The Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood has issued a statement celebrating the resignation of President Mubarak. The statement in full:
The peaceful protests across Egypt have been blessed with success! Demonstrations marked by non-violent behavior that constituted a national uprising in Egypt, to remove oppression and tyranny, have achieved more in just 18 days than Al-Qaida-like terrorism has done in decades. The Egyptian example shows the world how struggle can be translated from the hearts of Muslims, onto the social media and finally, overcoming apathy and fear, taking to the streets. A Day of Wrath was initially organized on January 25, 2011 calling for the end of Mubarak’s oppressive police state and demanding he step down. Protests continued for a further eightteen days with sustained momentum until on February 11, 2011 the president finally stepped down relinquishing power. From day one, in a rare show of force, protestors took to the streets in hundreds of thousands across Egypt. These protests were organized through the social media in defiance of, among other things, the Egyptian government’s Emergency Law, shaking the government to its core. Demanding the protests should end, the regime tried to get the people off the streets but they continued protesting and on the following Tuesday millions flowed through the streets of Egypt united in one call for the removal of Mubarak. The initial violence, police crackdowns, thugs, and brutality at the hands of the security apparatus and pro-Mubarak supporters, only solidified the people’s resolve to persist in the demonstrations until their demands were met. There has been a network of help and support by everyday Egyptians for the protestors. Tahreer Square is also now known as ‘Tahreer City’ as people fill the square handing out tents, blankets, tea, food and other necessities to the hard-core protestors. Masses of youth, armed with laptops and mobile phones, headed the demonstrations, organizing, supporting, motivating and persevering. Thousands of die-hard pro-democracy protestors also filled the streets of Alexandria, Suez, Port Said and other cities and towns around Egypt. The patience, endurance, and determination of people all over the country have rendered this an unprecedented peaceful, positive and successful uprising, in one of the most volatile regions of the world. The energy, positivity and hope that were generated at the protests were sufficient for many police officers to swap sides and join the demonstrators. After struggling under the Emergency Law and all the corruption, stagnating bureaucracy and brutality of Mubarak’s regime for nearly three decades, the people decided enough was enough, and with a spirit of determination asserted their claims and refused to back down. Behind the scenes and supporting the protesters’ struggle for democracy and social justice, and representing the voice of moderate, insightful, peaceful Islam, the MB has supported the demonstrations that succeeded in ousting Mubarak and removing him from his power that has spelt oppression and poverty for most Egyptians for three decades. As Mubarak steps down, the next phase of the revolution begins to unfold. There is a lot of work yet to be done in making the reforms, rewriting the Constitution, and regaining stability and economic recovery but if the spirit and positivity of the Egyptian people continues, the process will continue to be smooth and successful. As many countries in the region have populations struggling under autocratic power, the example of the Egyptian Revolution is a precedent for the method of procuring peaceful change in countries where change is badly needed.
It should be noted that the Muslim Brotherhood today has become a global network and that the Egyptian mother branch is not necessarily the most important part of the movement. Sheikh Youssef Qaradawi, close to Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states, is often referred to by the GMBDW as the most important leader of the global Muslim Brotherhood, an acknowledgement of his role as the de facto spiritual leader of the movement. In 2004, Qaradawi turned down the offer to lead the Egyptian Brotherhood after the death of the Supreme Guide.
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