MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD HOSTS LARGE RAMADAN IFTAR

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CAIRO 006254 SIPDIS SIPDIS NSC FOR RICK WATERS E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/09/2016 TAGS: PGOV KISL KDEM EG SUBJECT: MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD HOSTS LARGE RAMADAN IFTAR Classified By: Minister Counselor for Economic and Political Affairs William R. Stewart, for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Summary: The Muslim Brotherhood (MB) hosted a large Ramadan iftar on October 4, with guests including MB luminaries from across Egypt, as well as opposition party leaders, and even a prominent NDP parliamentarian. In remarks to the gathering, MB Supreme Guide Mahdi Akef outlined the MB's "stance towards external and internal affairs," including calling for abolishing the state of emergency, release of political prisoners, constitutional reform, changing the political party registration law, "reconsideration" of the Camp David Accords, "supporting the sincere national resistance in all occupied countries," and implicitly warning against Gamal Mubarak assuming the presidency. End summary. ¶2. (C) On October 4, the Muslim Brotherhood hosted a Ramadan iftar at the posh City Stars Intercontinental Hotel, attended by an estimated 2000 guests. According to Embassy contacts who were present, it was a well-organized event, complete with souvenir water-bottles printed with the label "Annual Iftar of the Muslim Brotherhood, 2006" (Note: The paradoxical status of the MB in Egypt is such that, despite its being a "banned" organization, it is able openly to host such a public gathering. End note). Attendees included MB leaders from across Egypt, as well as the leadership of various opposition parties, and even Mustafa al Fekki, NDP parliamentarian and chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the People's Assembly. ¶3. (C) Throughout the meal, two huge screens on either side of the large ballroom showed footage of 2005 election violence and MB activists being beaten by security forces at demonstrations. Reportedly, there was not an overt or threatening GOE security presence at the iftar, but rather, a few well-dressed higher-ups from the Ministry of Interior stood outside, observing the proceedings and attendees. ¶4. (SBU) MB Supreme Guide Mohamed Mahdi Akef delivered a speech to the gathering, followed by remarks from Aziz Sidqi (former PM and head of the National Front for Change). At the end of his speech (which was subsequently posted on the MB's website),Akef outlined the MB's "stance towards external and internal affairs," as follows: -- Restoring people's freedoms, respecting their rights and recognizing political plurality and the peaceful transfer of power; as well as the full judicial supervision over elections, and achieving balance between executive, judiciary and legislative apparatus, are the only avenues for genuine reform and prosperity and must be fulfilled. -- Amendments to the constitution must be preceded by returning to normal conditions and abolishing the state of emergency and defamation laws. This must be carried out with thorough national accord and complete transparency. -- Resisting (anyone's) control of capital and hegemony over power, and eradicating monopoly and corruption in all its forms. -- Establishment of political parties to take place simply by notification, and that the judiciary is the only arbitrator to ensure that party programs and manifestos conform to the law and to the constitution. -- Providing transparency in the economy, supporting the poor and providing them with the necessities of life. -- All sincere people who care for the interests of this country must unite to resist and reject the succession (or inheritance) of power and I advise the one who wants to inherit power and those who love him to discard this topic altogether so as not to inherit the popular hatred against the ruling regime, including the dangers that this hatred forebodes to all. -- Releasing all political detainees, and criminalizing torture and punishing its perpetrators. -- All groups have the right to publish their newspapers, launch their radios and broadcast their satellite TV channels. -- We support the suggestions put forward by the National Council for Human Rights (NCHR) regarding amendments to articles of the Constitution (Note: As reported septel, these suggestions include the amending of constitutional Articles 76 and 77, to ease the rigorous requirements to become a presidential candidate, and to institute term limits, CAIRO 00006254 002 OF 002 respectively. End note.) -- We call for reconsideration of the Camp David Treaty. -- We call on governments to break free from U.S. and Zionist domination and to reconcile with their peoples. -- Supporting the sincere national resistance in all occupied countries and aiding them until they receive their independence and freedom. -- Considering the Palestinian cause to be the paramount issue of the Arabs and Muslims; supporting the resistance and ending the blockade imposed on them in order to restore their legitimate rights and to liberate their country including Jerusalem. -- Strengthening the Arab League and activate its economic, political, military, and other agreements. -- Adhering to the Islamic identity and cultural privacy with openness to others as we possess the everlasting Message and the last word of Allah to the worlds that respect the mind and glorify thinking. JONES