The Muslim Brotherhood removed its bylaws from its English-language website just days after longtime Egyptian ruler Hosni Mubarak was driven from office.
The Brotherhood, which has been banned in Egypt, appears eager to promote a more moderate image and downplay its past history of Islamic extremism in hopes of gaining a spot on the ballot in future Egyptian elections.
“The bylaws have long been a source of discussion and debate on the Internet because of the group’s stated intention to create an Islamic state, uniting Muslims around the world,” observes Steven Emerson, executive director of The Investigative Project on Terrorism.
“It’s not clear why the bylaws disappeared, but the timing is highly suspicious. With a genuine opportunity to appear on an Egyptian ballot, they have vanished from public view within days of President Hosni Mubarak’s ouster.”
Tellingly, the bylaws remain posted on the Brotherhood’s Arabic-language site, Emerson notes.
The vanished bylaws cited “the need to work on establishing the Islamic State,” and sought “the sincere support for a global cooperation in accordance with the provisions of the Islamic shariah.”
They also stressed the “need to inform the masses, Muslim and non-Muslims, of Islamic teachings.”
Emerson writes: “Now, it seems, the Brotherhood sees its written bylaws as something they don’t want to be read by the English-speaking world.”
As for claims the Brotherhood is moderating its positions, Emerson discloses that as recently as September, the organization’s General Guide Mohammed Badie said Muslims are duty-bound to make the Koran the law of Egypt.
And another senior member of the Brotherhood, Kamal Helbawy, said a week ago that Egypt needs “innocent, honest and brave leaders like” Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
In an exclusive interview with Newsmax.TV in February, former Assistant Defense Secretary Richard Perle warned: “The Muslim Brotherhood is potentially a very serious problem, since it is committed to the global expansion of an extreme approach to Islam, which is strict shariah law.
“I know a lot of people take a different view now, but they’re not looking at what the Muslim Brotherhood has done from its inception and they’re not listening to what the Muslim Brotherhood is saying in Arabic. They’re listening to what’s being said in English and that’s a very different story.”newsmax.com
