Egypt gears up for elections, amid political divisions, religious extremism and military power
Cairo (AsiaNews) - About two months after the resignation of President Mubarak, Egypt's democratic future remains uncertain. According to AsiaNews sources, the majority of parties and movements, including the Muslim Brotherhood, are split and are trying to understand the way to go ahead of parliamentary elections in September. Today, hundreds of thousands of young people and former military took to the streets to demand Mubarak be put on trial. They also want greater clarity about the country’s future and the cancellation of the recent decree that prohibits strikes and demonstrations.
"The young people of Tahrir Square - says a source, anonymous for security reasons - are trying to create a coalition that unites the movements born of the revolution, but have little time to efficiently organize themselves. The general impression is that the fruits of the revolution have been taken over by the Muslim Brotherhood, but even they are deeply divided. "
To date, the only source of stability is the army, which after the fall of Mubarak has been appointed to manage the transition of the country until parliamentary elections in September. "The military took control of the situation - says the source - they are trying to maintain stability by balancing the differences between the movements and ideological currents."
The internal disputes within the Muslim movements are likely to increase the ranks of the Salafi movement, the Islamic extremist group backed by Saudi Arabia. These days, Sheikh Mohamed Hassan, leader of the group, announced the creation of a political party, which will see him as a candidate in the forthcoming parliamentary elections. "The Salafi – says the source - are against the Muslim Brotherhood, regarded as too open, and offer sharia and the Koran as the only solution to the problems in Egypt, but among them there are various currents.
These divisions, however, have not stopped the violent activities of Islamic radicals, especially in the outskirts of Cairo and Upper Egypt. The source reports that the Salafist carried out the majority of attacks against the Coptic community in recent months. "Many - he says - say the group is supported by Mubarak supporters to destabilize the country." According to the source, the National Democratic Party (NDP), the only organized party along with the Muslim Brotherhood wants to be the only source of stability in the face of political chaos and the growth of extremist parties that began with the fall of the regime.
Despite the influence of Islamic radicals and the risk of a return to the old regime, the source emphasizes that the movements and groups born during the Jasmine Revolution continue their struggle for a secular state and a society based on social equality.
Today thousands of Muslim and Coptic demonstrators gathered in Tahrir Square to demand Mubarak, his family and entourage be put on trial. Some former soldiers also took part in the protest. In addition to anti-Mubarak slogans, the young protesters have called again for Christian-Muslim unity, to stop a radical involution that some have described as a “counter-revolution”. Local media are reporting that crowds might continue to gather tonight turning the event into another million-strong protest.
According to the source, "the international community will support change in Egypt's parliamentary elections, fostering a dialogue between the various groups toward the common good", but precludes any modification of art. 2 of the Constitution, which provides Sharia law as the basis for all law. "Most of the Muslim population – he adds - are convinced that the deletion of Article would destroy the Islamic identity of the country." "To this day - he concludes - it is very difficult to think of a real democracy for the future of Egypt, but if Christians and Muslims are committed to working together, the country will make progress." (S.C.)
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