EGYPT: A dissident voice within the ranks of the Muslim Brotherhood

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Driven by a desire to correct misconceptions about the Muslim Brotherhood, Ibrahim Houdaiby, a 25-year-old activist with Egypt’s largest Islamic organization, tapped into the blogsphere almost two years ago. Yet, this is not to assume that his job is restrictively doing public relations for the brotherhood. On the contrary, Houdaiby, along with other Muslim Brotherhood bloggers, has emerged as a critical voice of the group’s conservatism and political shortsightedness.

“This is a very critical moment for the Muslim Brotherhood. The group is going through a new phase as the old leaders are aging,” said Houdaiby, the grandson of the group’s former supreme Guide Ma’moun Houdaiby. “Inside the group, there is a different generation that expresses itself through blogs and seeks to play an active role in changing society.”

“Blogging has paved the way for several positive things inside the group. I think the response to this self-criticism proved and still proves that this is not being widely accepted within the group. Being part of the Egyptian society, the Muslim Brotherhood has the same illnesses of the society including the low level of tolerance.”

The young Islamist, a graduate of the American University in Cairo, is also concerned about building bridges with the West. His fluency in English allows him to promote his opinion pieces in Western publications such as the British Guardian, Common Grounds and the World Politics Review. In less than six months, he attended two cross-cultural conferences in the U.S. that discussed the nature and future of Islamism in the region.

“Through my articles, I try to show the west the dangerous implications of their immoral support of the Egyptian regime,” said Houdaiby, who launched his blog “We won’t stop” in early 2007.

Western support of Mubarak’s regime ‘stems from a shortsighted policy that does not even serve the Western strategic interests.”

The rift between the young generation of bloggers and the organization’s old guards became evident after the group circulated a document with a detailed political vision last year. Provisions that discriminated against women and empowered clerics at the expense of elected institutions elicited too much stir in political circles and and invalidated the group’s earlier claims about espousing full democracy in political and intellectual circles. In the meantime, similar criticism was voiced by the group’s bloggers who express stronger commitment to democracy.

Unlike his fellow bloggers, Houdaiby does not seem that much concerned about the details of the notorious political document. His objections are much more inflammatory.

“These are just details; I am critical of the group’s whole vision,” he said. “I am totally against the idea that the group should play a direct political role, which requires having a political platform or a detailed political vision. This is not the role that the group should play.”

Houdaiby further asserts that the Muslim Brotherhood’s involvement in politics had negative repercussions on Egyptian politics and society. ‘The regime has used this involvement to terrify the world and warn it against the outcomes of democracy in Egypt especially that the group is too big and makes political mistakes. Plus, it also fomented sectarianism in Egyptian society.’

Muslim Brotherhood members interested in politics can become politically involved but away from the group, said Houdaiby.

Despite his criticism, Houdaiby’s dissent seems to provide him with enough protection. ‘As the group is still loyal to my grandfather, there are always attempts from conservative leaders to contain and protect me,’ he said.

Can dissident bloggers contribute to reshaping the 80-year-old group soon? Houdaiby doesn’t know. ‘I cannot tell what will happen in the future but I can say that this is a genuine experience that has caused a real mobility inside the group,’ he said. ‘Now there is really a moderate current now that has gained legitimacy inside the group. ‘

-- Noha Hennawy in Cairo

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