Bullying their way to paradise

The recent “revolutionary” decisions taken by the Egyptian President Mohammed Mursi was more than dangerous and included a campaign to “cleanse the media.”

Ever since the Muslim Brotherhood reached power, President Mursi and the Islamist group’s leaders have labeled large segments belonging to the media, and art industries in Egypt as opponents. At first, this attack seemed uncertain but later on, it gradually escalated and appeared more obvious.

The Brotherhood and the Salafists, who are “unquestionably transparent” when disclosing their funding sources, consider the Egyptian media as corrupt and run on bribes.

Few months earlier, the Brotherhood’s Supreme Guide attacked journalists and described them as the “pharaoh’s magicians.” Later the same description was echoed by the Brotherhood’s supporters and allies. This is why it is completely acceptable for them to witness banning some newspapers, disabling channels and prosecuting journalists.

Brotherhood or Salafists supporters have also threatened journalists, writers and intellectuals under “God’s law.”

The Egyptians are aware that their revolution is a long-standing one and that their salvation from a former tyrant does not mean that everything is settled.

The Brotherhood leaders to trig to seize the media since satellite channels are the main source for the formulation of the Egyptian public opinion.

The Brotherhood seems to be determined to do everything it can to reach its target. Today, the Egyptian horizon seems to be flood with violence and fascism, hidden behind popular practices and feelings, and fed by the enthusiasm of those who are misled to think that justice can be achieved through bloodshed and that the road to paradise can be reached through violence and bullying.

The Brotherhood’s leaders have disregarded many murder and assault incidents that have taken place against journalists. According to human rights organizations, threats by radical Islamist groups against press freedoms are increasing.

In order not to be blamed, the Egyptian government has not dealt with this crisis in a serious way.

One Salafist cleric, Mohamed Abdel Maksoud, said that who objects against Mursi’s decisions will disrespect God because he will be disobeying the “guardian.”

These are determined attempts to fuse and mix between the role of the government and the “guardian,” between the law and the “Sharia” and between the citizenship and the herd.

The recent decisions, might give the impression that the Brotherhood is increasing its powers, but constitute a blow to the Islamist group.
These decisions are the reflection of a gap that has been widening due to the failure of the Brotherhood’s rule.

After all, the political Islam model headed today by Brotherhood does not consider freedoms as an essential interest or concern of the people, and consequently the group will easily collapse! This is what we are witnessing each and every day.

(Dina Moukalled is a writer for Asharq al-Awsat where this article was published on Nov. 29, 20102)