MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD - "JIHAD" FRICTIONS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 CAIRO 21161

LONDON FOR MILLIKEN, CENTCOM FOR POLAD

E.O. 12356: DECL:OADR
TAGS: PINS SOCI EG
SUBJECT: MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD - "JIHAD" FRICTIONS

REF: (NOTAL) CAIRO 20169


1. CONFIDENTIAL - ENTIRE TEXT.

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2. SUMMARY: TENSIONS SIMMERING BETWEEN THE MUSLIM
BROTHERHOOD (MB) AND A MORE EXTREME GROUP ERUPTED INTO
A BLOODY CLASH IN ASSYUT IN LATE JULY. (THE EXTREMISTS
WERE IDENTIFIED BOTH AS "AL-JIHAD" AND AS "AL-GAMA'A
AL-ISLAMIYA", OR THE ISLAMIC GROUPING, SINGULAR.) THE
INTRA-ISLAMIC VIOLENCE IN ASSYUT PROVOKED SHAME AMONG
SOME ISLAMIC POLITICAL ACTIVISTS AND REVULSION AMONG
THE PUBLIC AT LARGE. THE CLASH APPEARED TO BE MOSTLY A
CASE OF YOUTHFUL THUGGERY, MIXED WITH A FUNDAMENTAL
DOCTRINAL DIFFERENCE OVER THE ACCEPTABILITY OF WORKING
WITHIN A NON-ISLAMIC SYSTEM TO BRING ABOUT ISLAMIC
GOALS. THOUGH THE MB SUPREME GUIDE AND ONE LEADER OF
THE EXTREMISTS PERSONALLY CAME TO A PEACEFUL
UNDERSTANDING, THEY MANAGED BARELY TO PAPER OVER THE
CONTINUING FRICTIONS, BASED ON MUTUALLY HOSTILE
PERCEPTIONS: THE MB REGARD THE "JIHADISTS" AS ERRANT
AND IGNORANT YOUTH AT BEST, WHILE THE LATTER CHARGE THE
MB WITH COWARDICE AND "FORBIDDEN" COLLABORATION WITH
THE SECULAR STATE. MEANWHILE, THE INCIDENT HAS EXPOSED
AN APPARENT RIVALRY BETWEEN THE MB AND THE JIHAD FOR
LEADERSHIP OF "AL-GAMA'A AL ISLAMIYA". END SUMMARY.

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3. ACCORDING TO UNUSUALLY WELL-DONE PRESS ACCOUNTS
(SEE LAST PARA),THE MB AND THE EXTREMIST "JIHAD" GROUP
(OFTEN IDENTIFIED BY THE PRESS AS "AL-GAMA'A
AL-ISLAMIYA", OF WHICH AL-JIHAD, HOWEVER, PROBABLY IS
JUST ONE CONSTITUENT PART) HAD BEEN CIRCULATING
LEAFLETS AGAINST EACH OTHER OVER SOME NINE MONTHS IN
THE UPPER EGYPTIAN PROVINCIAL CAPITAL OF ASSYUT.
HANDBILLS SIGNED "AL-GAMA'A AL-ISLAMIYA" CHARGED THE MB
ARE COWARDS, WHO USED TO ATTACK MINOR OFFICIALS, AND
THEN DENIED THEIR RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ATTACKS (IN
CONTRAST TO THE JIHAD, WHICH STOOD UP FOR ITS
ASSASSINATION OF SADAT). THEY CHARGED THAT THE MB
"HATE TO SEE 'ISLAM' EMERGE, EXCEPT FROM THEIR
THROATS." IT CALLED THEM "TRAINED CIRCUS LIONS" FOR
ENTERING THE PEOPLE'S ASSEMBLY, THEREBY COLLABORATING
WITH A GOVERNMENT SEEN AS ISLAMICALLY ILLEGITIMATE. IN
TURN, THE MB'S LEAFLETS INSULTINGLY DISMISSED
AL-JIHAD", AND ITS PRETENSIONS TO LEADERSHIP OF
AL-GAMA'A AL-ISLAMIYA, AS "LITTLE ONES. . . WHO HAS
LED THEM ASTRAY?"

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4. AT LAST MAY'S FEAST OF 'EID AL-FITR, THE
PAMPHLETEERING RACHETED UP TO A "WAR OF THE POSTERS",
AS EACH SIDE PLASTERED OVER ITS RIVAL'S ANNOUNCEMENTS
OF UPCOMING HOLIDAY PRAYER MEETINGS. THE POSTER WAR
WAS RENEWED A FEW DAYS BEFORE THE LARGER FEAST OF THE
SACRIFICE (JULY 24-25). AROUND THE SAME TIME, GANGS OF
MB AND JIHADISTS REPORTEDLY USED MACHO INTIMIDATION
TECHNIQUES REMINISCENT OF WEST SIDE STORY, INCLUDING
MOTORCYCLE-MOUNTED MB YOUTHS AND SWITCHBLADE-WIELDING
JIHADISTS. AN MB LEADER TOLD JOURNALISTS THAT THE
JIHADISTS PROVOKED THE CULMINATING RUMBLE OF JULY 23 BY
CLAIMING "OUR (JIHADIST) WOMEN HAVE MORE VIRILITY THAN
THEIR (MB) MEN." IN UPPER EGYPT, THOSE ARE FIGHTING
WORDS THAT CANNOT BE IGNORED.

