CAIRO: A group of Muslim Brotherhood (MB) youths recently sacked for forming a new political party are yet to decide their next move, dismissed member Mohamed Abbas told Daily News Egypt on Monday. "We will continue our pursuit [of establishing a party] against all odds," Abbas said, adding that the sacked members may contest the decision before the Brotherhood Shoura (consultative) Council. On Saturday, the Brotherhood expelled six members including Abbas for establishing the Egyptian Current Party, under construction. "The decision is inexplicable and out of the ordinary … depriving the group members of the chance to explore political concepts other than those of the Brotherhood," Abbas said. The group had adopted the concept that political work is different from religious preaching, "so how come we were sacked now for practicing politics?" he asked. Deputy head of the MB Rashad Bayoumy, however, told DNE that "encouraging political activities does not mean joining other parties. We already have a party that is supposed to be supported by the group's calibers." The Freedom and Justice Party (FJP), the Brotherhood's political arm, was the first to be registered in May following the Jan. 25 uprising that toppled the regime. The Brotherhood's previous attempts to be officially recognized were denied by the authorities as the group had been officially banned since 1954 and a recent constitutional amendment prohibited the formation of religion-based parties. In March, internal divisions erupted inside the MB when a group calling themselves the Brotherhood Youths held a conference to call for serious reform, reevaluate the group's role in Egypt's transition to democracy, and discuss the FJP. The Brotherhood leaders did not attend the event and refused to sponsor it. The youths made recommendations that included allowing MB members to establish or join any political party as long as it doesn't contradict the principles of Islam and forming a youth division inside the MB to ensure their participation in the decision-making process. None of these recommendations saw the light. The tension between the old guard and the new guard within the group further escalated when a number of MB youths announced in June their intention to form a party. "It is not a Brotherhood youth party. Rather, it is a political party based on the principles of freedom and social justice … maintaining our Arab and Islamic identity and Egyptian values," Abbas said, adding that the party leader cannot be over 40 years old. The Brotherhood leaders were quick to voice their disapproval, warning that any member who joins the party will be dismissed from the group. A number of MB youths, who are also members in the Coalition of the Revolution Youth, further challenged the group and joined the mass protest of May 27 that was officially boycotted by the Brotherhood and other Islamist groups. In June, the group sacked senior member Abdel-Moniem Aboul-Fotouh for violating its decision not to contest the next presidential polls slated for later this year. Several youth members who joined Aboul-Fotouh's presidential campaign were also dismissed from the group.
