Has the Muslim Brotherhood hijacked Egypt's revolution?
Though it stayed on the sidelines during the protests that ousted Hosni Mubarak, the Islamist group is flexing its muscles now
Egypt's military leaders announced Monday that they would hold parliamentary elections — originally scheduled for June — in September. The delay is being seen as a nod to emerging political groups that had asked for more time to get organized. Nevertheless, well-established Islamist candidates linked to the Muslim Brotherhood are still expected to out-perform their secular counterparts and the Islamist group appears to have become the country's driving political force, replacing the youth activists who started Egypt's revolution. Is the Muslim Brotherhood destined to run Egypt?
Of course the Muslim Brotherhood is taking control: Islamists are taking over Egypt's revolution? "You don't say!" says Ed Morrissey at Hot Air. This may "come as quite a shock" to those who insisted that Hosni Mubarak should leave power immediately, instead of sticking around long enough for secular opposition groups to get organized. But many of us warned from the start that "the Muslim Brotherhood would be the only political force organized to take advantage of the aftermath."
"NYT: Surprisingly, the Muslim Brotherhood appears to have seized the Egyptian revolution"
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Give the Egyptian people some credit: "Nobody has a monopoly over public opinion or the revolution," says H.A. Hellyer at Egypt's Al-Masry Al-Youm. Egyptians know that. That's why they risked everything to overthrow Mubarak's regime, and it's why they will "come out in multitudes again" if Islamists or anyone else tries to impose tyranny on them. "This is the new Egypt — her people should not be underestimated."
But secular Egyptians are scared: Top U.S. officials are still upbeat about Egypt's direction, says Bret Stephens in The Wall Street Journal, but "secular Egyptians themselves" are worried. The secular groups that were at the heart of the anti-Mubarek protests urged people to vote "no" in a March referendum on constitutional changes that would pave the way for swift elections. They lost big, with 77 percent of the public voting "yes." Result: Groups that are already organized — the Muslim Brotherhood and the military's political party — are poised to grab power.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Trump, billions richer, is selling Bibles
Speed Read The former president is hawking a $60 "God Bless the USA Bible"
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
The debate about Biden's age and mental fitness
In Depth Some critics argue Biden is too old to run again. Does the argument have merit?
By Grayson Quay Published
-
How would a second Trump presidency affect Britain?
Today's Big Question Re-election of Republican frontrunner could threaten UK security, warns former head of secret service
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
'Rwanda plan is less a deterrent and more a bluff'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By The Week UK Published
-
Henry Kissinger dies aged 100: a complicated legacy?
Talking Point Top US diplomat and Nobel Peace Prize winner remembered as both foreign policy genius and war criminal
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Last updated
-
Trump’s rhetoric: a shift to 'straight-up Nazi talk'
Why everyone's talking about Would-be president's sinister language is backed by an incendiary policy agenda, say commentators
By The Week UK Published
-
More covfefe: is the world ready for a second Donald Trump presidency?
Today's Big Question Republican's re-election would be a 'nightmare' scenario for Europe, Ukraine and the West
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Xi-Biden meeting: what's in it for both leaders?
Today's Big Question Two superpowers seek to stabilise relations amid global turmoil but core issues of security, trade and Taiwan remain
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published