Egyptian Government Holds Off on Dissolving Muslim Brotherhood
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Stockbyte/Thinkstock(CAIRO) — Contrary to what’s been happening for the past two months, Egypt’s leadership insists it is not attempting to completely dismantle the Muslim Brotherhood.
Until the beginning of July, the Brotherhood was the dominant political force in the country, headed by President Mohamed Morsi.
But Morsi’s removal from office by the military due to a public outcry began the systematic process of weakening his party by arresting hundreds of its leaders and even some of their family members. The Islamist-based constitution was also permanently suspended.
Interim Prime Minister Hazem el-Beblawi even proposed dissolving the Brotherhood, considered one of best organized Islamist groups in the Arab world.
However, el-Beblawi now seems to be holding out an olive branch or the equivalent of one, given how stubborn the new government has been to compromise.
He told Egypt’s state news agency MENA, “Dissolving the party or the group is not the solution and it is wrong to make decisions in turbulent situations.”
Still, the prime minister said that he would keep a close eye on the Brotherhood and other groups to prevent them from acting clandestinely as the government prepares to hold parliamentary and presidential elections either later this year or in early 2014.
Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio