MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD DEVELOPMENTS AND

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 CAIRO 19680

E.O. 12356: DECL:OADR
TAGS: PGOV PINS PINR PREL EG
SUBJECT: MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD DEVELOPMENTS AND
PERSONALITIES

REF: ALEXANDRIA 1019


1. CONFIDENTIAL - ENTIRE TEXT.

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2. SUMMARY: XXXXXXXXXXXXX (STRICTLY PROTECT) REPORTED TO EMBOFF THAT THE
ORGANIZATION IS ANGERED AT THE AUTHORITIES OVER THE FIRST RECENT ARREST OF A "PROMINENT MEMBER" OF THE
ORGANIZATION, COINCIDING WITH THE INTERIOR MINISTRY'S
RENEWED CRACKDOWN ON ISLAMIC GROUPS. XXXXXXXXXXXXX CRITICIZED THE POLICE FOR PROVOCATIVE AND UNNECESSARY BRUTALITY AGAINST THE JIHADISTS AT AINS SHAMS A FEW DAYS PREVIOUSLY, BUT SAID THE MB MEMBERS "HAVE ORDERS" TO MAINTAIN THEIR DISTANCE FROM THE SUCH GROUPS' ACTIVITIES. XXXXXXXXXXXXX ALSO IDENTIFIED "EXTREMELY ANTI-AMERICAN" ABDEL MONEIM SELIM HABBARA AS THE SUCCESSOR TO THE LATE GABIR RIZK AS THE MB'S CHIEF JOURNALIST/PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICER. THE JOURNALIST EMPHASIZED THE MB'S ORGANIZATIONAL INDEPENDENCE FROM IBRAHIM SHUKRY'S SOCIALIST LABOR PARTY (SLP, UNDER WHICH MB DEPUTIES WERE ELECTED TO PARLIAMENT),BUT HE IDENTIFIED THE MB'S BASES OF SUPPORT WITHIN THAT
PARTY. HE SINGLED OUT "AL-SHA'AB" (SLP NEWSPAPER)
EDITOR ADIL HUSSEIN AS "CLOSE" TO THE MB AND A
PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT FIGURE IN ISLAMIC POLITICS,
COMBINING INTELLECTUAL LEADERSHIP WITH STRONG POPULAR
CONTACT AND SUPPORT. END SUMMARY.

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3. NEW MB "SPOKESMAN": A VERY ACTIVE AND COMMITTED MB
JOURNALIST (STRICTLY PROTECT) WELL KNOWN TO EMBOFFS
COMMENTED FRANKLY ON MB-RELATED ISSUES DURING A RECENT
VISIT TO THE EMBASSY FOR A VISA INTERVIEW. HE REPORTED
THAT THE MB LEADERSHIP HAD SUMMONED ABDEL MONEIM SELIM
HABBARA FROM (EVIDENTLY SELF-IMPOSED EXILE IN) THE GULF
TO SUCCEED THE LATE GABIR RIZK AS THE MB'S "LIASON"
OFFICER AND EDITOR OF THE MB'S MONTHLY "LIWA'
AL-ISLAM". THE JOURNALIST CONFIRMED THAT "LIWA' HAS
REPLACED IL-DA'AWA" AS THE MB'S MOUTHPIECE. "SELIM"
NOW RUNS "LIWA'" FROM ITS MID-TOWN OFFICE, WHICH IS
SEPARATE FROM THE MB HQ AT THE FORMER LOCATION OF
"AL-DA'WA". HOWEVER, THE NAME OF BADR MOHAMMED BADR,
NOT SELIM, WILL CONTINUE TO APPEAR ON "LIWA'S"
MASTHEAD, BECAUSE SELIM IS NOT REGISTERED WITH THE
JOURNALISTS' SYNDICATE AND THEREFORE IS UNLICENSED.
SELIM IS UNLIKELY TO WELCOME CONTACT WITH U.S.
DIPLOMATS, THE JOURNALIST SAID, BECAUSE HE IS
EMOTIONALLY BOTH ANTI-SOVIET AND ANTI-AMERICAN. SELIM
IS OF THE OLDER GENERATION OF MB LEADERS, HAVING BEEN
IN PRISON CONTINUOUSLY FROM 1954 UNTIL SADAT RELEASED
HIM FROM HIS LIFE SENTENCE IN 1974. HE HAD BEEN IN THE
GULF FROM 1974 UNTIL SUMMONED BACK TO SUCCEED RIZK,
ACCORDING TO THE JOURNALIST.

