From: ilyess@Davinci.Concordia.CA (Ilyess Bdira)
Subject: Re: Egypt and the Arab world
Keywords: Muslim brotherhood, Egypt
Organization: ECE - Concordia University
Date: Fri, 6 Nov 1992 15:32:43 GMT

In article <1992Nov6.042322.22979@galileo.cc.rochester.edu> abde@troi.cc.rochester.edu (Tamer A. Abdelgawad) writes:
>
>My statement was incorrect and paranoid.  Thanks for calling it simply a
Thanks for admitting it, I think you were being influenced by the Egyptian
(and western and Arab)media's scare tactics..

>"false claim"  (lessons to be learned here, fellow netters!).  However,
>I would like to express some apprehensions about a "Muslim Brotherhood"
>government in Egypt:
>
>(1)  What would be the status of Egypt's relations with Israel?

I do not know, I think the Ikhwan should keep the rhetoric aside
and take care of their own country.. But given the current situation
and the current level of political maturity of all Islamic movements,
I doubt that they will.

>
>(2)  What kind of Economic system would the 'Ikhwan' embrace? I'm 
>     specifically concerned about sound economic principles like fixed
>     interest rates, government insurance of private deposits, ...etc.
>     that are interpreted as violating Islamic principles.

The Ikhwan are now three generations: The first is very conservative (with
the exception of Dr. Qaradhawi) in economic issues, the second (like Hassan 
Bennah's son) are less conservative. I do not know much about the third.. 
I hope they will be the best..

My opinion is that the state should determine inflation every month and
allow "interest' on cash loans equal to inflation rates. This would not be
reba. I think that a system based on investment rather than loan is Islamic
and will go a long way in improving a developing economy.

>
>(3)  What level of censorship would the 'Ikhwan' impose?  Specifically,
>     what would happen to foreign and domestic film and TV production,
>     satellite reception of foreign TV, exchange of ideas that are 
>     considered sacreligious by the media,...etc.
I do not know about Ikhwan, but I consider myself an Islamist and I think
that whatever the majority of Egyptians decide to ban should be banned.
Observe that I said "decides to ban" not "does not like" (if you don't
see the difference, I can refer you to the issue of abortion in the U.S
as a counterexample).
Also, there is a difference between what you do in your home in private
and what is imposed onthe rest of the people in public.
>
>(4)  What kinds of social behavior would be made illegaL?  Would belly
>     dancers be banned,  women have to conform to the Islamic dress code,
>     alcohol become illegal,...etc.?
Refer to my general answer above..
>
>I mean these questions to be only half-rhetorical:  I understand that the 
>'Ikhwan' have some different opinions from those typically ascribed to
>violent extremist groups.  I would like to hear about these differences
>especially in connection to the above questions.
>
I met a lot of Egyptian Ikhwan.. Some of them share my opinions, some of them
do not.. Actually i think they should sort it out before going out to the
people and asking for vote.. I think they are not pressed to do that because
they do not believe that they will win any election soon for two reasons:
1)The automatic rigging of elections
2)They underestimate their support..

I say they should learn the Algerian lesson very soon.
>
>Tamer Abdelgawad


Xref: sparky soc.culture.arabic:4887 soc.culture.bosna-herzgvna:517