Islamist forces say there is no need to fear their ascendancy, writes Amani Maged As returns from the first round of the People's Assembly elections came in last week anxiety spread in both Egypt and the West over the prospect of a Muslim Brotherhood victory. The Freedom and Justice Party (FJP), the Brotherhood's political arm, was quick to issue reassuring messages, through both the press and a constant stream of visiting Western delegations. Among the recipients was Senator John Kerry, Chairman of the Congressional Foreign Relations Committee, who called at the FJP's headquarters this week. The senator said that he was not surprised by the FJP's lead in the polls and that he respected the will of the Egyptian people. Discussions between Kerry and FJP President Mohamed Mursi focused on issues of particular concern to the West -- the international treaties signed by Egypt and the Camp David peace accord with Israel in particular. Mursi told Kerry that his party was committed to the agreements: "Egypt is a nation with an ancient history and plays an important role in Arab, Islamic and international affairs. It respects the treaties and charters it has signed," he said. His advice to Kerry was that the US should "listen to the people not about them" because the closer it listened the more effectively it could promote stability and economic development. To further reassure Kerry with respect to his party's commitment to international treaties, Mursi added that Egypt is under considerable strain both domestically and externally and that the first step towards remedying these difficulties was to reorder the system of government so as to ensure the autonomy of the three branches of power, especially the legislature. The senator's visit to the FJP and other Islamist parties was also welcomed by the Salafis. Hazem Salah Abu Ismail, a potential presidential candidate, hailed the US administration's communications with the Islamists as a portent of victory. "The Americans know the tendencies and trends of the Egyptian people," he said. The FJP has also been keen to reiterate its reassurances to Copts. The party has no objection to promulgating legislation guaranteeing recourse to their own religious laws with respect to personal status issues, say FJP officials. On the question of tourism, Ahmed Abu Baraka of the FJP said his party has a comprehensive vision for developing the sector. It plans to expand the annual influx of tourists to 60 million. When asked whether alcohol would be banned in homes and hotels, he hinted it would not, suggesting alcohol consumption would fall under the category of personal freedom in the privacy of one's home and that respect for privacy was connected to the development of tourism. FJP Secretary-General Mohamed Saad El-Katatni said the party had no intention of pushing for the application of hudud -- Islamic punishment -- at present. "We cannot refute what is explicit in the faith but such matters are not our priority at present. It is well known that Caliph Omar Ibn Al-Khatab suspended the application of the hudud at a time of famine. Such matters are governed by priorities and exigencies. Society cannot be governed by ideologies." The most immediate priority, El-Katatni argued, was to restore security. This required both a short-term and a long-term plan, an important part of which entailed a radical overhaul of the police. In its bid to allay anxieties, FJP leaders also addressed the shape of the forthcoming People's Assembly. The FJP would not form a parliamentary bloc with the Salafis, said Mohamed El-Beltagui. Not only was the Brotherhood opposed to an alliance based solely on ideology, it preferred to distance itself from Salafis, known for their extremist views. Nor would the party seek to dictate who serves as speaker of the house or on parliamentary committees. The choice of speaker will be consensual and membership of parliamentary committees open to majority and opposition MPs. The parliamentary majority would back the new government provided it observes certain criteria, he added, arguing that such a system would promote harmony between the parliamentary majority, the government and SCAF. The Muslim Brotherhood also reiterated its pledge not to nominate a candidate for president, adding the coda that it would not back a candidate from the military either. On the freedom of religion as pertains to the Bahaais, the Ahmediya and the Shia, the FJP said members of these creeds would be allowed to practise their religious beliefs on the condition that they did not attempt to convert others, though Muslim Brotherhood Deputy Supreme Guide Khairat El-Shater has previously argued the Bahaai and the Ahmediya are religious factions that should be curbed. Shiism, on the other hand, is not viewed by the Brotherhood as a threat to Sunni Egypt. Muslim Brotherhood and FJP leaders were also keen to issue reassurances on the economy and banking system. "The Freedom and Justice Party believes in the free market economy, patriotic capitalism and attracting foreign investment. Islamic banks are an experiment that has witnessed successes and failures. It is an experiment that we encourage and hope to develop in order to prove that it is capable of attracting investment and providing financial services. This does not mean that we would replace or change existing banks without there being a strong viable alternative capable of filling the economic void," says El-Katatni. The Muslim Brotherhood and their political wing will undoubtedly continue to issue such reassurances. The real test, of course, will come only if they assume the reins of power.