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4. (COMMENT: A JOURNALIST AND AUTHOR HIMSELF, RIZK HAD
OFTEN SAT IN ON OUR CONTACTS WITH THE MB LEADERSHIP,
AND HAD BECOME WELL KNOWN TO THE FOREIGN PRESS CORPS
DURING THE 1987 PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION CAMPAIGN AS THE
MB "SPOKESMAN" AND PRESS LIAISON MAN. SELIM HAS NOT
YET BECOME WIDELY-KNOWN AS RIZK'S SUCCESSOR. THOUGH IT
IS TOO SOON TO DISCERN WHETHER SELIM WILL PROVE AN
ACTIVIST PR MAN, THE FACT THE AGING MB LEADERSHIP CHOSE
A RELATIVELY UNKNOWN AND THUS FAR RECLUSIVE SUCCESSOR
FOR THIS POST INDICATES ITS CONTINUED PREFERENCE FOR
MATURITY AND PERSONAL LOYALTY OVER YOUTHFUL DYNAMISM OR
PROVEN JOURNALISTIC OR PUBLIC RELATIONS SKILLS. THIS
MAY BE ANOTHER INDICATION OF THE GENERATIONAL SPLIT
BETWEEN THE MORE PR-CONCIOUS, OUTWARDLY LOOKING MB
YOUTH AND A MORE AUTHORITARIAN AND CONSPIRATORIAL OLD
GUARD, AND THE CONTINUED UNCHALLENGED DOMINANCE OF THE
LATTER. END COMMENT.)

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5. MB-GOVERNMENT RELATIONS: THE JOURNALIST REPORTED
THAT THE AUTHORITIES HAD ARRESTED WITHOUT CHARGE
MOHAMMED ABDEL MONEIM, "ONE OF OUR PROMINENT PEOPLE
FROM ALEXANDRIA," AND HARRASSED THREE ACCOMPANYING MB
FIGURES UPON THEIR ARRIVAL AT THE AIRPORT FROM A RECENT
MB CONFERENCE IN THE FRG. (REFTEL REPORTS FURTHER ON
THIS INCIDENT.) BECAUSE THEY ENJOYED PARLIAMENTARY
IMMUNITY, PEOPLE'S ASSEMBLY DEPUTIES 'ESAM EL-'ARIAN,
MOKHTAR NOH, AND MOHAMMED MAHDI KESHEF WERE NOT
ARRESTED. THE JOURNALIST SAID THIS WAS THE FIRST
ARREST OF ONE OF THEIR SENIOR FIGURES IN RECENT TIMES.
THE INCIDENT HAS ANGERED THE MB, HE SAID, WHICH VIEWS
IT AS A SIGNAL OF STEPPED-UP GOVERNMENT PRESSURE ON
THEM, PROBABLY CONNECTED TO INTERIOR MINISTER ZAKI
BADR'S CRACKDOWN ON THE ISLAMIC GROUPS SINCE THE ESCAPE
OF THE JIHADISTS LAST MONTH. AS FOR BADR, HOWEVER, THE
MB BELIEVES ON THE BASIS OF "RELIABLE INFORMATION" THAT
MUBARAK WILL DUMP HIM SOON, ONLY TO REPLACE HIM WITH
SOMEONE "EVEN TOUGHER, BUT MORE CLEVER." FOR ITS PART,
THE JOURNALIST CONFIRMED, THE MB CONTINUES ITS EFFORTS
TO ESTABLISH A LEGAL POLITICAL PARTY..

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6. THE JOURNALIST WENT ON TO CRITICIZE THE PROVOCATIVE
ATTACKS OF THE POLICE ON THE ISLAMIC GROUPS, STORMING
MOSQUES WITH THEIR BOOTS ON, FOR EXAMPLE, AS THEY HAD
DONE AT THE JIHADISTS' "ADAM" MOSQUE AT AIN SHAMS A FEW
DAYS AGO. SO WANTON WERE THE ARRESTS IN THAT INCIDENT,
THE JOURNALIST ASSERTED IRONICALLY, THAT "THREE OF OUR
COPTIC BROTHERS WERE ARRESTED WITH THE JIHADISTS". THE
RECKLESS POLICE ACTION, RESULTING IN THE DEATH OF
CHILD, HAD PROVOKED NEIGHBORHOOD SYMPATHY FOR THE
JIHADISTS, HE SAID. THE MB CONDEMNS SUCH POLICE
OPPRESSION AGAINST THE ISLAMIC GROUPS, THE JOURNALIST
SAID, BUT ALSO "DISAPPROVES OF VIOLENCE" (BY SUCH
GROUPS); THE MB LEADERSHIP HAS ISSUED "STRICT ORDERS TO
STAY AWAY FROM UPRISINGS AND ACTIVITIES" OF THE ISLAMIC
GROUPS.

