Abdel Ghaffar: British report confirms peaceful nature of Brotherhood

Dr Ashraf Abdel Ghaffar, one of the leaders of the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood, said that the British government requested a civil and not criminal investigation into the Brotherhood’s activities on its territory, to please Saudi Arabia and the UAE, which had hoped that Britain would categorise the group as a terrorist organisation.

Abdul Ghaffar said in a statement that the Gulf states hoped that if they asked Britain to label the Brotherhood a terrorist group it would do so to satisfy their request, forgetting that Britain is a country governed by laws unlike the situation in those countries which live without institutions and laws.

He continued: “Britain respects its people and it takes them into consideration.” Abdul Ghaffar confirmed that the report is not a trial but is in the interest of maintaining relationships with these countries without compromising British values.

He believes that the British decision will have consequences and will close the file, stressing that it will be a victory of truth over injustice and falsehood.

He said: “The Brotherhood know that they are not terrorists and, as a result, the report will not affect them, but the document is added to many documents proving their peaceful and moderate nature which is ordered in Islam.”