The Muslim Brotherhood kept up its PR campaign to tell the world what it has always maintained publicly: Egypt is not Iran. The Islamic group, one of the most organized opposition movement's in Egypt, said they have no intention of implementing, or attempting to implement, an Iranian style revolution in the country. They prefer democracy and elections, a spokesman for the group told Voice of America. Essam el-Arian, a leading spokesman for the Brotherhood, told VOA the group is interested in participating in parliamentary elections, not the presidential vote, as speculated by some international media organizations, despite repeated statements from the Brotherhood to the contrary. “Absolutely wrong; that is (a) false allegation. This is not true. We are calling for a civil state, moderate state, (and) a democratic state, equality, prosperity, justice for all and freedom for all citizens. All are equal. Egypt is not Iran. Egypt can build its own model of democracy according to its culture and Islamic preference,” the spokesman said. He said that any arguments to the contrary are “completely false” and that the Brotherhood has long maintained its readiness and desire to participate in the political process in Egypt. Although officially banned in Egypt, the group hopes the recent street revolution that ousted Hosni Mubarak from power will give them renewed legitimacy in a country looking to rebuild. “We are against any international or foreigners interfering in our domestic or internal affairs. And for all foreigners, Americans and non-Americans, we are asking them not to intervene in our affairs, not to impose any orders or anything to the cabinet or the parliament. We are equal (and) we are looking forward to mutual relations with all people,” said el-Arian. BM
