Egyptian media is reporting that the former deputy leader of the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood has resigned from the Brotherhood and joined the party of Abou El-Fotouh. According to a report on Ahram Online:
Former deputy supreme guide of the Muslim Brotherhood Mohamed Habib has resigned and joined the newly formed El-Nahda Party, According to media reports. Presidential hopeful Abd El-Monem Abou El-Fotouh is head of El-Nahda Party. Abou El-Fotouh, a former Muslim Brotherhood Guidance Bureau member, was recently expelled from the ?controversial Islamist group for embarking on a presidential campaign despite the group’s stated committment not to field candidates and forbidding its members from running independently. The Muslim Brotherhood seems to be experiencing divisions post-revolution. At least four groups within the organization are seeking to form their own party, including El-Nahda, in addition to the already registered Freedom and Justice party. However, none of the four other parties have as yet been registered.”
A post from yesterday reported that reported that Global Muslim Brotherhood leader Youssef Qaradawi repeated his support for Abul-Futuh.
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.