Israel’s influence. Said mentioned the Brotherhood’s role, together with its national partners, in curbing Israeli aggression against Arab and Muslim societies. He stressed that the biggest way to combat the occupation is by promoting Islamic values of dignity and by blocking the ambitions of the enemy.

With regards to the Brotherhood’s position in Jordanian politics, Said noted that the group is calling for complete political reforms as part of a greater protest movement that has escalated in the country. “We want a parliamentary system on the condition that we will be able to participate in the political process.”

Such reforms, he insisted, are essential for the Muslim Brotherhood in Jordan. “The movement does not participate in any local elections in protest at the ongoing corruption that plagues the country.” Said argued that many people in Jordan share this view and went on to say that the Brotherhood intends to address all issues in a peaceful and civil way. “We are a peaceful organisation which eschews violence.”

He denied the existence of any contact between the Brotherhood and the Jordanian regime at the moment, saying that relations with the government are “tense”.

Mahmoud Hanieh