EGYPTIAN BROTHERHOOD NEVER CLOSED THE DOOR FOR RECONCILIATION’

Cairo, 13 Jumadil Akhir 1436/2 April 2015 (MINA) – A senior Muslim Brotherhood official has said that the movement welcomes reconciliation with any of the political Egyptian parties.

Speaking to Masr Al-Arabia, Jamal Abdul-Sattar said that the Brotherhood has never closed the door for any “serious” dialogue with any of the political Egyptian parties.

He set three conditions for any dialogue with the movement: the army has to withdraw from politics and return to its bases.

Justice must be sought for Egyptians killed by the security forces from 25 January 2011 to today; and the restrictions on freedom must be ended, with the people being given the absolute right to choose their rulers, Middle East Monitor (MEMO) quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

The Brotherhood official’s remarks came after a report in Al-Masryoon newspaper claimed that reconciliation between the movement and the Egyptian regime, sponsored by Saudi King Salman Bin Abdul-Aziz, has reached a developed stage.

Abdul-Sattar denied this. “Like other Egyptians, we do not have ability to make a decision to go for reconciliation. It is the decision of all Egyptians, who have the right to choose who the ruler of the country is.”

Al-Masryoon claimed that the only obstacle ahead of reconciliation is that the Islamic movement is afraid of a negative response from its younger members.

As evidence, it cited the presence of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Qatar’s Emir Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani in Saudi Arabia in February when Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi was also there. The president and Emir are believed to be sympathetic to the Muslim Brotherhood. (T/P002/R03/P3)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)