(DNE File Photo)
By Mahitab Assran
Vice President of Al-Nour party Nadder Bakkar said that it is acting as a mediator between “the armed forces and the Muslim Brotherhood,” in a phone interview on Friday night with Al-Hayat channel.
The spokesman of the armed forces denied the statement and said all reconciliation matters are done “through the presidency and the armed forces has nothing to do with it.”
During the phone call Bakkar said that “people are suffering under tense conditions and scepticism towards everyone”, Al-Nour party welcomes them to the “table of dialogue” and thanked Sheikh Ahmed Al-Tayeb, Grand Imam of Al-Azhar for his efforts for national reconciliation through calling for and implementing transitional justice and non-violence.
Bakker clarified the party’s position on several issues; it supports national reconciliation, as long as it is inclusive all political factions in society and it calls for a “purely technocrat” government, and did not want politicians or party members as cabinet members.
He stressed that the image of the people filling the streets, protesting against violence and terror was “beautiful” and showed how “truly united the Egyptian people are and how eager they are to move forward towards the future.”
Younes Makhioun, the President of Al-Nour Party, however, said that Bakkar was mistaken to describe the Friday protests in a positive light in a statement on Saturday. Makhioun also said that this description contradicts the party’s views.
On Friday millions took to the streets, obeying Minister Abdul Fatah Al-Sisi’s call to protest against violence and terror. Earlier last week the Al-Nour party issued a statement expressing its concern regarding possible clashes and bloodshed on Friday and urging all protesters to remain peaceful.
