Translations/Transcriptions of Statements by the Muslim Brotherhood:
| [7/29/09] | (Historical) Muslim Brotherhood Websites The NEFA Foundation has obtained a copy of a December 13, 2008 Muslim Brotherhood communication that discusses the Brotherhood’s use of cyberspace as a “new and effective means of communication at a time when most attempts to have a media outlet have failed to find their way into official recognition.” The document summarizes the evolution of the Brotherhood’s online efforts and addresses developments dating as far back as 1998. According to the statement, “The Muslim Brotherhood websites were first general then they started to be more specialized”, focusing on specialized topics such as brotherhood youth or brotherhood in the governorates. Blogging also became a very effective communication tool, as “weblogs gave a humane image of the group and its individuals previously seen as blocs of people who robotically move and appear in a demonstration or a funeral. These weblogs anatomized the Muslim Brotherhood individual through showing his ideas, convictions and even sometimes his criticism to the group.” |
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| [12/30/07] | "MB Executive Bureau Criticizes Bin Laden's Latest Audio Release" The NEFA Foundation has obtained a copy of a statement issued by the Muslim Brotherhood in which Brotherhood Executive Bureau Member Mahmud Ghozlan "condemned Bin Laden’s frequent speeches propagating for Jihad," asserting that "in reality Al-Qaeda did nothing but dividing the Muslim world." Ghozlan called on "Bin Laden to stop releasing such ‘useless’ speeches.” |
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| [7/6/07] | "Muslim Brotherhood Denies Ayman al-Zawahiri was Brotherhood Member" The NEFA Foundation has obtained a copy of a statement issued by the Muslim Brotherhood in which the Brotherhood denied that Al-Qaida's Dr. Ayman al-Zawahiri was a Brotherhood member. Brotherhood Executive Bureau member Dr. Mohamed Morsy said that “Dr. Ayman Al-Zawahiri has never been affiliated to the Muslim Brotherhood group as an organization and ideology." |
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| [5/7/07] | "Hamas Dismisses Zawahiri's Criticism" The NEFA Foundation has obtained a copy of a statement issued by the Muslim Brotherhood, titled, "Hamas Dismisses Zawahiri’s Criticism." Responding to criticism by Al-Qaida's Dr. Ayman al-Zawahiri, who attacked Hamas' involvement in the political process, Hamas leader Osama Hamdan said, "Al-Zawahiri’s statements and criticism towards Hamas...have no effect on the movement's attitude; this is because its participation in the political process and elections are due to the fact that all the movement members are fully convinced that there must be...effective political participation." Hamdan further stated, "this participation wasnt a concession or abandonment of Islamic principles." He continued, "What Al-Zawahiri said...is an unjustified defamation and attack against Hamas movement and its leaders." |
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| [3/12/07] | "Al Zawahiri Should Reconsider Political Views on Hamas - Hamdan" The NEFA Foundation has obtained a copy of a statement issued by the Muslim Brotherhood in which Hamas leader Osama Hamdan responded to Dr. Ayman Al-Zawahiri’s criticism of the Mecca Declaration. Paraphrasing Hamdan, the Brotherhood reported that "Hamdan attacked Al Zawahiri’s statements fiercely because these criticisms against Hamas movement are coming from a person who does not know any facts or information about the situation on the ground in the Palestinian territories." |
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| [1/1/07] | "Muslim Brotherhood Rejects Al-Qaeda's Ideology" The NEFA Foundation has obtained a copy of a statement issued by the Muslim Brotherhood in which Dr. Mohamed Habib, the Brotherhood's first deputy chairman, said, "The world now have come to realize the crystal clear difference between the Muslim Brotherhood’s ideology and that of Al-Qaeda network to which Dr. Al Zawahri belongs; we - the Muslim Brotherhood - reject completely the methods and actions by Al-Qaeda network and completely denounce violence and terrorism, and staunchly support peaceful change and reform." |
