On the threshold of winning a commanding majority in the Egyptian parliament, Islamists are beginning to manifest their political and ideological substance, sending alarming messages to whom it may concern, Amani Maged reports Perhaps the most disturbing development of recent weeks is the appearance of a Facebook page for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice Organisation, a moral guardianship body ostensibly founded by the Nour Party, the political arm of the Salafis. Fliers bearing the name of this organisation were distributed in the Port Said governorate, warning barbers to refrain from shaving or trimming beards on the grounds that to do so is against the teachings of the Prophet. Rumours quickly spread that anyone refusing the injunction would be whipped. Nour Party head Emad Abdel-Ghafour denies any connection with the Facebook page, claiming it is the work of hackers bent on distorting the image of Salafis, and of the Nour Party in particular. He claimed the hackers were engaged in a desperate bid to destroy the prospects of his party in the third round of the polls after it had already won a quarter of People's Assembly seats in the first two rounds. In a bid to reassure the public with regard to its economic credentials the Nour Party announced that it would offer a prize to the company registered on the Egyptian stock exchange most committed to the standards of Islamic law. During a press conference in which it participated alongside representatives from all other political parties and movements, the Nour Party described the stock exchange as one of the most important sources of funding for the Egyptian economy. Political analyst Ammar Ali Hassan argues that the Nour Party's quick denial of any connection with the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice Organisation and its promise of the stock exchange award are evidence of its determination to reassure a sceptical public, especially with regard to the spectre of squads of moral guardians. Hassan discarded the possibility that the cyber page was a trial balloon. "So far, the Salafis have not followed the gradual approach or evasive tactics of the Muslim Brothers," he said. "They are sincerely trying to reassure society with respect to their intentions in spite of the occasional statements that slip out and betray their tendency towards uncompromising views and political inflexibility." A recent example of this tendency was supplied by Adel Afifi, president of the Salafist Asala (Authenticity) Party, who stated that Muslims should not congratulate Copts on the occasion of Christmas. Other Salafist spokesmen quickly distanced themselves from this position. Hassan believes that the Salafis will reveal the extent of their ideological rigidity beneath the dome of parliament during debates over the new constitution. The Salafis insist that the constitution should state explicitly that Egypt's president must be a Muslim and that the word "provisions" should be substituted for "principles" in Article 2 of the 1971 constitution which states that "the principles of Islamic Law are the primary source of legislation". The points have become a source of contention between the Salafis and the Muslim Brothers. The Freedom and Justice Party (FJP), the Muslim Brotherhood's political arm, is expected to side with liberals on these issues. FJP spokesmen have already indicated that the first four articles of the 1971 constitution should remain unchanged. The MB may appear conciliatory on this score, but alarm is growing about its true agenda. In his most recent weekly address, "Clarity of goal and resolve: the path to revival", the MB's Supreme Guide Mohamed Badie spoke of the imminent resurrection of the Islamic Caliphate. The Muslim Brotherhood, he said, "is close to attaining that grand objective that was set by its founder, the Imam Hassan El-Banna, which is to establish a system of rule that is just and intelligent in all its institutions and components and that includes a government and then a caliphate that will serve as a wise mentor in the world". Political analysts such as professor Gamal Zahran of the Economics and Political Science Department at Suez Canal University warned that such remarks could fan discord and strife. The concept of the Caliphate implies a form of hereditary succession, he said, adding that the Muslim Brotherhood is still obsessed with the idea of reviving the Islamic Empire. According to Zahran, the Muslim Brotherhood's next step will be to invoke the notion "ahl al-hall wal-aaqd" (wise authorities) and "shura" (consultation), notions of rule that have long passed their sell-by date. "The Muslim Brotherhood would never have attempted to win people over to such ideas before first securing a parliamentary majority, which it gained through the democratic process," he said, warning that the resurrection of such ideas will signal the MB's intention to undermine democracy. Badie's quoting from Hassan El-Banna's sixth missive, stated Zahran, suggests that the group's political thinking remains rooted in the 1920s and has not developed since. An FJP leader, Ahmed Abu Baraka, dismisses such concerns. The supreme guide, he said, merely cited El-Banna to substantiate his remarks on progress and development. Muslim Brotherhood spokesman Mahmoud Ghazlan agrees. He said that the notion of a "wise caliphate" is part of the MB's discourse, figuring in the context of a long-term -- a century, or a century and a half -- dream to establish an integrated unity in the Islamic world. According to Ghazlan, the MB's current strategy is to concentrate on the reconstruction of Egypt, the promotion of progress and development, and the enhancing of Egypt's regional and international status. It will seek to promote a form of inter-Arab cooperation leading to an entity similar to the EU. Hassan believes the MB is simply playing on Egyptians' emotions at a particularly charged time, when systems of security and justice have all but collapsed. He points out that it makes little practical sense to speak of the resurrection of the Islamic caliphate in Egypt. Turkey, which had been the seat of the Islamic caliphate until the 20th century, is now seeking membership in the EU while the Islamic Conference Organisation is spearheading closer cooperation between Islamic nations. In the midst of this array of separate but interrelated developments connected with the Islamists and their designs there was a ray of hope for Egypt's Copts when the FJP created "popular committees" to protect churches during last week's celebrations and this week's Christmas services. "There is no basis for religious disputes between Muslims and Christians. Freedom of belief is guaranteed," says FJP head Mohamed Mursi. It remains to be seen whether Islamist retractions from previously declared positions express a sincere desire to match words with deeds.
