CAIRO: The Muslim Brotherhood on Tuesday threw its weight behind a day of protests over rocketing food prices on May 4, President Hosni Mubarak s 80th birthday.
Supreme leader Mohamed Mahdi Akef said the group encourages any proactive behavior by the people towards their nation s pressing problems, according to the Brotherhood s website.
The Muslim Brotherhood supports peaceful protests that call for the solution of crises and resolving the deteriorating conditions which the Egyptian people suffer, he said.
The MB declares its endorsement of the call to stay at home next May 4, with the exception of those working in medical and public service institutions, and those who have exams in any educational institution.
The group had previously announced it will only participate in any protest called for by opposition forces under four conditions.
“We will not participate in any protest unless those four conditions are fulfilled: there is agreement among all the political forces on the protest; there is a unified agenda; a precise time, and the results of the protest are known in advance, said Saad Al-Katatny, head of the Muslim Brotherhood’s parliamentary bloc.
“This will guarantee the success of any national strike without chaos or problems, he said.
The group was criticized for not participating in the April 6 strike.
“We were offered by some groups considered illegal by the government, such as Kefaya and Al-Karama party, to join the April 6 strike . but when we did not receive any answer on whether they met the four conditions we refused to participate, Al-Katatny said.
Participation in the April 6 strike was sporadic.
Instead, protests focused on the Nile Delta city of Mahalla, where three people were killed by police after clashes erupted when demonstrators pulled down posters of Mubarak.
The Brotherhood rejected any attempt to inflict harm or damage to state institutions or public and private properties, and repeats its call on those participating in the strike not to turn peaceful protest into chaos.
But the group didn’t escape the criticism with its announcment of the four conditions. Although some analysts recognized the group’s need for information before committing to such strike, they had their reservations.
Khalil Al-Anani, an expert on political Islam, told Daily News Egypt, that the “Brotherhood’s stance vis-a-vis the protests is logical as they fear any conflict between them and the government. That is why they put what they call ‘conditions’ that cannot be practically implemented, yet will enhance their image in public opinion, which suffered due to their absence in protests.
Al-Anani joined other analysts who criticized the group’s lack of support to lack of support for smaller lobby groups like the university professors, describing their stance as “negative .
“This attitude created a gap between the group and the public, Al-Anani said, adding that “they have been focusing mainly on their internal problems, which drove them away from participating with the public and sharing their problems. -AFP with additional reporting by Daily News Egypt reporter Yasmine Saleh.
