We tried to tell you. A democracy is only as good as the values that inform its participants. "Hardline Islamist surge in Egypt polls," by Adam Plowright for Agence France-Presse, December 1:
Egypt is awaiting results on Thursday from its first election since its February revolution which are set to confirm moderate Islamists as the dominant force, but with a strong showing from hardliners.
The Muslim Brotherhood, a moderate Islamist movement banned for decades by Hosni Mubarak, has emerged from the shadows since the fall of the autocrat and has forecast its party will take at least 40 percent of the vote.
The battle for second place had been seen as between secular liberals and hardline Islamists who follow the strict Salafi brand of Islam, with local media indicating the latter might prevail in the new parliament.
"Al-Nur, the surprise of the moment," headlined the independent Al-Shorouq daily on Thursday, referring to the main party of the Salafists whose members follow a strict form of Islam dominant in Saudi Arabia.
Estimates in the press indicated they would win around 20 percent of the vote when results are published later Thursday at 7:00 pm (1700 GMT) for the areas that voted on Monday and Tuesday -- about a third of all constituencies.
Millions of Egyptians embraced their new democratic freedoms in the capital Cairo and second-city Alexandria earlier this week in the first phase of multi-stage parliamentary elections.
Analysts warn against reading too much into only the first stage of a parliamentary election that will last until March, but the results will reveal the political trends in a country that has not had a free vote in 60 years.
The prospect of an Islamist-dominated parliament raises fears among liberals about civil liberties and religious freedom in a country with the Middle East's largest Christian minority, and tolerance of multi-party democracy.
The Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party says it strives for a "civil state, defined as a non-military non-religious state... that respects human rights" according to its political programme.
Lies. How can we tell? Article 2 of the constitution. That provision is certain not to budge from the next constitution, which has been heavily influenced by the Brotherhood, and defines Sharia as the basis of legislation. A "non-religious state." Sure.
Leaders have repeatedly stressed their commitment to multi-party democracy and inclusiveness, and pledged to ensure freedoms.
The group has been officially banned since the 1950s, but it counts hundreds of thousands of members and is known for its vast network of social and religious outreach programmes, as well as its stand against corruption.
It is easy to stand against the other guy's corruption. What happens when the Brotherhood's own good ol' boy network is in power? They have already shown their own propensity toward corruption by attempting to buy votes, and maintaining a presence in polling places to "show people how to vote."
"The Brotherhood beats the drums of victory," headlined the independent daily Al-Shorouk on Thursday.
Al-Nur was initially part of the Democratic Alliance coalition led by the Muslim Brotherhood, but they left to form their own Islamic Alliance, which calls for a strict interpretation of Islamic law in economic and social life.
"The fear is that if the Islamist forces dominate the new parliament, that could lead to an undemocratic system, and one that is authoritarian in the name of religion," said Hassan Nafaa, a professor of political science at the University of Cairo, quoted by Al-Shorouq....
I'm not seeing anything from the MSM on what the Arab Spring has become. Spencer called all of this well beforehand, and it seems that the more important something is, the less people will listen to factual reality, a dangerous habit.
Nobody's giving progress reports that the Arab Spring has devolved into Tehran in '79. And, as pointed out by Spencer and several other pundits, this is what it was in the first place, populations of whining Moslems threatening Israel, America and now even the U.K. It seems that the MSM is happy to leave the story as growing pains and cultural differences, which is pure unmitigated bullsheet.
We are watching the birth of a string of Islamic Republics, and the fact that they're largely contiguous is important yet goes unnoticed. Once Iran takes control over Iraq, they'll have a safe road to truck their new wares from Tehran straight through to Syria unimpeded. Why use something as big as an ICBM when a tactical weapon can do the job just as well?
"The fear is that if the Islamist forces dominate the new parliament, that could lead to an undemocratic system"
"Could lead" are you kidding??
It absolutely WILL lead an undemocratic system.
Iran is not going to take control of Iraq. the Iranian government is on its knees. I have siad this before the fact that Egypt and other arab counties are moving toward an Islamic state bot only should not worry anyone it should be a welcoming change and eventually for down fall of Islam. out side of Isreal the muslim countries have no expirience with demicracy and the islamists are the most organized and they promise the world. in 1979 myself and tens of millions of people supported the Islamic revolution as we were seeking a change from abrutal government the Shas that was. now ater 35 years our peope have found out what evil Islam is. the arab people too will find out this as well. they need to expirience it for them selves. they will see the oppresson that Islam is and in the long form it would be good for freedom loving people. I am 55 years old and this may not happen in my life time but eventually it is going to happen. the thing to do now is to stand by Israel as they are surronded by enemies who want to drive the jews back to the sea.
M
Egypt: "Hardline Islamists" surge in polls, may have 20% of votes
...............................
Things are *much worse* than this headline implies.
More:
The Muslim Brotherhood, a moderate Islamist movement banned for decades by Hosni Mubarak, has emerged from the shadows since the fall of the autocrat and has forecast its party will take at least 40 percent of the vote.
The battle for second place had been seen as between secular liberals and hardline Islamists who follow the strict Salafi brand of Islam, with local media indicating the latter might prevail in the new parliament.
...............................
Here, the *Muslim Brotherhood* is considered "moderate Islamist"—which is utterly meaningless. Taken together, the "Islamists" have up to 60% of the vote—enough to completely dominate Egypt's government.
