The following are clips published today from MEMRI’s Special Dispatch series and TV Project. Special Dispatch No. 4240—Egypt Following an increase in the involvement of Islamic and Salafi figures and organizations in the political and media arenas in Egypt since the January revolution, 36 prominent clerics from various Islamic streams have recently drafted a "Charter of Honor for Da'wa and National Activity." The charter sets out guidelines for the cautious and limited participation of Islamic organizations in Egyptian politics and public discourse in post-Mubarak Egypt, with the aim of maximizing Islamic achievements in the upcoming parliamentary elections. It aims to identify common ground among all the Sunni Islamists, so as to enable them to conduct a joint elections campaign or at least to avoid sabotaging each other's chances; promoting the cause of establishing an Islamic shari'a state, while acknowledging that this aim can be achieved only gradually; and making whatever Islamic achievements are currently possible and laying the groundwork for further achievements in the future, while avoiding disagreements. The charter contains contradictions that are characteristic of Islamic discourse seeking to reconcile shari'alaw with the rules of play of modern democratic politics. It reflects the dilemmas that the Islamists have been facing since the revolution gave them access to the political arena as legitimate players. For example, the charter advocates the existence of multiple Islamic organizations, but only if they are all Sunni and if they agree on core issues. It advocates pluralism of opinion, but at the same time calls to provide "guidance" to advocates of opinions that "deviate from the truth." It calls for tolerance towards non-Muslims, but only within the boundaries set out by the shari'a, which treats the Christians and Jews as dhimmi. It calls on Islamic streams to reassess their perception of jihad and set out guidelines for waging jihad in the modern world. The charter's signatories include: Former minister of religious endowments Dr. Muhammad Al-Ahmadi Abu Al-Nour; Al-Azhar dean of Islamic da'wa Dr. Tal'at 'Afifi; the former vice-president of the American Open University and current secretary-general of the Assembly of Muslim Jurists in America, Salafi sheikh Dr. Salah Al-Sawy; the spokesman of the Salafi Da'wa group in Alexandria Sheikh 'Abd Al-Mun'im Al-Shahat; one of the most prominent Salafi sheikhs in Alexandria, Dr. Sa'id 'Abd Al-'Azim; Al-Gama'a Al-Islamiyya spokesman Sheikh Osama Hafez; Gamal Sultan, one of the most prominent writers for the Egyptian daily Al-Misriyyoun; and others. To read the full report, visit http://www.memri.org/report/en/0/0/0/0/0/0/5764.htm. To read Part I, visit http://www.memri.org/report/en/0/0/0/0/63/0/5617.htm. To read Part II, visit http://www.memri.org/report/en/0/0/0/0/0/0/5745.htm. Special Dispatch No. 4239—Egypt Following are excerpts from an interview with Dr. Said Okasha of the Al-Ahram Center for Strategic Studies. The interview aired on Misr 25 TV on October 18, 2011: To view this clip on MEMRI TV, visit http://www.memritv.org/clip/en/3162.htm. Dr. Said Okasha: "The Camp David Accords were beneficial to Egypt, just as they were to Israel. Let's not forget that the accords kept Egypt from engaging in war, and that to a great extent they prevented waste of resources and investments. True, Mubarak's regime was very corrupt, and therefore, he managed the matter badly, but the treaty itself had positive aspects for Egypt." To read the full report, visit http://www.memri.org/report/en/0/0/0/0/0/0/5763.htm.
MEMRI Daily: November 1, 2011
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Egypt's Islamic Camp, Once Suppressed by Regime, Now Taking Part in Shaping New Egypt – Part III: Charter to Regulate Activity of Islamic Organizations, Movements in Egypt
Egyptian Researcher Dr. Said Okasha: It Is Not in Egypt's Interest to Abrogate the Camp David Accords
Tuesday, 1 November 2011
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