How would you comment on the current situation with Tahrir filled with protesters?
Well, I am personally optimistic and I see that all these events constitute a continuum of the revolution. Not only the Mubarak regime but also the older military establishment have altogether precipitated their residues on the country. We have to remove these layers of residue one after the other.
We cannot remove all ranks of corruption at a single time. First, we removed Mubarak and his corrupt entourage, then overthrew the military regime after revealing to what extent corruption had infiltrated the army. Now we have the principal opposition faction in Mubarak’s era. The truth is that during his era, Mubarak corrupted everything, including his own opposition. When we took to the streets during the revolution, we knew well that the only ready alternative had been the Muslim Brotherhood. We also knew that they are corrupt and fascist.
They [the Muslim Brotherhood] had to take this chance so that we would not marginalise them. We have a long journey to remove these successive precipitated layers of corruption. By the will of Allah, when we are done with what we are doing, the Brotherhood will quit; they will quit with the will of the people. We still have another journey, we are not done yet.
What is your opinion regarding the new constitutional declaration?
Well, I am all against it, but I am happy with it. The Muslim Brotherhood offered us a shortcut to end some stages. The president could have managed to gain these validities and authorities in a smarter and wiser way and [have] shown some patience. People are just getting out from a revolution and he just suddenly came up with such a dictatorial declaration. It has become clear that the Muslim Brothers have absolutely no issue with inciting a civil war in order to maintain their grip on power.
I know that Khairat El-Shater is behind this constitutional declaration and behind the Muslim Brotherhood’s hard-line stance and insistence that Morsy does not back down. The Muslim Brotherhood Organisation was founded by Hassan Al-Banna in 1928 and ended in 2012 by Khairat El-Shater.
El-Shater possesses a very self-centric personality and a great deal of ambition and pride. Money is also blocking his vision, and always take into account the years he spent in prison enduring Mubarak’s injustice. He dreams of being Erdogan II, and of possessing a certain project he does not even know. The important thing is for him to have a project, which he implements.
What do you think about raising the pensions for the families of the revolution’s martyrs, which was stipulated in the constitutional declaration?
While the spilt blood of those martyrs is extremely precious to me, I am still outstandingly happy that he misused it in this blunt, flawed and uncovered way. All that he gained from mentioning the martyrs and the wounded is even more disrespect and disdain.
What do you think about the revolution’s protection law, in light of the current polarisation?
This is a funny law, whereby the protection of the revolution’s achievements is done through abolishment of strikes, demonstrations and protests. Abolishment of defamation, as in abolishment of freedom of expression. The protection of the revolution comes in four clauses, the revolution’s prosecution investigates incidents of defamation, which is closely linked to freedom of expression. For example, when we insult Morsy or the Murshid [supreme guide], we will stand before the revolution’s prosecution. Any blockage of the streets, for example demonstrations, will be penalised. So, when they were rallying facing Ittihadiya Palace, were they not blocking the street? Any stoppage of production, for example strikes, is abolished. In other words, the revolution protection law forbids anyone from revolting.
Protesters are now saying either Morsy will follows their calls or they will oust him. What do you see?
There is nothing called “we will oust him”. I can confidently tell you, based upon my own view, that Morsy has committed a double crime; killing of protesters and inciting a civil war in the country, and as such, he is not my president and he must go. He has lost his legitimacy as a president. He breached the vow he had made and killed demonstrators. He is a criminal who incited a civil war, and he is not my president. I am not personally going home unless he leaves. There are people who are here because of the constitutional declaration; I do not have anything to do with them. I am speaking on my own behalf; this is not my president. I personally tell you, based upon my own feeling, especially after attending Jika’s funeral [a protester killed during recent clashes] that Morsy will not complete his presidential term.
