Was Muslim Brotherhood member Abdel-Moneim Abul-Fotouh's announcement that he will run for the Egyptian presidency really a shock to the Brotherhood, asks Amani Maged Muslim Brotherhood member Abdel-Moneim Abul- Fotouh's announcement that he intends to run for president is still echoing through the corridors of the Muslim Brotherhood, and beyond. Reactions vary considerably. One view holds that this Muslim Brotherhood leader's announcement signifies that he has effectively severed his relationship with the Brotherhood. Another predicts that he will face an enquiry within days. A third disagrees and argues that no action will be taken against him until he makes his nomination official. Many Muslim Brotherhood youth, meanwhile, support Abul-Fotouh and are prepared to sacrifice their relationship with Egypt's Islamist organisation in order to campaign for him. Abul-Fotouh's decision to run for the presidency settles speculation that has been aired for weeks. Nevertheless, he insists that the decision is not yet final and will only become so when the nominations process officially opens. The implication is that he might change his mind if, for example, another candidate steps forward who he believes merits his support. He has left himself room for manoeuvre. The Muslim Brotherhood leadership was not entirely surprised by Abul-Fotouh's announcement. The Shura Council, the Muslim Brotherhood's highest governing body, had tried to pre-empt just such an eventuality when it resolved not to back any candidate for the presidency and issued a decree prohibiting any Muslim Brotherhood member from fielding himself in the presidential race. Abul-Fotouh's subsequent announcement has since opened the Muslim Brotherhood to suspicion that it is playing a double-game: it issues a prohibition, then one of its leaders violates it; it feigns anger, but in reality -- hey presto! -- we have a Muslim Brotherhood presidential candidate. That such suspicions have gained currency put the Muslim Brotherhood leadership on the spot and forced it to defend its credibility. Brotherhood Deputy Supreme Guide Mahmoud Ezzat declared that the Shura Council remained committed to its prohibition and that it would not support a member who violated it, regardless of who that might be. He stressed his "love and esteem for our brother, Abul-Fotouh", but insisted that in announcing his decision to run for president, Abul-Fotouh had "placed himself outside the group" and that he would be treated in accordance with Muslim Brotherhood regulations. In the opinion of Sobhi Saleh, a Muslim Brotherhood constitutional authority, a member of any group whatsoever must subscribe to and defend its ideas and outlook, and behave accordingly. A person who joins the Muslim Brotherhood is obliged to adhere to its point of view and does not have the right to cling to his personal convictions on matters in which the organisation has issued a definitive decision. Therefore, Abul-Fotouh should yield to the Shura Council's decree. "Surely we can not allow a situation in which a member's personal point of view impacts negatively on the Muslim Brothers, making them a laughing stock in society and opening them to accusations of hypocrisy, deception and double-dealing," Saleh said. In an adamant tone he added: "Any brother who insists on clinging to a personal opinion that conflicts with the conviction of the group, especially after that conviction has been couched in a formal decision, commits a flagrant breach and must be brought to a hearing." In the case of Abul-Fotouh, that hearing would take place in a matter of days, according to Saleh, who continued, "since Abul-Fotouh has not yet made his candidacy official, the Muslim Brotherhood's Inquiry Board will question him on the statements he issued to the press." These statements were potentially damaging to the Muslim Brotherhood that considers its political stances very carefully, he said, adding: "After 60 years of security pressure, we calculate our positions very well." It is unlikely that a Muslim Brotherhood Inquiry Board investigation would lead to excommunication from the group. Depending on a member's offence and the damage it caused the group, punitive actions could range from reproach to censure to withdrawal of membership. Although Abul- Fotouh's particular situation is still unclear, the Muslim Brotherhood has never dismissed a member. Essam El-Erian, vice president of the Muslim Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party, which has not yet severed its organic ties with the mother organisation, doubts that Abul-Fotouh will be penalised severely. On the one hand, Abul-Fotouh had not yet made his nomination official; on the other, he left the door open to the possibility of withdrawing in favour of a candidate he regards as better qualified. Still, in his opinion, while Abul-Fotouh's situation remains unclear, the Muslim Brotherhood leadership will not retract its decision not to back any candidate for the presidency. The Muslim Brotherhood youth who support Abul- Fotouh's campaign also face the prospect of an internal investigation for the same reason: violating the consensus of the group and supporting a Muslim Brotherhood candidate. In fact, hearings have already been held with some 30 members in various governorates. It has been reported that when asked to choose between their membership in the Brotherhood and their allegiance to Abul-Fotouh, some chose the latter. Several individuals, who preferred not to disclose their identities, said that they were ready to resign from the Muslim Brotherhood in order to stand by Abul-Fotouh. For his part, the subject of the controversy, who also serves as secretary-general of the Arab Medics Union, appears set on his presidential course. On Sunday, he is scheduled to unveil his electoral platform, or at least the skeleton of it. According to sources close to Abul-Fotouh, it will have 10 focal areas: the economy, promoting institutionalised government, social development, civil liberties and expanding justice, education and scientific research, Egypt's international leadership, human resource development, national unity, fighting corruption and improving the performance of government administration. The sources added that the programme was being drawn up by a multi-disciplinary team of experts. In addition, Abul-Fotouh and his supporters are already actively campaigning, so far mainly in front of mosques. Tomorrow -- Friday -- his campaigners will be handing out brochures intended to acquaint the public with the candidate. Their aim is to distribute half a million copies. Ahmed Osama, a spokesman for the Abul-Fotouh campaign, said that they have only distributed 100,000 so far, adding that they will not focus only on mosques but also on clubs, colleges and major shopping centres. Whether and how Abdel-Moneim Abul-Fotouh emerges from his Muslim Brotherhood chrysalis will continue to hold public attention for some time. Speculation is rife, plus he has also garnered the support of quite a few secularists, Copts and liberals.
