An invitation to the Muslim Brotherhood's Iftar was last week's hot ticket, writes Amani Maged Last Saturday was no ordinary day for the Muslim Brotherhood (MB). After decades of persecution since its founding by Hassan El-Banna in 1928, 6 August was akin to an official celebration of the freedom the organisation has enjoyed since the 25 January Revolution. Early on the day the group elected three members to its Shura Council to replace Mohamed Mursi, Essam El-Erian and Saad El-Katatni, appointed president, vice-president and secretary-general of the Muslim Brotherhood's newly formed Freedom and Justice Party. The elections were conducted by secret ballot, held in full view of the cameras of the Egyptian, regional and international media. Rather more spectacular was the sumptuous Iftar banquet that the MB hosted in one of Cairo's five-star hotels. Held in the same reception hall in which the MB hosted its last public Iftar four years ago, the event was presided over by Deputy Supreme Guide Kheirat El-Shater and attended by a host of government, religious, sporting, intellectual and media figures. Among the most prominent were Deputy Prime Minister Ali El-Selmi, former deputy prime minister Yehia El-Gamal and Minister of Information Osama Heikal. Of all the presidential candidates who were invited, only Ayman Nour turned up. The one presidential hopeful who did not receive an invitation was Abdel-Moneim Abul-Fotouh, ejected from the Muslim Brotherhood two months ago after defying the instructions of the leadership not to field a presidential candidate. Former MB member and current presidential candidate, Abul-Ela Madi, did receive an invitation. Madi, now head of the Wasat Party, resigned from the Muslim Brotherhood 15 years ago. On this precedent, Abul-Fotouh can expect his first Iftar invitation from the Muslim Brotherhood in 2026. The presence of the famous Muslim preacher Youssef El-Qaradawi came as something of a surprise. He has recently been ill. While the sheikh is known to be a member of the Egyptian MB, he denies any relationship with its international organisation. Among the football stars on hand were Hadi Khashaba, Ahmed Hassan and Nader El-Sayed. Mohamed Abu Treika, who is rumoured to be a Muslim Brotherhood member, sent his apologies for not being able to attend. There were several prominent religious figures, most notably the Mufti of Egypt Ali Gomaa, and the Minister of Awqaf (Religious Endowments). Members of the Palestinian Fatah and Hamas organisations were also among the guests. Three tables had been set aside for the daughters and granddaughters of the group's founder, Hassan El-Banna, who broke the fast with the wives of MB leaders. The women, many of whom had endured the pain of losing a father or an imprisoned husband, spoke of the blessings of freedom. While the guests were plenty, there were noticeable absences. There was no one to represent the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF), the Coptic Church or the Tagammu Party. In spite of the different backgrounds of the guests, they all shared in the pervasive happiness of being able to enjoy a public Iftar free of the spectre of harassment by state security. Against this exuberant backdrop, several officials took turns to speak. MB Supreme Guide Mohamed Badie stressed that national interests must take priority over partisan concerns and underlined the need for unity. He urged Egyptians to sustain the spirit of Tahrir Square and called for a rapid transfer of power from the SCAF to an elected parliament according to the timeframe earlier set by the SCAF. Former mufti of Egypt Nasr Farid Wasel, who attended the banquet, stated that after the fall of an unjust and tyrannical regime, Egypt had no alternative but to establish a civil state with an Islamic frame of reference to reassure Egyptians of their safety and well-being. For his part, the current mufti, Ali Gomaa, held that the unity to which the Egyptian state aspires can only be achieved through a joint project that espouses the reform of every aspect of life and engages the cooperative efforts of all patriotic forces. Speaking on behalf of representatives of the sporting community, former head of the Egyptian Football Federation Essam Abdel-Moneim praised the Muslim Brotherhood for the sporting values it shared with athletes, values whose source is to be found in Islamic strictures. The impressive MB Iftar, which drew widespread attention, was a unique event. Those who had expected to see an assemblage of all segments of Egyptian society, however, may have to wait until the MB's banquet next year. Then, perhaps, it may also be attended by an elected president and not just a deputy prime minister.
