The role of the Muslim Brotherhood is to mobilize the nation to establish a way of life based on Islam, said its Deputy Supreme Guide Khairat al-Shater. Speaking at a conference in Alexandria two days ago, Shater further said that the group is preparing to initiate an Islamic government to achieve progress based on Islamic principles, and that its objective is to establish an Islamic state and become world leaders. Pointing out that no Sunni state currently has a regime with Islamic references, he urged Muslim scholars to contribute an workable, comprehensive, civilized Islamic model. Asked about the recent resignations of some Brotherhood leaders, Shater said, “If two Brotherhood members have left, a hundred join every day.” “If I myself violate the decisions of the group's Shura Council, then I have to leave it, because the Brotherhood is not a group of individuals, it is a group based on institutions.” He said the Brotherhood's strength lies in its moral and organizational elements and the reliance on its Shura Council in all its affairs. He added that its principles cannot be changed for the sake of its new political party, the Freedom and Justice party, which will be one of its political tools. He revealed that a project is being examined to separate the party financially and administratively from the group. Declaring that the Brotherhood will become more open in the near future, he added that internal regulations will be amended as part of its development. He said the group has taken a final decision not to participate in the presidential election, but that it has not yet decided on the percentage of parliamentary seats to contest, adding that media reports represent only the educated guesses of group members. Its Shura Council will decide, he added. Shater attributed contradictory statements by group leaders to the media crackdown on them in the past and the lack of proper communication between members, admitting that some do not know how to handle the media well. He also blamed the media for paying too much attention to certain members' individual positions. He said members should not express views different from those of the Brotherhood. Shater said the ousted regime used the most extreme form of repression against the group, which severely restricted its activities in the public sphere. He said that in 2000 alone, 9000 companies belonging to the Brotherhood were closed down, and an estimated 35,000 Brotherhood members were arrested during the Mubarak's rule. Translated from the Arabic Edition
