June 24, 2011
Muslim Brotherhood Figure and Former Spokesman in the West: Establish a Global Islamic State
In a June 8, 2011 interview with the Egyptian daily Al-Shorouq, Dr. Kamal Al-Helbawy, former Muslim Brotherhood spokesman in the West, called upon the Arab youth to launch a new revolution that would eliminate the borders drawn by imperialist nations and bring about the establishment of a global Islamic state – "called 'The United States of Islam.'" According to Al-Helbawy, the Muslim Brotherhood is active in approximately 80 countries and strives to realize the dream of becoming a global organization.
Following are excerpts from the interview:[1]
"Is There a Party That Suffered More and Had More Of Its Members Arrested By the Mubarak Regime" Than the Muslim Brotherhood?
"Q: Do you think that the Muslim Brotherhood's new Freedom and Justice Party will be able to operate independently of the movement?"
"A: Of course. If the party is not totally independent of the movement, it will never succeed. [Without such independence between them] the Muslim Brotherhood will fail politically, and be immersed in many problems. The people will distance themselves from [the Brotherhood] and its party..."
"Q: Following Mubarak's ouster, some movement officials declared their candidacy for the upcoming parliamentary elections, for approximately one-third of the seats. Others spoke of one-half of the seats. What do you think of this dispute?"
"A: Statements made by movement officials before the Shura Council convened are not considered official decisions... The movement announced this [high] percentage so that it could win 30-35 percent of the seats. There is a formal difference between an opinion and a decision.
"In truth, both positions are striving to achieve some 35%. Bidding for 50% [of the seats] does not mean you will win them all."
"Q: The movement called upon many political forces to join a unified [parties] list, but concurrently announced that it will run for 50% [of the seats] on its own. [This contradiction] constitutes a negative message by the Muslim Brotherhood."
"A: If the Muslim Brotherhood violated an agreement it made [to unite with other parties], it was a mistake, but if there was dialogue that did not result in a clear decision, it is their right to make their own decisions.
"Allow me to ask: Is there a party that suffered more and had more of its members arrested by the Mubarak regime? It is no shame that it is the most organized force on the streets. Everyone is talking about it, in [Egypt] and abroad, even though the Muslim Brotherhood was outlawed.
"Where are the other parties? Why are they not doing what the Muslim Brotherhood did? Haven't the communists and the Al-Wafd people been around for decades? Why are they not doing what the [Brotherhood has done], or even surpassing it, and why are they not organizing? It is inconceivable for the political forces to punish the Muslim Brotherhood simply because they are organized."
"Q: Are you still a member of the Muslim Brotherhood?"
"A: I grew distant from the movement's leadership in 1997, and turned to intellectual activity and research. To the best of my knowledge, the movement has not dismissed me thus far.
"I believe that anyone over the age of 65 should resign from their organizational position in the movement, and take to the streets to educate the people [as I did].
"I proposed a program, as part of which people will go out to the cafés. Each member over the age of 65 will choose a café in his area and hold a dialogue with people there. In this way we will turn the cafés into clubs and cultural [meeting] places, thus transforming the Muslim Brotherhood into a force that will power national dialog. The Muslim Brotherhood must go to the periphery... meet the people, and discuss their problems."
"Q: What was your organizational role before you resigned?"
"A: I was the Muslim Brotherhood's spokesman in the West, and a member of the office of the World General Guide [of the Brotherhood's executive office] and of [its] World Shura Council. In that context, [the Brotherhood has] no body called 'The International Organization.'
"Such an organization is a dream for the Muslim Brotherhood, a dream that was murdered in the name of [Mubarak's] corruption and tyranny, when he banned [Brotherhood members] from traveling and holding meetings.
"Here I must ask bluntly: Why did Israel say that Mubarak is a strategic treasure? Because his crimes act as a barrier against the resistance and the Muslim Brotherhood. In this atmosphere, it was hard to manage a global organization. Today, there is great hope that we can realize [this goal], since we witnessed the opening of the Muslim Brotherhood's new headquarters, attended by Brotherhood [activists] from all countries.
"The Muslim Brotherhood is organized in 80 countries, and they and the Islamists have a right to establish a global movement, much like global socialism or Zionism..."
"Why Shouldn't We Have A Country Called 'The United States Of Islam'... I Propose That the Arab Peoples... Take To the Streets With the Slogan 'The Arab People Wants To Remove the Borders [Between Its Countries]'
"Q: Regarding the global organization – will a Muslim Brotherhood member associate himself with the [global] movement or with his homeland? And what will happen should there be a contradiction between them?"
"A: There will be no contradictions. Our thinking and our affiliation are to the exalted Allah. Our affiliation is to Islam. The global state of Islam is our ideal...
"How will countries like Bahrain or Qatar defend themselves? Why shouldn't we have a country called 'The United States of Islam,' ruled by a white man or a black man...
"I propose that the Arab peoples who demonstrated for the sake of the revolution, so they could move from the stage of oppression and corruption to the stage of stability and security, organize themselves from now on and set a deadline – five or 10 years – [and] take to the streets with the slogan 'The Arab People Wants to Remove the Borders [Between Its Countries]'... These borders were drawn up by imperialist nations, making our rulers guardians of imperialist borders...
"I wish to say something important: Because the Muslim Brotherhood does not have an international organization with authority... the Muslim Brotherhood in Syria made a pact with [then-Syrian vice president] 'Abd Al-Halim Khaddam, and the Muslim Brotherhood in Iraq objected to the movement's general direction. The idea of an international organization now needs to be transformed from a dream into a reality. While it is not part of the Muslim Brotherhood's plan to come to power – they will be soldiers under any suitable regime that will be established."
"If Ibn Taymiyya Were Among Us – What Would He Think Of Ahmadinejad's Stance Against Israel While Arab Rulers Protect Israeli Embassies?
"Q: How would you explain the actions of some of the Salafis [that contradict this]?"
"A: The actions taken by some of the Salafis are unbefitting of Muslims. The Salafis in Egypt are not one group, but [divided] into different schools...
"I say to our Salafi brothers: Why do you focus only on [external] appearance, on the beard, the miswak [tooth-cleaning stick noted in Islamic jurisprudence], and the jilbab [religious garment]? There are many things far more important to Muslim society – chiefly a military industry, which is a means and a tool of jihad, as Ibn Taymiyya said...
"If Ibn Taymiyya were among us, what would he think of [Iranian President Mahmoud] Ahmadinejad's stance against Israel, while Arab rulers protect Israeli embassies and applaud the symbols of the Zionist entity?"
Endnotes:
[1] Al-Shorouq (Egypt), June 8, 2011.