OT
Muslim anti-Semitism, Israel and the dynamics of self-destructive scapegoating
http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/richardlandes/100121116/muslim-anti-semitism-israel-and-the-dynamics-of-self-destructive-scapegoating/
The Muslim Brotherhood, a moderate Islamist movement banned for decades by Hosni Mubarak
A moderate Islamist movement banned for decades? Surely, if they were a moderate movement, they would not have been banned? Did Mubarak know how 'moderate' they are and that's why he banned them?
Yeah, the Hizb an-Nour party is a Salafi group, and when I say "Salafi" it's not the "nice pro-western" Saudi Salafis, but the al-Qaidah, Usama bin Laden ones.
Here are their multiples websites, media carriers and TV channels with which they are affiliated:
http://www.nour4egypt.com/
http://www.youtube.com/user/alnourpartyeg
http://www.youtube.com/user/anasalafychannel
http://www.facebook.com/anasalafe
http://www.anasalafy.com/
http://www.youtube.com/user/alnastvchannel
http://www.alnas.tv/
The Muslim Brotherhood saying it wants a "civil state" has ALWAYS BEEN a code-word for an Islamic state. The term was essentially coined by them to refer to the Islamic State. The term is also used in America, by the American Muslim Brotherhood (MAS).
http://news.egypt.com/english/permalink/69021.html
I subsequently found an Arabic video that explains this concept as well, for those Arabic speakers who want more information.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wabpkVOjxVQ
The Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party says it strives for a "civil state, defined as a non-military non-religious state... that respects human rights" according to its political programme.
Not exactly lying from their point of view. They will have anon-military state, except for the morality and Sharia compliance police over their citizens, and it may be non-religious, except for Sharia based constitution, so they are vindicated in using Western "civil state" terminology for their own religious/military agenda. But the fundamental underlying condition for this non-secular civil rule is that it be based on Sharia, just like Iraq, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Sudan, Somalia, Iran, Pakistan, and soon Tunisia, Libya, Yemen, Syria, Morocco, and then followed by Turkey and Lebanon, as well as Nigeria, Algeria, all African Islamic nations, Maldives, Seychelles, and of course Malaysia and Indonesia. So Egypt is just falling into line with the world reality of Sharia compliance. What's the big deal? If Sharia underlines all their legislative actions, then call it by any other name, it's the same difference, same Islam: theocratic religious Allah laws for everyone, where "equality under the law" has a whole new meaning. Now all can be punished by their divine laws equally. That's the plain truth of the Muslim Brotherhood's divine, non-secular "civil.. urhuhmm.. state".
Yes, you're right. The Iranian economy, like Egypt's, is on the verge of collapse. If the West imposes hardcore, economic sanctions and sticks to them, they can tip it into the abyss. At the same time, we need to be mindful of what a regime with nothing to lose could do in its death throes. The rest of the MENA is about to experience sharia states and how ruinous to their economies it is - and those economies are poor at best right now.
I wouldn't be surprised to see BHO embrace the leader of those animals, as did he bearhug Erdogan.
Good news! German slaves of allah are now prohibited from prostrating to the arab tribal deity fictionl, in public schools. Bad news! Americas multicult judiciary wouldn't produce that type of common sense finding. Islam is a disease; muslims are its carriers.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-15972456
Quote of pious Muslim Brotherhood (cf. Qur’an 48:28, 3:189, 9:33, 8:39, 2:193 and 61:9)
"Eliminating and destroying Western civilization form within and 'sabotaging' its miserable house so that it is eliminated and God's religion is made victorious over all other religions." by Mohamed Akram, May 19, 1991
http://schnellmann.org/counterjihad.html
What's a Moslem Brotherhood victory without killing a few infidels as a thanks offering to the God of peace.
Update:
http://www.youtube.com/user/alnastvchannel
The an-Nas Television (which has ideological ties to the Muslim Brotherhood and the "Noor" party in Egypt) has aired a segment regarding Hasan al-Banna, leader and founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, in which contemporary scholars talked about the life and example of Hassan al Bannah among those who talked were Yusuf al-Qaradawi, the present "spiritual leader" of the Muslim Brotherhood, Nasir ad-Deen al-Albani, one of the primary figures of the modern "Saalafi" movement, and Abdullah Azzam, founder of the ideological foundations of al-Qaidah.
http://www.youtube.com/user/alnastvchannel
The same Hasan al-Banna who said: "The Homeland of the Muslim expands to encompass the entire world. Do you not hear the words of Allah (SWT):'And fight them until there is no more oppression, and the religion all of it is Allah's'" (Qur'an 2:193)
Dear Alarmed Pig, Guess what is being created, 'The Califate' Yep, link by link.
Zulu
thanks for that link about the Landes article - Muslim anti-Semitism, Israel and the dynamics of self-destructive scapegoating
I just spent a couple of hours perusing the 200 + comments. Very instructive.
Though I think I need a bath now, to wash away the grubby feeling produced by having had to read so many ugly postings by Muslim Jew-haters (some openly avowed, many in masks) and their non-Muslim Jew-hating dhimmified enablers and fellow travellers. I will say, however, that there were a number of clear-headed Islamosavvy folks, both Jewish and non-Jewish, who were holding their ground very ably, and not letting the Jew-haters get away with peddling nonsense and lies.
I always did want to see the pyramids. Now,not so much..If at all.
Suggested first order of business for them - help their fellow Ikhwan in Syria. They desperately need you.
Oh, and never cared about pyramids or any of that stuff. Never visited a Muslim country, & never will.