4:27PM
Cairo court report: Legalize Al Wasat Party
By 
Charles Levinson | Egypt
Charles Levinson | Egypt
It looks like Hizb Al Wasat, the centrist Islamic political party, may be on its way to legitimacy. A report commissioned by the Cairo administrative courts gave a hearty endorsement to the party. The court will issue a final ruling on the party in October. Hizb Al Wasat has been rejected by the parties committee three times. If the court rules in Al Wasat's favor, and overturns the decision of the parties committee, there should be little to stop it from becoming a full fledged party.
The establishment of Hizb Al Wasat as a legal political party could provide a less menacing (from the regime's perspective that is) alternative to the Muslim Brotherhood, and a political outlet for the Islamic current in Egypt. It would establish a dual track for Islamists, akin to that found in Morocco, where the Justice and Development Party is allowed to participate legally, while the more popular Justice and Charity Organization remains banned.
Legalizing Al Wasat, it seems, would also lessen the increasing sentiment, both within Egypt and abroad, that the regime's ongoing repression of the Brotherhood is without justification. See, the recently announced alliance between the Muslim Brotherhood and long reticent secular elements of the Egyptian opposition. Also See this pointed question posed to Condi Rice at a press conference in Saudi Arabia on June 20:
Or this comment by Bush when asked about Hezbollah: "I like the idea of people running for office. It's a positive effect when you run for office."
Or this comment by Condi Rice: "I don't mean to underestimate the impact of radical Islamists having a say in the political process, but remember that the political process also has an effect on those who run in it."
The establishment of Hizb Al Wasat as a legal political party could provide a less menacing (from the regime's perspective that is) alternative to the Muslim Brotherhood, and a political outlet for the Islamic current in Egypt. It would establish a dual track for Islamists, akin to that found in Morocco, where the Justice and Development Party is allowed to participate legally, while the more popular Justice and Charity Organization remains banned.
Legalizing Al Wasat, it seems, would also lessen the increasing sentiment, both within Egypt and abroad, that the regime's ongoing repression of the Brotherhood is without justification. See, the recently announced alliance between the Muslim Brotherhood and long reticent secular elements of the Egyptian opposition. Also See this pointed question posed to Condi Rice at a press conference in Saudi Arabia on June 20:
When you were asked today at the Cairo address about the Muslim Brotherhood, your response was also that the United States will not engage with this group. Yet, the Muslim Brotherhood has, for a generation now, renounced terrorism and, in fact, last year issued an 11-page statement of principles in which it embraced parliamentary democracy, free elections and even universal suffrage. So how can you reconcile the refusal to engage at all with this group with the reasoning that you give for not engaging with, say, Hamas -- Hamas and Hezbollah?
Or this comment by Bush when asked about Hezbollah: "I like the idea of people running for office. It's a positive effect when you run for office."
Or this comment by Condi Rice: "I don't mean to underestimate the impact of radical Islamists having a say in the political process, but remember that the political process also has an effect on those who run in it."
Reader Comments (7)
How much of an informal link is there between Al Wasat and the ikhwan?
Josh is probably better to speak to this than I. But I'd say there is not much of a link between the two. I don't have the exact quotes in front of me, but Mahdi Akef, the supreme leader of the Brotherhood was quite sarcastic and dismissive regarding the news of the Al Wasat report. Remember, much of Al Wasat's leadership are former Brothers who got frustrated and left the organization. I think there is lingering bad blood between the two. That being said, I would suspect that middle generation brothers like Essam el-Erian and Abdel Monem Abu Fatouh, contemporaries of Al Wasat's founder, are probably more sympathetic and supportive of Al Wasat. Though that is purely speculation.
The court could still very well rule against alWasat in October. This report is apparently just a recommendation.
The establishment of Wasat as a party (if it materializes)raises an interesting possibility, namely the migration of many Bortherhood memebers (of the Erian/Abul futuh types) to Wasat. This may very well be the best chance the government has to eventually consign the brotherhood to the annals of history. But then again this may be just my wishful thinking!
MM
MM, but the migration of the Brotherhood members is not as trivial as it sounds, because alWasat will not simply allow the Brotherhood to be members of the party unless they accept the party's program. AlWasat and the Brotherhood are really two different lines of thought.
Mohamed,
true. but again, the erian/ abu el fotooh types are holding thoughts very similar to that of alwasat.
read abu el fotooh's interview on islamonline:
http://www.islamonline.net/livedialogue/arabic/Browse.asp?hGuestID=4N8gE6
Wasat cooart hearing will be oc Oct 1St
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