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| [12/21/06] | "Zawahiri's Statements Highlight Ideological Differences with MB" The NEFA Foundation has obtained a copy of a statement issued by the Muslim Brotherhood in which Brotherhood leader Dr. Essam El-Erian commented on a message released by Al-Qaida's Dr. Ayman al-Zawahiri: "The speech of Dr. Ayman Al-Zawahiri confirms a very important point, a clear disagreement between two ideologies in the Islamic movements: The first ideology is a peaceful method for reform and change that the Muslim Brotherhood group adopts. The MB considers that there are many means for reform and the change and that jihad is one of these means, same like political participation or performing jihad through writing and preaching and other kinds of jihad. As for the second ideology which is adopted by Al-Qaeda network, including Dr. Ayman Al- Zawahiri, it is a method and a school that confines and reduces Islam to jihad only and confines and reduces jihad to fighting in the battlefield only; consequently, Al Zawahri agrees with himself and he doesn’t have the right to criticize steps or means of any other school or trend that differs totally with him." |
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| [12/21/06] | "Abu Marzouk: Hamas Rejects Al Zawahiri Statements" The NEFA Foundation has obtained a copy of a statement issued by the Muslim Brotherhood in which Hamas leader Dr. Mousa Abu Marzouk stated that Al-Qaida's Dr. Ayman al-Zawahiri's "statements express his views and ideology which are totally different from our views; every one knows to what extent the ideology of the Hamas movement clearly contradicts with Al-Qaeda network’s method adopted by Dr. Al Zawahri; Hamas restricts resistance to only inside the Palestinian occupied territories and it does not exercise any operations outside them.’” As the Brotherhood explained, "Al Zawahri said in a new audio tape...that any way other than the method of jihad will lead only to loss and failure, and that those trying to liberate the abode of Islam through elections ‘which are based on secular constitutions or on decisions of handing over Palestine to the Jews, will never free even a grain of sand of Palestine’.” |
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| [6/9/06] | "Habib Denounces Al-Zawahiri's Criticism of the Judges" The NEFA Foundation has obtained a copy of a statement issued by the Muslim Brotherhood in which Brotherhood leader Dr. Mohammed Habib rejected Dr. Ayman Al-Zawahiri’s criticism of the Egyptian judges: "The Muslim Brotherhood reaffirms its support for the fine majority of Egyptian judges and their legitimate demands for reform and change. We entrust them with the future of this country and we look up at them as role models for our younger generations for years to come." The Brotherhood added, "Once again, Mr. Al-Zawahri and his Al Qaeda organization, prove to the Muslim nation that they have nothing to offer them other than their futile ideology of violence and destruction. Achieving reform and prosperity in our countries can never be through violence, coups and use of force, which Mr. Al-Zawahri is promoting. Our struggle against corrupt and autocratic regimes must never be militarized." |
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| [4/24/06] | "Hamas: We Are No Al Qaeda" The NEFA Foundation has obtained a copy of a statement issued by the Muslim Brotherhood in which Hamas spokesperson Samy Abu Zehry rejected Usama Bin Laden's criticism of Hamas' participation in legislative councils and elections: "Hamas has its own agenda that is not compatible with Al Qaeda’s. Hamas is a political movement serving the Palestinian people but meanwhile resisting an occupation and will only work within these boundaries." Abu Zehry further noted, "We certainly differ from Al Qaeda. Hamas believes in political participation and democracy and sees no contradiction with Islam in this regard." |
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| [1/11/06] | "Muslim Brotherhood Rejects Al-Zawahiri Statements" The NEFA Foundation has obtained a copy of a statement issued by the Muslim Brotherhood in which Dr. Mohamed Habib, the Brotherhood's first deputy chairman, responded to Dr. Ayman al-Zawahiri's criticism of the Brotherhood's involvement in the political process. Habib stated, "the Muslim Brotherhood has its own agenda for change and reform, which they believe, can only happen by peaceful means and through different legal and constitutional channels. Resorting to force will open the doors wide for evil and create a total chaos in which those who think they are more powerful can overthrow governments regardless of its legitimacy." |
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