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5. ACCORDING TO THE INVESTIGATIVE PRESS REPORTS,
VIOLENCE FINALLY BROKE OUT ON THE EVE OF THE FEAST OF
THE SACRIFICE, AS MB YOUTHS WERE PREPARING SWEETS FOR
CHILDRENS' HOLIDAY GIFTS IN THEIR MOSQUE OF SHALNAB.
MORE THAN 150 YOUTHS OF THE GAMA'A SEALED OFF THE
STREET, AND SHOUTED TO BYSTANDERS THAT "POLICE" INSIDE
THE MOSQUE WERE PREVENTING PEOPLE FROM ENTERING TO
PRAY. THEN THEY INVADED THE MOSQUE, AND OVER THE
COURSE OF ABOUT 30 MINUTES DESTROYED ITS FURNITURE AND
WINDOWS, KNIFING THE YOUTHS INSIDE AND BEATING THEM
WITH CHAINS. 13 MB AND BYSTANDERS WERE INJURED. THE
ATTACKERS FLED BEFORE POLICE ARRIVED BUT SEVEN WERE
LATER ARRESTED, ACCORDING TO POLICE RECORDS REPORTED BY
THE PRESS. ONE NEUTRAL BYSTANDER TOLD JOURNALISTS THAT
HE HAD NEVER SEEN SUCH VIOLENCE IN HIS LIFE -- "EVEN
THE JEWS AND NASSERISTS COULD NOT DO ANYTHING LIKE
THIS|" THE LOCAL POLICE PASSED UP THE OPPORTUNITY TO
GLOAT, TELLING REPORTERS ONLY THAT "IT IS NOT IN THE
INTERESTS OF (PUBLIC) SECURITY THAT THERE BE CONFLICT
BETWEEN THE MB AND THE JIHAD."

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6. ACCORDING TO PRESS REPORTS, IN THE IMMEDIATE
AFTERMATH OF THE CLASH THE MB LEADERSHIP REJECTED
RECONCILIATION INITIATIVES BY "AL-GAMA'IYA
AL-SHAR'IYA", WIDELY-KNOWN AS AN OFFICIALLY-REGISTERED
AND ESTABLISHMENTARIAN GROUPING OF SOME 2,000 MOSQUES
ENGAGED IN SOCIAL SERVICES. THE FOLLOWING WEEK,
HOWEVER, DR. 'OMAR 'ABDURRAHMAN, IDENTIFIED IN THE
SYMPATHETIC RELIGIOUS OPPOSITION PRESS AS "AMIR
(PRINCE) OF AL-GAMA'A AL-ISLAMIYA," SPOKE FROM SAUDI
ARABIA BY PHONE WITH MB SUPREME GUIDE ABUL NASR.
ACCORDING TO THE "SPOKESMAN" OF THE GAMA'A, DR. 'ALA'
MOHI AL-DIN, 'ABDURRAHMAN ORDERED THE GROUP TO SHOW
"SELF DISCIPLINE". OTHER LEADING RADICAL RELIGIOUS
FIGURES, INCLUDING ALEXANDRIA'S AHMED AL-MEHALLAWI,
ALSO INTERVENED. THE STAGE WAS THUS SET FOR THE
OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT OF RECONCILIATION AT THE MOSQUE
OF AL-GAMA'IYA AL-SHAR'IYA IN ASSYUT AUGUST 5.
(DESPITE ITS REPORTED ROLE IN THE MB-JIHAD
RECONCILIATION, HOWEVER, THE NATIONAL LEADER OF
AL-GAMA'IYA AL-SHAR'IYA, TOLD US THAT HIS GROUP HAS NO
CONNECTION, PERSONAL OR OFFICIAL, WITH EITHER THE MB OR
THE GAMA'A.)

