The Muslim Brotherhood firmly distanced itself from Thursday’s deadly
violence in North Sinai in its English-language social media accounts,
but its Arabic-language statements seem to express a different
sentiment.
“We unequivocally condemn all acts of violence,” the Brotherhood wrote on its English-language Twitter account. The group expressed its deepest condolences for the families of the victims and the Egyptian people in the wake of the series of bombings and armed attacks that claimed at least 29 lives.
On Friday, the Brotherhood also posted a statement on its English-language website condemning violence in general.
Though Friday's statement didn't specifically refer to Thursday's events, it reinforced the Brotherhood's commitment to peace despite the many “violations” against the group committed by successive governments. The statement emphasized the series of events that occurred after the Armed Forces forcibly removed President Mohamed Morsi from power in July 2013.
“All of these illegitimate junta actions were rejected by the Muslim Brotherhood and the people of Egypt, all the while committing to its slogan, ‘Our peacefulness is stronger than bullets’,” the statement read.
“The group has remained, and still remains, committed — in word and deed — to peaceful and political civil resistance, in spite of all the horrid massacres committed by the coup regime, including the Rabea and Nahda bloodbaths,” it continued. The statement referred to the deadly dispersal of the Rabea al-Adaweya and Nahda Square sit-ins in August 2013 that left more than 1,000 people dead.
The group resisted “a relentless anti-Brotherhood campaign of demonization and dehumanization” aimed at “pushing the Egyptian people, including the Muslim Brotherhood, into a spiral of chaos and violence,” the statement said.
The group said its members adopt peaceful methods. Those who choose a violent path “no longer belong in the Brotherhood, and the group no longer accepts them,” the statement declared.
However, these sentiments seem to contradict a controversial statement posted to the group’s Arabic website on January 27, urging its supporters to “prepare” for a new phase where “we summon all our strength and evoke the meaning of jihad.”
The statement talks about the meaning of strength, citing Muslim Brotherhood founder Hassan al-Banna’s definition of the word.
For Banna, strength involves emotional as well as physical fortitude, the statement said.
The statement also referred to the Special Apparatus, a secret paramilitary wing of the Brotherhood created by Banna which fought against British rule, and which the group has recently worked to distance itself from.
“Rising nations need strength, and need to instill military morals into their children in this age where peace is only guaranteed by preparation for war,” the Brotherhood quoted Banna as saying.
“We are at the beginning of a new phase where we summon our strength and evoke the meaning of jihad, and prepare ourselves, our wives, our sons and daughters and whoever follows our path for relentless jihad where we ask for martyrdom,” the statement declared.
While the Muslim Brotherhood returned to reiterating its anti-violence stance on Friday, a number of other political parties, forces and figures also issued statements condemning the North Sinai attacks.
The Dostour Party denounced the attack and upheld its support for the Armed Forces in its fight against terrorism, while asking for more transparency on the situation in Sinai.
In its statement, the party condemned the continued targeting of Egypt’s soldiers, saying the Armed Forces sacrifice their lives in the difficult war against terrorism.
“Egyptians who belong to this country and who wish for its development can only appreciate the efforts [of the Armed Forces] and their heroic role in protecting it,” the statement read.
The party reiterated its request for the government to be more transparent and provide more information on the situation in Sinai and the danger posed by terrorist groups, “who have been at war with Egyptians over the past 18 months.”
In a rare public statement, Dostour Party founder Mohamed ElBaradei posted condolences on his Twitter account.
ElBaradei, who has kept a low profile since he left Egypt in August 2013, posted a verse from the Quran stating that “if anyone killed a person — unless it be for murder or for spreading mischief in the land — it would be as if he killed the whole people.”
He followed with another verse stating, “Surely we belong to God, and to Him shall we return.”
The Popular Current also expressed its condolences to the victims’ families, saying the nation needs to unite behind the military in its fight against terrorism.
However, the party also raised questions around security in Sinai in light of the recent attacks, including the kidnapping and killing of police officer Ayman Dessouky in North Sinai earlier this month. The group called on the Armed Forces commander-in-chief to identify who is responsible for these shortcomings.
The April 6 Youth Movement also issued a statement decrying the attacks. The group called for the protection of Egyptians’ lives, but also warned that “violence only breeds violence.”
