Al-Ahram Weekly Issue No. 244 26 Oct. - 1 Nov. 1995
Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875

Detained Brothers set to run

By Omayma Abdel-Latif

The confrontation between the government and the Muslim Brotherhood took a fresh twist this week when sources from the outlawed organisation reported that 16 of their jailed colleagues had decided to contest the November elections from behind bars. But the sources concede that their chances are slim because they will automatically forfeit their right to run for election or to be a member of parliament if they have been sentenced by the military court where they are due to stand trial.

The 16 are part of a group of 79 Brotherhood figures - known as 136 of 1995 - who were arrested on charges of belonging to an illegal organisation bent on overthrowing the government and providing support to underground terrorist groups. Forty-nine are standing trial at present and the remaining 30 are waiting their turn.

The news that the 16 have started the nomination process by filing the necessary papers with the prison authorities followed a Brotherhood announcement that 149 of its members will be running as independent candidates in 107 constituencies. The 149-name list, however, does not include any detained figures.

Asked for an explanation, Brotherhood spokesman Maamoun El-Hodeibi said: "They are exercising their constitutional right. This is an individual decision. They alone can decide whether or not to run in the elections. What we know is that the 16 have filed requests with the prison authorities to carry on with the required candidacy procedures."

El-Hodeibi did not disclose names on the grounds that "we do not have enough information because communication with the prisoners is very difficult".

However, other Brotherhood sources said that those running for election from prison include: Dr Essam El-Iryan, deputy secretary-general of the Doctors' Syndicate and a former MP, who will be running in Giza against Supply Minister Ahmed Gweili; Dr Mohamed El-Sayed Habib, a professor at Assiut University who will be running in Assiut; and Hassan El-Gamal, a former MP who will be running in the Cairo constituency of Al-Manial. The sources said their defence lawyers will campaign on their behalf.

Maj. Gen. Mohamed Bedeir El-Minshawi, the interior minister's assistant for election affairs, told a news conference last week that Brotherhood members awaiting trial can run for election as long as they have not been sentenced by the court.

But Mustafa Mashhour, a leading Brotherhood figure, said the group did not "entertain many expectations of this move". The government, he continued, could arrange their trial "within 24 hours. The court could then hand out sentences quickly, thus depriving them of the right to run for election."

Even if they were actually elected to the Assembly before their trial ends, a scenario Mashhour described as "very unlikely under the circumstances," their parliamentary membership would be revoked if they are sentenced. "In all cases, it is a losing battle," he said.

Other Brotherhood sources said that if the accused members were sentenced before the deadline for nominations, the group would replace them with other candidates "who are on a waiting list".

Maj. Gen. Fouad Allam, a former chief of the state security investigation department, charged that by nominating its detained members, the Brotherhood sought to embarrass the government. "They want to win public sympathy by playing the role of victim, but mostly what they are trying to do is to embarrass the government," Allam said. He added, "If they win, they will have a card to use against the government. If they fail, the excuse is always ready - the elections were rigged."

He did not expect the military court to pronounce judgement before the elections. "There are a lot of defendants to deal with," he said. "So it will be some time before judgement is handed down, possibly not till after the elections."

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