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7. SINCE THEN, WESTERN JOURNALISTS WHO INTERVIEWED
JIHAD/GAMA'A MEMBERS INVOLVED IN THE AIN SHAMS INCIDENT
IN CAIRO OF AUGUST 12-13, TOLD US THAT THE TENSIONS
BETWEEN THE MB AND RADICALS CLEARLY REMAIN. THE HEART
OF THE ISSUE SEEMS TO BE THE MB'S RESENTMENT OF THE
JIHAD'S ASSERTION OF A LEADERSHIP ROLE WITHIN WHAT
APPEARS TO BE A KIND OF UMBRELLA GROUPING OF AL-GAMA'A
AL-ISLAMIYA. THE JOURNALISTS TOLD US THE YOUTHS
EVIDENTLY SOUGHT DELIBERATELY TO OBSCURE THEIR GROUP'S
IDENTITY OR RELATIONSHIP WITH THAT OF THE AL-GAMA'A
AL-ISLAMIYA. ALSO, THOUGH THE MB'S 'ESAM AL-'ARIAN
CONFIRMED TO EMBOFF THAT THE MB AND JIHAD WERE
RECONCILED", HE BROKE THE ISLAMICISTS' NORMALLY
MAFIA-LIKE CODE OF SILENCE TO PROVIDE SOME DETAILS
ABOUT THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE ISLAMIC GROUPS.
(SEPARATE REPORT WILL FOLLOW AS WE SORT OUT CONFLICTING
DETAILS.) AL-'ARIAN WENT OUT OF HIS WAY TO EMPHASIZE
THAT THE JIHAD'S CLAIM TO LEADERSHIP OF AL-GAMA'A IS
BOGUS. HE BLAMED POLICE OPPRESSION OF THE JIHAD FOR
TURNING THEM INTO POPULAR HEROES, WHILE THE GOVERNMENT
FAILS TO DISTINGUISH THE MB FROM THE VIOLENT GROUPS.

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8. COMMENT: THE BLOODY ASSYUT CLASH CLEARLY HAS
EMBARRASSED SOME OF OUR CONTACTS AMONG ISLAMIC
POLITICAL ACTIVISTS BECAUSE OF ITS UGLY AND
"UN-ISLAMIC" VIOLENCE. MORE IMPORTANTLY, WE SENSE
UNHAPPINESS IN ISLAMIC POLITICAL QUARTERS OVER THE
INCIDENT'S EXPOSURE OF BITTER DIVISIONS IN ISLAMIC
POLITICAL RANKS -- AND HENCE, SOME CLUES TO ITS SHADOWY
ORGANIZATION. IN FACT, AL-NUR, THE SYMPATHETIC
RELIGIOUS OPPOSITION PAPER THAT MOST FULLY OUTLINED THE
STORY, REPORTED THAT HENCEFORTH IT WILL COMPLY WITH THE
WRITTEN REQUESTS OF BOTH PARTIES TO AVOID PUBLISHING
FURTHER ON THE ASSYUT INCIDENT.


9. MEANWHILE, THERE IS NO INDICATION YET THAT THE
FORMAL MB-JIHAD RECONCILIATION HAS TAKEN DEEP ROOT, OR
THAT THEIR RIVALRY WILL DEVELOP SOON INTO COOPERATION.
WITH THE JIHAD LEADERSHIP AND MANY OF ITS "FEW" CADRES
IN PRISON, ACCORDING TO SEVERAL SOURCES, THE MB WOULD
SEEM TO HAVE THE UPPER HAND. WHAT REMAINS UNCLEAR IS
THE EXACT ORGANIZATIONAL NATURE OF THE "GAMA'A
AL-ISLAMIYA", AND THE ROLE OF THE MB AND OTHER GROUPS
WITHIN IT. THE ASSYUT INCIDENT, HOWEVER, HAS SHED SOME
LIGHT ON THE SHADOWY RELATIONSHIPS OF THESE GROUPS, AND
OVER THE COMING MONTHS WE WILL BE TRYING TO EXPLOIT
SOME NEW LEADS TO TRY TO MAKE SENSE OF THESE TIES.

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10. FOR MORE DETAILED REPORTS OF THE ASSYUT INCIDENT,
WE CALL ANALYSTS' ATTENTION TO CENTER-LEFTIST,
SECULARIST ESTABLISHMENT WEEKLY "ROSE EL-YUSUF" OF
AUGUST 22 AND MODERATE ISLAMIC OPPOSITION WEEKLY
"AL-NUR" OF AUGUST 3 AND AUGUST 10. AL-NUR
INVESTIGATIVE ARTICLES ARE STARTLINGLY UNUSUAL AS
EGYPTIAN JOURNALISM, STRIVING FOR OBJECTIVITY BY NAMING
SOURCES AND DESCRIBING THE INCIDENT FROM THE DIFFERING
VIEWPOINTS OF THE MB, JIHAD, POLICE, AND INNOCENT
BYSTANDERS. ARTICLES PROVIDE MB AND JIHAD/GAMA'A LOGOS
FROM THEIR PAMPHLETS, AND PUBLISH PHOTOS AND NAMES OF
INDIVIDUALS AND MOSQUES ASSOCIATED WITH THE VARIOUS
ISLAMIC GROUPS IN ASSYUT.


WISNER