Egypt after the election: Parliament filled with radical religious supporters

The Egyptians have voted and so they determined the new parliament in Egypt. The elections were not really perfect but, at least, there have been elections. There was evidence that member of the Muslim Brotherhood offered money for the people, in front of some or even in front of lot election offices. But who cares?

Even some of the people who took the money of the Muslim Brotherhood went into the election offices and voted for the party they wanted and not always for the party of the Muslim Brotherhood. Somehow smart, indeed.

Even if briefly some questions were raised in the elections, they ran by and large quite correct, without huge incidents. Like it was easy to predict, the Islamists have won the Egyptian elections and the result is clear.

The (now) called moderate Muslim Brotherhood and the quite more radical Salafists (Salafis / Salafiyah) will work at an Egyptian Constitution and, of course, they have to deal with the second component of power in Egypt, with the military generals.

To be honest, even if it sounds harsh, the image of the new Egyptian Parliament should therefore be dominated by bearded men with the holy Koran under their arms. But there is a difference between Muslims and radical members of the Muslim Brotherhood and Salafists.

The youth of the Egyptian revolution, which went to the streets for freedom and justice, and other political groupings in Egypt, will have hardly anything to say in the Egyptian Parliament. Egyptian women will also have a hard standing within this new Parliament of Egypt.

The number of these groups within the Egyptian Parliament is very small, and they probably will not have a chance to tip over or even ask in question the upcoming decisions of the “beard-wearing” Egyptian politicians.

We use this phrase in relation to the radical members of the new Egyptian Parliament and we do not mean that all beard-wearing Muslims are radical. As stated before, there is a huge difference between Muslims and the members of the Muslim Brotherhood and Salafists (Salafis).

The future of Egypt is uncertain. Certainly at the moment is only that the country never again (at least not in the foreseeable future) will be as strong as to the times of Mubarak.

In addition to the newly elected Egyptian parliament, which will also set up the first presidential candidate soon, the army generals still call the shots in Egypt. These generals of the Egyptian army did not appear as a very revolutionary group after the overthrow of Husni Mubarak. They simply wanted to secure their power and influence.

Just in the moment as the Egyptian government was about to collapse, the military have seized power, and thus the revolution was betrayed. When there ever has been a real revolution without foreign support in Egypt. There are different views about the so-called “Arab Spring”.

As it could be seen in recent months repeatedly, the military acted brutally against demonstrators. That the Egyptian military has little interest in democratic methods quickly became clear. This also was to predict very easily.

The probably more exciting question remains, if the new Egyptian Parliament succeeds in achieving agreements with the Egyptian generals or whether it anyway comes to an agreement between these both sides of power in Egypt.

If the new Egyptian politicians also throw overboard the democracy process and start to work at the theocratical state (Islamic state) of Egypt, the military could intervene and “throw” them out of power. If the (new) Egyptian politicians show themselves as real Democrats, they would have to uncover the undemocratic machinations of the Egyptian military and would then thus move on thin ice.

So in Egypt it can tip over and over again. With all the potential upcoming situations and events, the Egyptian people should not be forgotten.

While most of them have become weary about the so-called “Egyptian revolution” and the protests on the famous Tahrir Square in the Egyptian capital Cairo, they yearn for security and peace above all other.

This implies that political stability will be recreated, which can then boost the Egyptian economy. (Not to mention that there is a huge amount of foreign money which flows to Cairo currently… but not only because foreign organizations and governments just want to help the Egyptian people.)

Since the outbreak of the so-called Egyptian revolution on 25 January 2011, the misery in this country has increased, because the economy collapsed. The corruption is still there. Egypt is still not stable; actually you can still compare the situation in this country with a powder keg. A spark is enough of just inflames the powder (the people) again.

It is questionable whether the elected Parliament will be able to stabilize the country (fast enough) and also, whether they want this to. In the ranks of the “bearded ones” you see a clear lack of creativity and strength to boost the Egyptian economy. Maybe there is also a lack of will within this group of people. Maybe they rely on the foreign support – money – which flows in great manner to Egypt now.

Although the majority of the elected Islamists might be a guarantor of social justice and equality, but whether they can also enforce their goals against the Egyptian military is questionable. Even, not all of these elected guys are really democrats.

The Egyptian people need de facto the hope for a growing economy soon, which increases the chance of work and also can reduce the suffering of the population all over. It is surely questionable whether the new parliament is able to achieve all this. The future of Egypt is not clear. But it is clear that religion will play a significant role in the future.

It remains to hope that radical Salafists and the radical members of the Muslim Brotherhood are not able to enforce all of their ideas for Egypt, because then threatens a beer and bikini ban, which would be somehow bad for tourism – an important economic factor in Egypt. This also would include the curtailment of women`s rights and other areas.

Maybe then, the settlement with Israel threatens to burst, might not be extended or accepted by the new Egyptian parliament anymore / any longer. The future of Egypt definitely includes a difficult time for the country, without any guarantees. Even the factor of safety cannot be guaranteed. So-called “riots of bread” can happen again and will push the people on the streets again.

Then, the Egyptian military will intervene and take tough action against the demonstrators. Maybe even the religiously motivated attacks and harassment will increase. Headlines about clashes between Copts and Muslims are already known. Unfortunately, they were much too common.

You can read frightening articles about the aggressive actions of the Salafis (Salafists) against the Christian minority within Egypt on the net. As reported, Christians were beaten and their houses burned, in order to prevent their participation at the elections. Christian churches were destroyed by the Salafis (Salafists), the Egyptian police just watched and did nothing.

The Christians within Egypt will have a hard time now. The Egyptian Parliament was invaded by some radical persons who are also part of the “creation” of the new constitution of Egypt. It is truly possible that the Christians in Egypt could face a similar future like the Christians in Turkey – suppressed and even more harassed than before.

One can only hope that the ideals of the young generation in Egypt, which pushed them on the Tahrir Square in Cairo, are not totally ignored, and the so-called “revolution of the youth” is being sold. It is clear that there will be conflicts between religious groups. It is also clear that Islam will play a major role and that the Egyptian military will defend his power.

The Egyptian military, that still remembers the Mubarak era, as many of the former Mubarak loyalists still have important posts, will not agree to decrease all its power. It remains to continue the monitoring the developments of Egypt. One can only wish for the Egyptian people, that the misery will have an end soon.

Image: By Lilian Wagdy (DSC_9256 Uploaded by The Egyptian Liberal) [CC-BY-2.0 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

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