Ayoon wa Azan (Egypt without the Muslim Brotherhood)

The former Egyptian president found nothing else to say as he was on trial on charges of killing demonstrators other than: I am Dr. Mohamed Morsi. I am the president of the Republic. This would be like me saying (at a madhouse rather than a court): I am Napoleon Bonaparte. I ruled Alexandria in 1798. A hospital for the mentally ill usually has many patients who claim to be Napoleon. There are similarities between this and Dr. Morsi’s claims. Indeed, Morsi ruled for one year, while Napoleon ended up leaving Egypt under cover of darkness in 1799, also around one year later (the French forces withdrew in 1801). Another similarity is that both men’s year in power in Egypt extended from summer one year to summer the next year: Napoleon entered Egypt on July 1, and Dr. Morsi faced a revolution on June 30, and was ousted on July 3. Personally, I think that the Muslim Brotherhood candidate did not win the election, and that it was a gift from the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF), which wanted to avoid million-strong demonstrations, terrorism, and sabotage. However, SCAF avoided nothing in the end, and all of Egypt paid the price for the Muslim Brotherhood’s ascent to power on the back of the youths of the revolution, and is still paying the price. I go beyond all this to say that Mohamed Morsi was transferred to a prison in or near Borg Al Arab, south of Alexandria. I had conducted two interviews with President Hosni Mubarak at the Borg Al Arab resort, which was a house surrounded by a flowery garden and fruit trees. I remember there was a military barracks near the entrance which I believe was for guards. Dr. Mosi could have gone to Borg Al Arab as president, and I perhaps could have interviewed him there too. But he was given power that he did not manage well, and all those who mishandle power are soon toppled by power. I received a telephone call from the Egyptian television as President Morsi was appearing in court. I said that my mind that day was with another news story, as two policemen were killed and a third was injured near Ismailia. Is there anyone less fortunate than an Egyptian policeman who earns no more than $50 a month, i.e. not enough to eat, let alone pay for schools and healthcare? How can a terrorist claiming to be a Sunni Muslim murder a policeman? He does not have the right to kill a Jew or a Christian, not even a non-believer; the Quran is clear, and non-believers must be given safety and be advised and guided – not killed. I have a suggestion for the interim administration in Egypt: Seize all the assets and funds of the leaders of the Muslim Brotherhood, starting with Dr. Morsi, and sell them in an auction, then distribute the proceeds to the families of the victims of the Brotherhood’s terrorism such as the two martyred policemen. I believe that this proposal is fairer and more moderate than killing innocent civilians, just because the Muslim Brotherhood are good at nothing other than terrorism. The Muslim Brotherhood will not return to power in Egypt. In fact, their year in power destroyed the Brotherhood’s reputation across the entire Arab world, and they will not rule in any other country, from the Arab Maghreb to the Gulf. It remains for the Brotherhood to realize that they are out of power and that they would not return, and that the “legitimacy” of Mohamed Morsi was cancelled by the legitimacy of the people and the 30 million Egyptians who took to the streets calling for his impeachment. Incidentally, has the reader noticed with Mohamed Morsi before the court that he is in good health, and does not look frightened or under pressure? The reason is that the entire interim administration treated him with respect and compassion, unlike with President Hosni Mubarak, when he was imprisoned and humiliated, although he is old and ill, and was accused of empty allegations, none of which has been proven. What is important now is for Egypt to emerge out of the long darkness. The book has been closed on the Muslim Brotherhood, and it remains for the latter to understand this and stop engaging in terrorism or inciting terrorism, so that the Egyptians can tread the path of a better future. We saw the extent of support given by capable Arab countries to Egypt and its people, which is not charity or alms, but in recognition of the Egyptians’ favors to the entire nation. Indeed, Egypt’s favors are longstanding, and its people deserve only the best. The views expressed by the author do not necessarily represent or reflect the editorial policy of Arab Today.