The statement maintained that the movement stands together with Egyptians against terrorism.
“We unequivocally condemn all acts of violence,” the Brotherhood wrote on its English-language Twitter account. The group expressed its deepest condolences for the families of the victims and the Egyptian people in the wake of the series of bombings and armed attacks that claimed at least 29 lives.
On Friday, the Brotherhood also posted a statement on its English-language website condemning violence in general.
Though Friday's statement didn't specifically refer to Thursday's events, it reinforced the Brotherhood's commitment to peace despite the many “violations” against the group committed by successive governments. The statement emphasized the series of events that occurred after the Armed Forces forcibly removed President Mohamed Morsi from power in July 2013.
“All of these illegitimate junta actions were rejected by the Muslim Brotherhood and the people of Egypt, all the while committing to its slogan, ‘Our peacefulness is stronger than bullets’,” the statement read.
“The group has remained, and still remains, committed — in word and deed — to peaceful and political civil resistance, in spite of all the horrid massacres committed by the coup regime, including the Rabea and Nahda bloodbaths,” it continued. The statement referred to the deadly dispersal of the Rabea al-Adaweya and Nahda Square sit-ins in August 2013 that left more than 1,000 people dead.
The group resisted “a relentless anti-Brotherhood campaign of demonization and dehumanization” aimed at “pushing the Egyptian people, including the Muslim Brotherhood, into a spiral of chaos and violence,” the statement said.
The group said its members adopt peaceful methods. Those who choose a violent path “no longer belong in the Brotherhood, and the group no longer accepts them,” the statement declared.
However, these sentiments seem to contradict a controversial statement posted to the group’s Arabic website on January 27, urging its supporters to “prepare” for a new phase where “we summon all our strength and evoke the meaning of jihad.”
The statement talks about the meaning of strength, citing Muslim Brotherhood founder Hassan al-Banna’s definition of the word.
For Banna, strength involves emotional as well as physical fortitude, the statement said.
The statement also referred to the Special Apparatus, a secret paramilitary wing of the Brotherhood created by Banna which fought against British rule, and which the group has recently worked to distance itself from.
“Rising nations need strength, and need to instill military morals into their children in this age where peace is only guaranteed by preparation for war,” the Brotherhood quoted Banna as saying.
“We are at the beginning of a new phase where we summon our strength and evoke the meaning of jihad, and prepare ourselves, our wives, our sons and daughters and whoever follows our path for relentless jihad where we ask for martyrdom,” the statement declared.
While the Muslim Brotherhood returned to reiterating its anti-violence stance on Friday, a number of other political parties, forces and figures also issued statements condemning the North Sinai attacks.
The Dostour Party denounced the attack and upheld its support for the Armed Forces in its fight against terrorism, while asking for more transparency on the situation in Sinai.
In its statement, the party condemned the continued targeting of Egypt’s soldiers, saying the Armed Forces sacrifice their lives in the difficult war against terrorism.
“Egyptians who belong to this country and who wish for its development can only appreciate the efforts [of the Armed Forces] and their heroic role in protecting it,” the statement read.
The party reiterated its request for the government to be more transparent and provide more information on the situation in Sinai and the danger posed by terrorist groups, “who have been at war with Egyptians over the past 18 months.”
In a rare public statement, Dostour Party founder Mohamed ElBaradei posted condolences on his Twitter account.
ElBaradei, who has kept a low profile since he left Egypt in August 2013, posted a verse from the Quran stating that “if anyone killed a person — unless it be for murder or for spreading mischief in the land — it would be as if he killed the whole people.”
He followed with another verse stating, “Surely we belong to God, and to Him shall we return.”
The Popular Current also expressed its condolences to the victims’ families, saying the nation needs to unite behind the military in its fight against terrorism.
However, the party also raised questions around security in Sinai in light of the recent attacks, including the kidnapping and killing of police officer Ayman Dessouky in North Sinai earlier this month. The group called on the Armed Forces commander-in-chief to identify who is responsible for these shortcomings.
The April 6 Youth Movement also issued a statement decrying the attacks. The group called for the protection of Egyptians’ lives, but also warned that “violence only breeds violence.”
The statement maintained that the movement stands together with Egyptians against terrorism.
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