Islamists
Scheme to Disrupt Egyptian Presidential Elections
by Hany Ghoraba
Special to IPT News
February 27, 2018
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 Islamists have been
attempting to unsettle the Egyptian political scene for decades by
infiltrating the political process or disrupting it through systematic
negative propaganda and violence. After the Muslim Brotherhood's 2013
ouster, Islamists' despair in the political process has only translated
into threats and violence to impede the process in Egypt, especially during
the upcoming presidential elections.
Egypt holds its presidential election March 26-28, the second ballot
since the Brotherhood's removal from power by the Egyptian army. Incumbent
President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi is heavily favored to survive a challenge
by Al Ghad liberal party leader Moussa Mostafa Moussa.
Islamists, led by the Muslim Brotherhood, have called for the boycott of elections, while their affiliated terrorist groups Hasm and Liwa Al Thawra (Revolution Brigade) – designated
as terrorist groups by the United States on Jan. 31, are still
operating to disrupt and sabotage the elections process. The Egyptian
police forces arrested 14 and killed three Hasm members in a
preemptive operation before Hasm executed its plan to attack during
elections.
At the same time, ISIS vows to attack voters and polling stations across
the country. Elections mark "the greatest day of polytheism in the
land of Egypt," said a Feb. 11 ISIS recording, titled "Guardians of Al Sharia."
"These days, Egypt's tyrants are preparing for their day of
polytheism, election day. So ruin their day of polytheism," said an
ISIS terrorist identified as Mohamed Al Masry. "Spill their blood, and
start with the heads of unbelief among them. We hereby warn the Muslim
public in Egypt and Sinai during these polytheist days not to come near the
polling stations and the courts, and to [avoid large] gatherings, for they
are a target for us. We will go forth on this path, Allah willing,
determined to shatter every idol and remove every tyrant."
He added a special threat to Christians: "And it is worth mentioning
in these days that the mujahideen (jihadists) in all regions of Egypt aim
to escalate their attacks against the apostates, belligerent
Christians." Al Masry also called upon non-Islamists, whom he called
"monotheist brothers," to join in the violence. "Kill
whoever you can among the soldiers of the apostate Al-Sisi or belligerent
Christians, if you are sincere in your support and love for the
truth."
Similarly, al-Qaida leader Ayman Al Zawahari has called on Muslims to rise against what he labeled as
the tyrannical regime in Egypt during the elections. "I call on
everyone ... to work to uproot this apostate, criminal and corrupt regime,
and to [wage] jihad with weapons, money, word and actions, raids and ambushes,
strikes and protests," Al Zawahiri said. He remains focused on establishing a foothold in Sinai where ISIS-affiliated
groups such as Ansar Beit Al Maqdis already have gained followers.
Al-Qaida's new Sinai affiliate, Minbar Sinai, is waging a social media war against ISIS's Wilayat Sinai, accusing
it of cowardice.
Muslim Brotherhood plot
Egyptian authorities arrested Islamist former presidential candidate
Abdel Moneim Aboul Fotouh in Cairo Feb. 8 for allegedly plotting to support terrorist acts with the Muslim
Brotherhood branch in United Kingdom. Authorities say a search of his home
uncovered documents with Muslim Brotherhood instructions for
inciting citizens against the Egyptian government during elections and
spreading rumors aimed to create instability and pave the way for the
Brotherhood to re-emerge as political force. Aboul Fotouh is a former
Muslim Brotherhood member and a co-founder of the Gamaa Islamiya in Egypt in the 1970s. Gamaa was
responsible for major terrorist operations including the 1981 assassination
of President Anwar Al Sadat and the 1993 World Trade Center bombing under
instructions from its former spiritual leader Omar Abdel Rahman, known as "the Blind
Sheikh."
Aboul Fotouh left the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood in 2009 and formed his
own Islamist party "Strong Egypt," which attracted a handful of
liberal and leftist activists through a platform emphasizing social
justice. Aboul Fotouh enjoyed an image of a unifying leader that encouraged
him to run for president in 2012, when he lost to his former Brotherhood
colleague Mohamed Morsi. Despite formally leaving the Brotherhood, he
remains a staunch believer of the group's rhetoric and has maintained
ties with its leaders. This was reflected when Egyptian authorities arrested six Muslim Brotherhood members who had taken
refuge on a farm he owns.
Aboul Fotouh gained his popularity among Islamists due to his open
rejection of the 1979 Egyptian-Israeli peace treaty. He joined the Afghan
mujahideen in the 1980s, and had photos
taken with them during his stay. He claimed that he was there for humanitarian aid
purposes.
Meanwhile, the Egyptian army launched its largest counter-terrorist
operation in years on Feb. 9, with "Sinai 2018." It involved 60,000 troops and 10,000 police officers. The ongoing
operation has killed 71 terrorists and caused the arrests of another 1,852
people, though many were released after being cleared of all charges. The
military claims it destroyed 158 terrorist sites along with 1,282 hideouts
and stores. Al Sisi vowed to secure Sinai within three months in November and
Operation "Sinai 2018" maybe the final step in attaining that
goal.
Though Islamist groups have been weakened since 2013, their statements,
combined with recent investigations, make it clear they will continue to
disrupt Egypt's political process. While their methods may vary, they see
democracy as an act of apostasy, or as a means to an end. Each vision leads
to restoring power to Islamists who seek a theocratic caliphate on the
ruins of the countries they attempt to infiltrate, as they deem democracy
an act of apostasy.
Hany
Ghoraba is an Egyptian writer, political and
counter-terrorism analyst at Al Ahram Weekly, author of Egypt's
Arab Spring: The Long and Winding Road to Democracy and a
regular contributor to the BBC.
Related Topics: Elections
/ Campaigns | Hany
Ghoraba, Egypt,
Muslim
Brotherhood, ISIS,
Abdel
Fattah Al Sisi, Hasm
Liwa Al Thawra, Sinai
terrorist groups, Guardians
of Al Sharia, Mohamed
Al Masry, al-Qaida,
Ayman
al-Zawahiri, Minbar
Sinai, Abdel
Moneim Aboul Fotouh, Elections
/ Campaigns
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