We just need to listen to the Muslim Brotherhood

“What I think is important about the Muslim Brotherhood is that we understand what this organisation is, what it stands for, what its beliefs are…what its connections are with other groups… It is an important piece of work because we will only get our policy right if we fully understand the true nature of the organisation that we are dealing with,” words uttered by the British Prime Minister David Cameron whilst calling for an investigation on the activities of the Muslim Brotherhood.

The expressions delivered describe a man who appreciates and understands the events and knows what he is talking about. The prime minister spoke in a mild diplomatic tone, choosing his words well, presenting a man who is professional, who wants to explore the true nature of the matter at hand.

Indeed it is imperative that the decision-maker takes whatever decisions are necessary in order to achieve his country’s best interests and national security and, taking in to consideration that the Brotherhood is a large influential organisation, it is normal for it to receive attention from regional and international powers, especially as it is an organisation that was democratically-elected under free and fair elections in Egypt.

The Muslim Brotherhood formed alliances with the revolutionary forces in Egypt encompassing components of the January 25 Revolution and shouldered the burden of the transitional period. The Brotherhood pushed its candidate for presidency, becoming the first elected president in the history of Egypt.

The political balances and the magnitude of the forces on the ground, which influence the political work on the ground, impose themselves and say that we are addressing that largest and most unified and perseverant force in Egypt; we are not addressing a group that merely sprung to the surface by means of political manoeuvres.

I speak as an Egyptian and I am on a quest for what is logical and acceptable to basic human understanding. So when we talk about figures and the language of reason, it is inconceivable for the Egyptian authorities to denounce an 86-year-old organisation which in Egypt has worked on developing organisations, offering charity work, sheltering the poor, educating generations and defending human rights, as a terrorist organisation.

History will write that Egyptians did not enjoy freedom and democracy except under the rule of the Muslim Brotherhood. It is an organisation whose idealism has caused it to suffer.

During his rule, President Mohammed Morsi did his utmost to open the doors for all to share his ideas in the toughest time to rule – the post-revolutionary phase. The world saw in the year of Morsi’s rule the extent of his formulations of international relations with all countries of the world, which reflects the worldwide unconditional openness of the mentality of the Brotherhood.

The organisation, which excelled in five electoral phases after the revolution and achieved a total of 88 seats in the 2005 elections during Mubarak’s era through democratic means, is now labelled a terrorist organisation in Egypt.

When you talk about figures which signify significant popularity amongst the masses, and a group which has achieved five million votes in the first phase of the presidential elections in a battle with 10 other independent candidates and without any alliances, yet achieved 34 per cent of the total seats in parliament, then you are talking about an organisation that is totally embedded within the fabric of Egyptian society.

They are terrorists of a unique type. How conceivable is it to the British mind that such a people are now carrying weapons to defend their rights and the legitimacy of their president. Moreover, above all this, the Brotherhood’s members never step foot outside the sanctity of state law, despite it being the same law which they are being tried and wronged under.

The Muslim Brotherhood, we have seen, have never been a pocket state, or a state within a state, but rather it provides its members the utmost positive support, teaching them to use absolute openness when dealing with people of different religions or ideologies, so it is not surprising that the vice-president of the Freedom and Justice Party is a Copt, and it the largest party in Egypt with Egyptian Copts.

The teachings imparted to members of the Brotherhood for over 50 years in Europe include the adoption of methods of inter-religious dialogue, whilst taking into consideration the character of the Europeans and within the framework of European law and institutions, to form links, relationships and be able to cooperate with them, to take advantage of the possibilities offered by the laws with the aim of preserving human rights and dignity.

There was never any deviation in the work systems of Brotherhood members in the legal framework from sponsoring countries. A peaceful approach in educational, work and political frameworks has always been witnessed.

The Brotherhood’s position became obvious when the US faced the attacks of September 11, where it renounced the acts of violence and terrorism even on an international level. The statement they released stated: “Upon hearing of the killings, violence and destruction and the attack on innocent civilians in the United States yesterday, the Muslim Brotherhood expresses deep regret and sorrow, and condemns firmly and severely these incidents that are inconsistent with all Islamic and human values. The Muslim Brotherhood declares the utmost condemnation and opposition to any aggression to the lives of human beings and peoples’ freedom and human dignity in all parts of the world.”

“The Muslim Brotherhood are terrorists,” words we Egyptians hear throughout the day and at all hours via the media outlets which have waged a media campaign to demonise the group and pin charges upon it. What is bewildering is that you still find the people going out in the streets, fighting for their principles and protecting the rights of Egyptians. The latest report from the Washington Post showed that the majority of those protesting in the streets are all Egyptians, and not just Brotherhood members.

When trying to overcome the language of reason regarding the Brotherhood, you should be aware of what has happened to the group from injustice in prisons throughout its history since the era of Nasser in 1954-1965, where many of them spent time in prison and were unable to attain their rights.

The laws that the Brotherhood respected and abode by in their country for all their history, is the same law which has sentenced 529 persons to death and charged members of the Brotherhood and its leadership instead of Mubarak’s regime which destroyed the socio-economic and political life in Egypt contrary to all international norms and laws and human rights treaties signed by Egypt.

We have to seek justice, for every house in Egypt now has a martyr, a detainee or a fugitive, for the coup forces have crossed all red lines that govern and protect the community. The coup authorities have brought upon Egyptians what they have never seen before in killings, harassment, imprisonment, torture and imprisonment of women and girls, children and the destruction of humanitarian values and its symbols, without maintaining peace and security. So that all Egyptians have is to cover their wounds and continue their peaceful quest.

The Muslim Brotherhood were criticised for their peaceful matter and were under extreme pressure to set aside this approach as the Egyptian people faced the extreme strength of coup forces.

What if under all this pressure the Brotherhood carry arms? There is no fear upon the Brotherhood now with its members and leadership in prison, except that the principles and fundamentals it adheres to and honours forbids it from doing so, even if it pays the price with the souls of its children.

Such is the right of the British state to look into the group’s activities with respect to national security. With everyone’s trust in the integrity of the British judicial system, there must also be the right of the masses of the world to see the investigation undertaken professionally, involving the Muslim Brotherhood, to represent the values of humanity and civilisation that we all seek.

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