October 30th, 2009 by Jason

According to Ashraf Khalil in al-Masry al-Youm, the upcoming National Democratic Party (NDP) convention will not look at the question of succession, but only the upcoming parliamentary elections in November 2010. The NDP was embarassed by the last round in 2005, in which the illegal Muslim Brotherhood won 20 percent of the seats in the People’s Assembly. In response, Gamal Mubarak was “placed in charge of reforming the NDP’s image, clearing away the dead wood and making the party more appealing to a younger generation.” Furthermore, the Muslim Brotherhood “has been severely affected by a steady government crackdown […] and the party faces a potential leadership struggle early next year when its Supreme Guide Mahdi Akef steps down.”

Khalil quotes a professor from the American University in Cairo, Walid Kazziha, who lamented the lack of electoral choices,  ”We have no real political parties. We have been de-politicized.” Meanwhile, a growing political cyber-battle has begun to heat up between a pro-Gamal website called “Participate” and an opposition site, also called “Participate.”

In The Daily News Egypt, Nael Shama discusses the current debate over the niqab and the state of discourse within Egypt. He complains, “the worst thing about the current debate over niqab (face veil) is that it gives the impression of a ‘healthy’ and ‘free’ society that openly discusses all contending views of its most pressing problems. This is an illusion.” According to Shama, “the space for thought and expression has been tightening at alarming rates, with the mind of Egyptian society tilting towards the right.” Yasser Khalil explains how the niqab debate has further tarnished the reputation of Al-Azhar. Khalil explains that Egyptians believe Al-Azhar is “more concerned with upholding the current regime than religious principles.” To regain Al-Azhar’s prestige as the world’s preeminent center of Sunni thought, the government must “draw a clear line separating religion from politics” and let Al-Azhar reassert its independence.

Finally, Khaled Diab discusses the recent controversy over a Beyonce concert in Egypt: “Many may rightly wonder why, with all the major challenges facing Egypt - poverty, corruption, authoritarianism, overpopulation and environmental degradation - religious conservatives, and even secular Arab activists, are so obsessed with sexy women.”

Posted in Egypt, Elections, Islam and Democracy, Islamist movements, Muslim Brotherhood, Political Islam, Public Opinion, Secularism, Women |