The Muslim Brotherhood, Egypt’s largest opposition group, is preparing to establish a political party named the "Freedom and Justice Party," its Guidance Bureau (the organization’s highest executive body) announced Monday.
According to the Brotherhood's website, its Supreme Spiritual Guide Mohammed Badie said party membership will be open to all Egyptians who accept the party’s program and policy direction.
Badie said its founding members will be announced soon and the necessary legal steps taken following a preparatory stage. The move is a response to the wishes, hopes and aspirations of Egyptians for a brighter future and the restoration of the country's prestige and leadership role, he said.
Badie went on to say that relevant institutions within the group are working on the final version of the party program, regulations and policies. This is being done in consultation with the group’s Shura Council, and will be announced when the time is right, he said.
Badie described the decision as “in line with the Brotherhood‘s policies–decided upon long ago by the Shura Council–which encourage the group to establish a political party."
The group does not “object to the election of women or Copts to cabinet seats,” said Brotherhood member Mohsen Radi on Sunday, adding that it “does not believe it would be appropriate to nominate a woman or a Copt as head of the party.”
Radi explained that the explained that the Brotherhood is demanding ministerial amendments and the formation of a national government.
“If asked to join the current government we would refuse, as the government fell with the ouster of the former president,” he said.
Translated from the Arabic Edition.