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7. MB AMBIVALENCE TOWARD U.S.: THE JOURNALISTS SAID
THE MB LEADERSHIP HAD DECLINED TO NOMINATE AN MB MEMBER
OF THE PEOPLE'S ASSEMBLY AS ONE OF TWO SLP MEMBERS
INVITED TO JOIN A PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION TO THE U.S.,
SIMPLY BECAUSE THE USG HAD NOT ADDRESSED AN INVITATION
TO THE MB DIRECTLY AND FORMALLY. EVIDENTLY UNCONSCIOUS
OF ANY IRONY, THE JOURNALIST STATED, HOWEVER, THAT THE
MB LEADERSHIP AT THE SAME TIME REMAINS WARY OF ANY
OFFICIAL CONTACTS OR INVOLVEMENT WITH THE USG IN
CONNECTION WITH MB TRAVEL TO THE U.S. HE REMARKED THAT
MB MEMBERS OFTEN VISIT THE U.S. AT THE INVITATION OF
ISLAMIC GROUPS THERE. (COMMENT: EMBASSY HAD INVITED
SLP LEADER AND OPPOSITION SPEAKER IBRAHIM SHUKRY TO
NOMINATE TWO SLP DEPUTIES OF HIS CHOICE TO PARTICIPATE
IN THE PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION INVITED TO THE U.S. BY
A PRIVATE U.S. ORGANIZATION. EMBASSY EXPRESSED NO
OBJECTION TO SHUKRY'S INITIAL INQUIRY WHETHER MB
MEMBERS COULD BE NOMINATED. SHUKRY LATER ADVISED US
THAT THE MB HAD DECLINED TO PARTICIPATE, WITHOUT
OFFERING A REASON. END COMMENT.)

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8. THE JOURNALIST FURTHER EMPHASIZED THE MB'S
ORGANIZATIONAL INDEPENDENCE FROM THE SLP, BUT SAID THAT
FOUR FIGURES IN THE SLP LEADERSHIP ARE STRONG
SUPPORTERS OF COOPERATION WITH THE MB: SLP CHAIRMAN
SHUKRY, HIS DEPUTY HILMY MURAD, PARTY ASSISTANT
SECRETARY FOR YOUTH MAGDY HUSSEIN, AND SLP NEWSPAPER
EDITORIALIST 'ADIL HUSSEIN. (COMMENT: MAGDY HUSSEIN
RETURNED TO EGYPT VERY FAVORABLY IMPRESSED BY HIS VISIT
TO THE U.S. IN THE PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION. HILMY
MURAD -- WHO PERIODICALLY "RESIGNS" FROM HIS PARTY
POST PURPORTEDLY IN PROTEST OF ANTI-DEMOCRATIC
GOVERNMENT POLICIES -- HAD PRIVATELY INDICATED TO US
STRONGLY SECULARIST, ANTI-MB VIEWS AT THE OUTSET OF THE
SLP-MB ALLIANCE IN 1987. THE FOUR SLP FIGURES CITED
ARE RELATED BY BLOOD AND/OR MARRIAGE TO EACH OTHER AND
TO THE LATE AHMED HUSSEIN, ISLAMIC/NAZI FIREBRAND OF
THE 1930'S AND 40'S. END COMMENT.) FURTHERMORE, THE
JOURNALIST SAID, THE MB ENJOYS STRONG SUPPORT AMONG THE
YOUNGER SLP CADRES. HOWEVER, THE MB FACES STRONG
ANTAGONISM FROM THE "MIDDLE RANKS" OF THE OLD-TIME SLP
MEMBERSHIP, WHICH INCLUDES "NASSERISTS AND
COMMUNISTS," AND OTHERS, SUCH AS PEOPLE'S ASSEMBLY
MEMBER DR. SALAH ABDULLAH, WHO MERELY "DON'T SUPPORT
THE ISLAMIC TREND VERY MUCH." (COMMENT: JOURNALIST
IMPLIED CONFIDENCE OF THE MB THAT ITS SUPPORT FROM THE
TOP SLP LEADERSHIP AND THE YOUNGER ISLAMIC CADRES
EVENTUALLY WOULD PREVAIL OVER THE LEFTIST SECULARIST
ELEMENTS. END COMMENT.)

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9. 'ADIL HUSSEIN: RESPONDING TO EMBOFF'S OBSERVATION
THAT MANY OUTSIDERS QUESTION 'ADIL HUSSEIN'S RELIGIOUS
SINCERITY IN VIEW OF HIS PAST AS A MARXIST, THE
JOURNALIST VIGOROUSLY ASSERTED THAT HUSSEIN HAD
EXPERIENCED A PROFOUND CONVERSION AS A RESULT OF HIS
NEAR-DEATH UNDER SEVERE TORTURE WHILE IN PRISON, WHERE
HE HAD COME TO KNOW MB MEMBERS. THE JOURNALIST CLAIMED
THAT 'ADIL HUSSEIN IS NOT MERELY AN INTELLECTUAL OR
IDEOLOGUE, BUT HAS GOOD RAPPORT WITH ORDINARY PEOPLE,
ENJOYING GREAT POPULARITY AMONG YOUTH. HOWEVER,
HUSSEIN IS NOT A MEMBER OF THE MB, "THOUGH HE IS VERY
CLOSE TO US." (COMMENT: HUSSEIN IS INFAMOUS AS THE
LEADING PROPONENT OF AN AMALGAMATION OF
NASSERISM/MARXISM AND ISLAM, THROUGH HIS AUTHORSHIP OF
BOOKS ON THE SUBJECT AND HIS WEEKLY, HIGHLY POLEMICAL
EDITORIALS IN THE SLP'S "IL-SHA'AB". END COMMENT.)


WISNER